Lima and Puerto Iguazú: Flybondi’s New Budget Flight Links the Gateway to Machu Picchu with Argentina’s Iconic Iguazu Falls, Turning Classic South America Journeys into Easier Multi‑Destination Escapes

Published on December 2, 2025

Lima & Puerto Iguazú are now just one flight apart, and for the passengers who stepped off Flybondi’s inaugural service into the warm jungle air of Misiones, it felt less like a schedule change and more like a new way to experience South America. Families taking selfies on the tarmac, backpackers comparing notes about Machu Picchu and Iguazu, and local residents welcoming the first direct plane from Peru all shared the same feeling: a long‑imagined connection has finally become real.

Operated by Argentina’s ultra low‑cost carrier Flybondi, the new Lima–Puerto Iguazú route marks the airline’s official entry into the Peruvian market and restores regular international service to Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport (IGR) for the first time since the pandemic disrupted long‑haul travel. Provincial authorities in Misiones highlight that the arrival of flight FO5881 on 1 December at the Iguazú airport is the first direct connection from Lima and the first international link to return to the gateway city since 2020.

Four weekly flights: a new low‑cost bridge between Andes and rainforest

According to announcements from the Misiones Ministry of Tourism and earlier route briefings, Flybondi will operate the Lima–Puerto Iguazú service four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.Schedules are designed to connect with long‑haul arrivals and domestic links in Lima, turning Peru’s capital into a convenient jumping‑off point for travellers from North America, Europe and Asia heading towards Argentina’s rainforest frontier.

The provincial tourism authorities in Misiones note that promotional round‑trip fares starting around USD 316, including taxes, were offered when sales opened, putting Iguazu Falls within reach of more budget‑conscious travellers than ever before. With a flight time of roughly five and a half hours between Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) and Puerto Iguazú, the journey is now a single hop instead of the previous multi‑stop combinations via Buenos Aires or São Paulo.

Government focus on connectivity and tourism growth

For local and national authorities, the inaugural flight is about far more than convenience. The government of Misiones describes the new route as a “strategic opportunity” to boost tourism and link the province directly with one of South America’s principal air hubs in Lima. At the welcome ceremony in Puerto Iguazú, the mayor and provincial leaders underlined how much the city depends on visitors drawn by the falls and surrounding protected areas, and why reconnecting internationally had become a priority.

On the Argentine national level, the official Parque Nacional Iguazú page on Argentina.gob.ar reminds visitors that the park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, protecting more than 67,000 hectares of Atlantic rainforest and hosting the famous waterfalls, recognised as one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The country’s tourism secretariat actively promotes Iguazú as one of Argentina’s flagship nature destinations, highlighting the economic impact of more than a million annual visitors in recent years.

On the Peruvian side, Lima’s role as the nation’s primary international gateway is reinforced by state guidance on air transport and by infrastructure upgrades around the new Jorge Chávez terminal presented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC).Combined with the work of government tourism bodies like PROMPERÚ, whose mission is to promote inbound travel to Peru, Lima is increasingly positioned as a hub for multi‑country itineraries across the region. The arrival of an affordable, point‑to‑point flight to Iguazú fits squarely into that strategy.

What this means for travellers: easier “Machu Picchu + Iguazu” combos

For international visitors, the biggest impact of the new route might be how it reshapes classic bucket‑list trips. Instead of choosing between Peru’s high‑Andean archaeology and Argentina’s rainforest waterfalls, travellers can now realistically combine both within a single holiday without expensive backtracking flights.

Tour operators have long marketed Lima and Cusco as the entry point to Machu Picchu, which Peru’s official tourism site describes as the country’s star attraction, perched high in a tropical mountain forest. From Lima, domestic connections to Cusco take about an hour; from there, trains and treks link up with the Inca citadel. Now, after visiting the Andes, travellers can return to Lima and continue directly to Puerto Iguazú, emerging from the aircraft into dense, humid jungle air just a few hours later.

On the Argentine side, government tourism portals explain that Puerto Iguazú is the main jumping‑off point for the falls, reached by air via Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport and served by extensive walkways on the Argentine side of the river. Once inside the national park, visitors can follow circuits to the thundering Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), take a jungle train through the forest and cool off in the mist of more than 250 individual cascades.

A boost for local communities and sustainable tourism

Beyond headline numbers and schedules, the reopening of international skies over Puerto Iguazú is expected to have tangible effects on local livelihoods. Iguazú’s official tourism and government channels emphasise how tourism income supports everything from small guesthouses and restaurants to community‑led cultural projects in the surrounding Selva Misionera.

Examples range from Guaraní communities near the park who combine reforestation with cultural tourism, to family‑run lodges and eco‑friendly tours that showcase birdwatching, forest trails and river excursions. More frequent and affordable air connections from Lima mean a steadier flow of visitors in shoulder seasons, smoothing out demand and supporting year‑round jobs in a region where options beyond tourism are limited.

Provincial officials also used the inaugural flight ceremony to announce planned expansions to the international departures and arrivals areas at the airport, aligning infrastructure with the expected growth in traffic. These works aim to reduce bottlenecks at immigration, improve passenger comfort and ensure that the park’s protected status is matched by responsible visitor management.

Practical takeaways for travellers

For those considering the new route, a few practical notes emerge from official and tourism sources:

• Frequency & schedule: Four weekly flights (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun) on Flybondi between Lima (LIM) and Puerto Iguazú (IGR).
• Flight time: Around 5–5.5 hours in the air, depending on winds and operational conditions.
• Gateway airports: Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is Peru’s main international gateway, while Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport serves the Argentine side of the falls.
• Park access: Entry to Iguazú National Park on the Argentine side is managed by Argentina’s National Parks Administration, with tickets and visitor information available through official government channels referenced by the Misiones Ministry of Tourism.

Travellers should still verify visa requirements, health guidelines and park ticket availability on the relevant government websites before departure, particularly in peak holiday seasons when both Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls can approach capacity.

A new chapter for two iconic gateways

For Lima, already promoted by Peruvian tourism authorities as both a culinary hotspot and a springboard to the Andes and the Amazon, the direct link to Puerto Iguazú reinforces its role as a regional crossroads rather than a mere stopover. For Puerto Iguazú, the sound of an international jet touching down again signals renewed confidence that the city can welcome the world back to its rainforest doorstep.

Most of all, for the people who turn aviation routes into real journeys—families reuniting from opposite ends of the continent, solo travellers finally ticking off a dream waterfall, Peruvian and Argentine tourism workers sharing the load of a recovering industry—this new Lima–Puerto Iguazú flight is a reminder that South America’s great natural and cultural landmarks are meant to be connected. And as the jungle mist rises over Iguazu Falls and city lights flicker on along Lima’s cliffs, it feels a little easier, and a lot more human, to imagine visiting both on the same unforgettable trip.