Cataratas Del Iguazú International Airport

Don't let the compact size of IGR fool you — the airport does a respectable job of giving travelers one last taste of the northeastern Argentine table before they board. The main terminal's single food court area anchors the airside experience, anchored by a café that serves proper medialunas, empanadas de carne, and strong cortados that hold their own against anything you'd find in Buenos Aires. It's the kind of honest, unfussy spread that feels right at home in this corner of Misiones province.

For something a bit more sit-down, the restaurant adjacent to the departure lounge leans into regional pride with dishes that nod to the Litoral's bounty — think surubí (the prized river catfish from the Paraná) prepared simply with chimichurri, or locro-style stews during the cooler months. The menu rotates seasonally, and the kitchen isn't shy about using yerba mate and local herbs as accents. Pair a plate with a glass of Malbec from Mendoza and you'll leave Argentina feeling genuinely satisfied rather than shortchanged by a sad airport sandwich.

Yerba mate culture is inescapable here, and that's a good thing. Several kiosks sell mate gourds, bombillas, and packaged yerba as gifts, but you can also order a proper thermos setup at the café counter if you want to sip like a local while you wait at the gate. Shelf-stable chimichurri, dulce de leite, and Misionero honey make for excellent edible souvenirs. The overall vibe is relaxed and genuinely warm — fitting for an airport that opens its doors to one of the world's great natural wonders.