Originally Posted by
sushibear
To make a visit even more exciting:
Immigration authorities will not allow entry into Brazil without a valid visa. The U.S. Government cannot assist travelers who arrive in Brazil without proper documentation.
This reminds me of being in Big Bend National Park in Texas a few years ago and a Park Ranger telling me I could visit a little Mexican town across the river in a rowboat if I wanted to.
Sure, it was "illegal." But no one cared, and the odds of anyone "arresting" you was zero.
I'm not sure about the current Iguazu crossing situation, but it sure sounds similar. When I was there a few years ago, there was no problem for an American getting across the border without the Brazilian visa. I happened to have one (I was visiting both countries), but the taxi driver seemed surprised, and certainly would have taken me across the border without one.
My hunch is that if that all the locals involved in the tourist trade say it's OK to cross the border without the visa, it should be OK to cross the border.