Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls, a natural wonder located in the middle of the rainforest, shared by Argentina at 80% and Brazil at 20%. I’m not afraid to say it, these are truly the most beautiful falls in the world. They are exceptional!!

The Iguazu Falls are one of the 3 most spectacular falls in the world, along with those of Victoria and Niagara. They are found in a tropical environment, between Argentina and Brazil. Although very popular with tourists, Iguazu Falls are one of those truly remarkable places that should not be missed.

It’s not strictly speaking a waterfall, but a set of 275 waterfalls forming a front of approximately 3 km. The tallest of them reaches 80 m high. It’s called the Devil’s Throat “Garganta del Diablo” in Spanish or “Garganta do Diabo” in Portuguese. All of the waterfalls discharge up to 6 million liters of water per second.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina or Brazil?

On each side of the border, Brazilian and Argentine, the Iguazú Falls “Las Cataratas del Iguazú” are part of a nature reserve: The Iguazu National Park (Argentina) and Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil). These parks were added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1984 and 1986, respectively. The Iguazú River is a tributary of the Paraná, between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones. Port Iguazú “Puerto Iguazú” is the ideal starting point for visiting the Iguazú National Park.

A lush jungle provides the setting for the Iguazu Falls, the river which partly runs along the Argentina-Brazil border. It’s claimed that it’s Argentina which owns the falls and Brazil which profits from their spectacle. Indeed, the falls are located mainly on the Argentine side, but the view is more spectacular on the Brazilian side.

Indeed, it’s in Brazilian territory, at the end of a walk of around 500 meters, that you can enjoy an exceptional view of this natural wonder. The Argentine side, for its part, allows you not only to admire the falls, but also to approach them from as many different angles as possible. “Iguazú” in Guaraní Indian language means “big water”.

In Argentina, departing from Port Iguazú, several visiting circuits have been set up in the middle of the forest and above the different branches of the Iguazú river, via various footbridges. It’s possible to approach just a few meters from the falls. A train takes us to the different starting points of the visits; the most breathtaking walk is the one that crosses the upper course of the river, between Puerto Canoas and the most impressive waterfall, La Garganta del Diablo “the Devil’s Throat”, 700 m long and 150 m wide.

From the top of a footbridge approximately 1 km long, you can see the waters flowing in cataracts into the natural basin, 70 m below. It’s at dusk that we best appreciate the spectacle, not just because of the special light, but also because it’s the time when flocks of small black swifts “vencejos” cross the curtain of the falls foaming to return to their nests clinging to the rock.

Let’s go further

The crossing that takes us by canoe to San Martin Island is also an unforgettable experience, because it takes us to the very heart of this grandiose setting. The excursion is all the more pleasant as the island is festooned with small coves where you can swim.

The Iguazu National Park is crisscrossed with trails and roads that allow you to explore – by car or mountain bike – the subtropical forest through which the Iguazú flows. With a little luck and a lot of attention, you can see the many wild animals that inhabit the jungle.

Come and marvel!