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Iguaçu Falls
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One of the great natural wonders of the world, the Iguaçu Falls (Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu, Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazú, Tupi: Y Ûasu "big water") are situated near the border of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The area is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
[edit] Get in
Access to the Falls is usually done through one of the three cities in the so-called tri-border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
The city on the Brazilian side is Foz do Iguaçu - big and reasonably safe by Brazilian standards. The town on the Argentine side is called Puerto Iguazu and is small and pretty. Although the falls are between Brazil and Argentina only, Ciudad del Este, the city on the Paraguayan side, is just across the bridge from Brazil. It's a hectic (but exciting) centre for contraband and cheap electronic goods.
Border crossing between these countries is fairly relaxed - authorities assume most people are on a day trip across the border. US passport holders require a visa (US$130) to visit the Brazilian side of the falls which is NOT issued at the border. European Union passport holders do not normally need a visa to enter Brazil for tourism.
[edit] By plane
Both the Brazilian and Argentinean cities have nearby airports.
Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (Brazil) is served by TAM Airlines and Gol Transportes Aéreos, with direct scheduled flights to and from São Paulo Guarulhos/Congonhas, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Recife and Salvador. The airport is located just off the main road between the city of Foz do Iguaçu and the entrance to the Iguaçu National Park. Taxis are readily available - go to the taxi desk at the entrance to the terminal building and tell them your destination (they speak English) and they will arrange for a car and give you a price. You can either pay by card at the desk or pay the driver in cash. Expect the fare to Foz do Iguaçu to be around R$25-30. The fare to the park entrance in Brazil is closer and will be less. The airport is on the bus route between Foz do Iguaçu and the National Park entrance. The bus service runs every half hour and is cheap (R$2.20), efficient and easy to use. The stop is right outside the terminal building - board the front of the bus and pay the person sat at the turnstile (change is given) before passing through. The bus passes many of the main hotels on the way into the city (stops are frequent) and ends up at the bus terminal on the far side of the city where there's a friendly tourist information office. In the other direction the bus will drop you off just outside the main visitor's centre at the entrance to the park.
[edit] By bus
Buses from all major cities in the country arrive in each of the three towns (see there for details).
From Puerto Iguazu there are frequent buses to the entrance of their side of the falls.
From Foz do Iguaçu buses run every half hour from the bus terminal to the visitor's centre at the national park entrance, passing many of the main hotels in the city along the way. The R$2.20 flat fare makes the bus a very cheap way to visit the falls and it's also easy to use. If you're starting your journey at the bus terminal you pay your fare on entering the terminal and board the bus through the rear door (the bus is No. 120 to 'Parque Nacional' - the tourist information office at the terminal will point you in the right direction if you have any trouble finding it). When boarding the bus anywhere else you use the front door and pay at the turnstile onboard. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
It is not uncommon for policemen to check passports in the Argentinian side of the falls, even during domestic journeys. It is advised to carry some documentation of citizenship, when needed.
[edit] Get around
On the Argentine side of the park there's a small train leaving about every half an hour from near the entrance going all the way to the beginning of the trail to the Garganta del Diablo.
[edit][add listing] See
The Iguaçu Falls are an awesome sight as tons of water throw themselves over cliffs and the mist rises amongst the jungle. They are taller than Niagara Falls, and twice as wide, for which Eleanor Roosevelt is said to have exclaimed on her first sight of the Falls: "Poor Niagara!"
It is well worth spending a day on each side of the falls.
[edit] Argentine Side
On the Argentine side (60 AR$ pp, second day for half price if you get your ticket stamped before leaving on the first day, subsequent days are free if you tell them you are staying at the Sheraton). Wear waterproofs and protect your camera as it can get quite wet on some viewpoints.
There are five main tracks all of which are paved and well marked with the exception of Sendero Macuco:
Circuito Superior - is a short walk to some nice viewpoints along the upper rim of the waterfalls
Circuito Inferior - is a longer walk on the bottom end of the falls with the main attraction being the lookout to watch Salto Bossetti and Dos Hermanas. This pathway leads also to the free ferry service to Isla San Martin and the tour operators.
Isla San Martin - has two main lookouts to different sides of the falls. There are also a lot of birds. Access by boat only (free).
Garganta del Diablo - The main attraction of the Argentine side. There is a free train running up to a 1 km-long walkway across the river to stand just back from the main horseshoe of falls where the roar and spray are most tremendous.
Sendero Macuco - is the trail with the most abundant wildlife (including mosquitos) and a good way to get away from the crowd. It's about 7 km return on an unpaved but easy path starting at the Estacion Central.
[edit] Brazilian Side
On the Brazilian side (20 R$ pp, cheaper for Brazilian residents) you get an excellent overview of Devil's Throat and the rest of the falls, from both above and below.
[edit][add listing] Do
Spectacular boat trips can be made under the falls, but they are kind of pricey, if you take the Safaris offered on the Brazilian side of the Falls. If you go all the way to the "Las Cateratas" station on the Brazilian side, you will be offered e.g. wildwater rafting & abseiling activities at better rates. When you arrive shortly before the activities close for the day or they're just not busy you can easily bargain about the price and get a really good rate!
[edit] Argentine Side
- Iguazu Jungle Explorer, info@iguazujunglexplorer.com, [1]: offers excellent trips, including boat rides (recommended) and rides on 4WD trucks through the park (not so interesting). To be booked near the entrance or on the circuito inferior before going down to the ferry. If you do one of the boat rides (AR$75 for a short one, AR$150 for a long one which also takes you some way down the river), prepare to get soaked to the skin (you'll receive a dry bag for your camera).
[edit] Brazilian Side
- Macuco Safari, [2]: offers boat trips up to the base of the Iguassu Falls in 20 person zodiac boats. Your tour starts at the roadside entrance gate where you board the truck that will take you through the jungle towards the drop-off point. A narrator described the fauna that was seen along the way. At the end of the ride, you have a easy hike down to the dock where you don your raincoat, a life preserver and place your valuables/dry things into plastic bags. The ride up the river to the falls is quite fun as the boats are powered by the two large motors that are needed to naviate the rapids. During the ride, the journey is video captured for your later purchase. The captains know the rapids well which means that every chance they have to dip the boat and soak the passengers is done. The first pause is at a the begining of the falls near the launch point for the Argetinian boat tours. There is time for photos and then to re-wrap your camera and up the river towards the Devils Throat. You cannot get that close the large falls as it gets exceedingly rocky in the river which prevents them from going all the way to the base of the falls. However, the captain will get you very close to going under the falls whenever he can. One note:you will get wet. The raincoat that I wore did not help at all; I was soaked.
[edit][add listing] Buy
On both sides of the falls you can buy souvenirs, but they are very expensive compared to the souvenirs you can buy on the main road of Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazu.
[edit][add listing] Eat
On the Argentina side, there is a really nice hotel that serves a good buffet. You can see the mist coming out of the falls and also generally see toucans and other birds flying around.
On the Brazil side, there's a buffet that stands right next to the throat at the Porto Canoas station at the end of the walking trail. The food is good, the view of the river makes for a surreal sight as you know the falls are really close by but you can't really see them other than the mist and the noise.It's a nice place to eat. In addition to the buffet at R49.50 you can grab a (burger) combo meal at one of the outlets right in front of the buffet restaurant for around R10.
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
The following two options are the only hotels close to the waterfalls. However, they are far from everything in the evening. Most people prefer to stay in either Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side or in Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, where a large number and range of accommodation options can be found. Transport to the falls during daytime is an easy 20 min bus ride.
[edit] Splurge
[edit] Brazilian Side
- Hotel Bristol Viale Cataratas,Iguassu Falls, Parana. ++55 45 2105-7200,[3]. Great location, in the Cataratas Avenue. Close to the downton, close to Argentina, close to the falls, close to everithing. A new hotel wich open in september 2008. Modern instalation. A great place to stay.
- Hotel Das Cataratas,Iguacu National Park, Parana. ++55 45 2102-7000,[4]. Stunning location inside the Brazilian National Park, perched atop the falls. Walk to Brazilian observation points and Porto Canoas. Traditional luxury hotel with upscale appointments, gourmet dining rooms, outdoor swimming pool and tennis. Observation deck on the roof. 203 guest rooms. An unforgettable hotel.
[edit] Argentine Side
- Sheraton Internacional Iguazú Resort, Iguazú 3370, ++54 3757-491800,[5]. Amazing location within the Argentinian National Park, walk to the Argentinian falls. Newly remodelled pool/ gym/ spa area. Observation deck on the roof. English speaking. 180 rooms. double jungle view/ falls view $305 US/ $365 US per night. Be sure to keep your patio door closed in the early morning, or the monkeys may steal things.
[edit] Get out
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