Straddling the boarder between Brazil and Argentina, made up of a combination of 275 falls, varying between 62 – 80 metres high, is the spectacular and impressive, Iguazu Falls. Walking around the falls, the thundering sound of rushing water is almost deafening. The main attraction is the Devil’s Throat, a U-shape area which is 82 metres high, 150 m wide and 700 m long. Viewing platforms of the Devil’s Throat are on both the Brazil side where you feel right in it and Argentina where you can look from above.
If you are visiting Iguazu Falls and trying to decide which side (Brazil or Argentina) to access it from, the simple answer is you need to see if from both. Even on a tight schedule, it is possible to visit both sides on the same day. Each side gives a different view and experience for appreciating the falls. The Brazilian side (which I recommend seeing first) consists of a main 1km walkway that runs along the Iguazu River finishing at the Devil’s Throat. At a leisurely pace it takes 30 – 45 mins, which includes taking photos along the way. It is perfect for getting a complete overview of the Falls and an understanding of how big they really are. Entrance to the park costs around R$42 and if you are in Foz do Iguaçu, can be reached by bus that leaves from the Urban Bus Terminal on Av Juscelino Kubitschek. Just look for the sign/bus that says ‘Parque Nacional do Iguaçu’ or ‘Cataratas’. The trip is about 30-45 mins on the bus and the park is one of the last stops. There is a huge entrance which is hard to miss so no need to worry about getting off at the wrong stop. Once you have bought your ticket at the entrance, a small shuttle bus will take you through the park to the start of the trail.
The Argentinian side is made up of a confusing number of walkways in a beautiful nature reserve. When you manage to find the right paths, they will lead you right over the waterfalls, so that you get the feeling of really being “in” it and up close and personal to them. It is also possible to do boat trips from either side. We did it with Grand Adventure from the Argentinian side, which was 1.5 hrs and included a jeep ride through the jungle (slightly boring), a speed boat ride down the river (extremely fun) and a boat ride right underneath the Falls (amazing for FB profile pics but you do get a bit wet)! The tour we did seems better value for money because the shorter trip is only about 12 mins long which isn’t reflected in the price. Entrance to the park cost us AR$215 and regular buses leave from Puerto Iguazú’s Bus Terminal on Av Córdoba.
As is the case with many natural attractions that entice tourists, cities usually pop up near them to cater for the visitors. In this instance, there are two options to choose from Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil and Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
The much larger of the two cities, there is a quarter of a million people that call Foz do Iguaçu home. There isn’t much to write home about the city itself, it’s spread out, filled with grey buildings and is focused around it’s commercial district. It is easier to organise necessities such as visas for Argentina and Paraguay (both have a consulate here), shopping for specific items and there is a larger variety of restaurants, cafes and bars.
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
With a population of only 34,000, we immediately preferred this small town compared to Foz do Iguaçu. Everything is easily accessible by walking and the town has a lot more character to it. There are a number of nice looking cafes , bars and restaurants, some fun-looking nightclubs, a casino, stores selling indigenous handmade crafts and an antipasto lane way with lots of little shops selling cheese, olives, sun dried tomatoes and wine.
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