Waterfalls Brazil. Iguazu Falls and the three borders, Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay. Iguazu Falls in Brazil

Iguazu Falls is a majestic multi-level cascade of waterfalls in South America. They are considered the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and at the beginning of the 21st century, they were named one of the seven wonders of nature on our planet.

Iguazu National Park

The largest Iguazu Falls covers the territory of two national parks, located on the border of the South American countries: Argentina and Brazil. The Argentine Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Iguazú) was founded in 1934 and covers an area of 55,000 hectares. The Brazilian park (port. Parque Nacional do Iguaçu) was founded 5 years later on an area of 185,262 hectares.

Both parks have been listed as properties since the 1980s World Heritage UNESCO.

Flora and fauna of the area

The Iguazu Falls system is surrounded by spectacular wilderness and subtropical jungle. The flora consists of 2 thousand plant species, including endangered ones. The fauna of this area is very diverse and includes dozens of species of reptiles and butterflies.

Of the mammals, the most common are: coral adder, Brazilian otter, puma, capuchin monkey, jaguar, capybara, nosuha, ocelot and others. It is home to such rare bird species as the Great Toucan, the American Swift, the Tirika, the South American Harpy and the Brazilian Merganser.

Information about Iguazu Falls

The first European discoverer of Iguazu Falls is considered to be the Spanish conqueror Cabeza de Vaca. He sailed down the mighty Paraná River in search of jewels and in 1541 saw “something significant.” Cabeza de Vaca called the waterfall "St. Mary's Leap", but this name did not stick. The waterfall system owes its modern name to the Guarani Indian tribe. From their language “Iguazu” translates as “ big water", where "I" means "water" and "guazu" means "big".

The Iguazu Falls group is located on the river of the same name, 25 km from the Parana River. The multi-level cascade, depending on the season, has 275 waterfalls, separated by numerous islands, with a water fall height of 60-80 meters. The most famous waterfalls: “The Devil’s Throat”, “Adam and Eve”, “Cabeza de Vaca”, “Rivadavia”, “Two Sisters”, “Salto Escondido”, “Union” and others.

The total width of the complex is 2.7 km; if the waterfall system were a continuous wall of water, then Iguazu Falls would become the widest in the world, but at the moment this title is assigned.

Devil's Throat

The highest and most famous waterfall of the Iguazu complex, the Devil's Throat, has a crescent shape and is 700 meters long. Falling from a height of 80 meters, streams of water create a huge cloud of spray and beautiful rainbows, and the sound of the water can be heard several kilometers deep into the jungle.

The waterfall is located at the intersection of Argentina and Brazil, so you can see it from both sides. From the Brazilian side, the view of the Devil's Throat is more spectacular, since the Brazilian coast is lower. And on the Argentine side you can not only watch, but also feel the waterfall by getting as close to it as possible along the bridges.

annual attendance of waterfalls from 2 million people;
the following films were filmed in the parks: “Moonraker”, “Baraka”, “Godzilla”, “Tango for Three”, “Miami Vice”, “Time of Fear” and many others;
in 1978 there was such a dry season that not a single drop of water fell from the ledge of the waterfall;
in 1000 years the waterfall moves approximately 1 km;
Iguazu Falls serve as the border line for three countries at once: Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina;
Many excursions to the waterfalls are complemented by a visit to the world's largest hydroelectric power station, Itaipu, on the Parana River.

Features of visiting Cataratas del Iguazu

It is useless to hide under raincoats from the huge splashes of water, so it is better to wear a swimsuit and put your clothes in a rubber bag (available at the pier upon request).

The tourist infrastructure in the National Parks is well developed: there are toilets, shops, cafes and snack bars.

Not far from the waterfalls there is an airport, walking trails and campsites. You can stay in one of the.

Excursions and entertainment for tourists

To fully appreciate the scale of the spectacle, it is better to watch the Iguazu Falls from both countries.

The Brazilian side offers an unforgettable view of the waterfall; here you can book a helicopter flight or river walk on the boat.

From the Argentine side, you can admire the waterfalls at arm's length. Numerous bridges and observation platforms allow you to see the waterfalls from above, below and from the side (field angle 260 degrees). A train takes tourists to the most popular waterfalls, and there are also cable cars.

After the tour you can watch the performances local residents who sing and dance in the national costumes of Argentina and Brazil.

When is the best time to go?

It is better to plan a trip to Iguazu Falls during the rainy season - from November to March. At this time, the river fills with water, the swirls of splashes increase and beautiful rainbows of varying lengths appear. Starting in April, the water flow becomes less rapid and strong.

Cost and work schedule

Brazilian Iguazu Park:

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 17:00 (in summer - until 18:00).

Ticket price - 16 dollars.

Helicopter flight (10 minutes) - $120.

Argentina's Iguazu Park:

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 18:00.

Ticket price - 13 dollars.

River rides on inflatable boats - $25.

How to get to Iguazu Falls

In Brazil: get to the nearest town of Foz do Iguaçu, then take a regular bus that takes you to the park.

In Argentina: first get to the nearest town of Puerto Iguazu, from there take a bus to National Park.

As a result of powerful volcanic eruption, which led to the appearance of a large crevice in the ground, formed Iguazu Falls(port. Cataratas do Iguaçu). They spread over 2.7 kilometers along the Iguazu River, 24 kilometers away. from the place where it flows into. The waterfall located on the border of () and (), the river is divided into Upper and Lower Iguazu.

The waterfalls are included in the list of phenomenal natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, being an inseparable part of a unique, almost untouched tropical jungle biosystem, protected by the Iguazu National Parks, Brazilian and Argentine, on both sides of the water flows. Two-thirds of the cascades are on the Argentine side of the river. Therefore, the view of the cascade from Brazil is much more impressive.

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The grandeur of one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world is revealed in all its grandeur during the rainy season (November - March), when water flow the river reaches 13 thousand m³/sec.

The origins of which are located nearby Atlantic coast Brazil, further south, flows into westward deep into the mainland. The river in the area of the waterfall is almost 4 km wide, and the stream rushes over this entire width from a grandiose semicircular cliff.

In fact, Iguazu is a complex of 275 waterfalls, some of which are over 80 meters high and most of them are 60-70 meters high.

The name Iguaçu means “Big Water” in the Guarani language.

These waterfalls unfold in streams and cascades: some of them rush straight into the basin located 82 m below, the rest are broken up into groups of smaller streams formed by steps of solid rock, falling on which the water turns into dense clouds of tiny spray. Sunlight completes the fantastic picture, creating sparkling rainbows.

The deepest part of the Iguazu system is (“Garganta del Diablo”), 82 m high and 150 m wide, shaped like a horseshoe. I. is the most beautiful and most convenient waterfall on the planet for tourists; it provides ideal conditions for viewing: standing at one point, you can contemplate all the cascades, having a 260-degree view.

The best way to admire the unique view is from the Brazilian side: 14 mighty streams falling from a height, the force of which is so powerful that the waterfall is always surrounded by a huge sparkling misty cloud. On the Argentina side there are no less beautiful areas. Here excursions are organized along narrow bridges stretching directly over the current flowing into the Devil's Throat (in total there are more than 2 km of bridges between the islands).

Quite remarkable are also the San Martin, Bernabe Mendez and Bossetti waterfalls. The system's multiple cascades are separated from each other by islands scattered in the middle of the current. If they formed a continuous, single wall of water, then it would be the widest waterfall in the world, ahead of South Africa's Victoria with a continuous stream 1600 meters wide and 100 meters high.

Today, Iguazu is recognized as the record holder for the volume of falling water, which averages 1,700 m³/sec of water, which is more than Victoria and Niagara Falls taken together.

A little history

The discoverer of the waterfall is considered to be Don Alvaro Nunez Caseso de Vaca, a Spanish conquistador who in 1541 set out in search of gold in the South American jungle. Having landed on the coast of what is now Brazil and moving through the Brazilian Highlands to the west, hearing a dull distant rumble, a small detachment went to the waterfall. The cruel conqueror was incredibly impressed by the majestic natural phenomenon, giving it the name Salto de Santa Maria ("St. Mary's Leap"). Although the name did not stick, the name of Don de Vaca is immortalized on a stone slab near the Arayagaray cascade.

The Spanish-Portuguese colonialists had little interest in natural beauty; they were driven to America by the thirst for profit; for several centuries they did not even remember the grandiose waterfalls.

It was only in the 19th century that the waterfalls were discovered again by the explorer Boselli, whose name is given to one of the Argentine cascades. Until 1864 they belonged, but Argentina and Brazil also laid claim to this territory. As a result of the military conflict - the bloodiest of all wars in American history, in 1864-1870, as a result of forced territorial concessions to Paraguay, South coast the Iguazu River went to Argentina, and north shore- Brazil.

So, Iguazu. Perhaps the main attraction of Argentina after Buenos Aires. Its other attractions are not so bright, although they are also fascinating. Patagonian glaciers and snow are unlikely to surprise Russians, but the mountains and salt lakes of Salta and Turuman are perhaps not for everyone. Buenos Aires is a dirty parody of European cities, but at the same time it is fantastically cozy and beautiful. Therefore, it became Iguazu. There is no escape from it. These waterfalls are located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, the Argentine side is more interesting, it takes 5-6 hours. One and a half hours is enough for the Brazilian side. In addition, on the Argentine side, in addition to the park with waterfalls, there are many other interesting things, for example, villages of the Guarani Indians, the Park of the Three Borders, and you can go to the ruins of the Jesuit city. You can get to Iguazu Falls from Brazil's Rio and Sao Paolo by plane. In this case, you will fly to the Brazilian side, to the city of Foz do Iguazu. Don't be confused, the Brazilian airport code is IGU. In Argentina, there are flights to Igusa (airport code IGR) from Salta and Buenos Aires. A ticket costs $250-400 (round trip). You can also come to Iguazu from Buenos Aires by bus of varying degrees of comfort, for 17 hours and 70-100 dollars one way. It is also theoretically possible to come to Brazilian Iguazu from Rio and Sao Paulo, but buses go there very rarely. It’s better to drop this idea right away.

We are approaching... There, the most important waterfall is visible - “Devil's Throat”, smoke is coming from it. The elongated building is the best and most expensive and most unique hotel in this area, the Belmond das Cataratas Hotel. This is the only hotel that I recommend renting on the Brazilian side. It is located in a park with waterfalls. By the way, on the Argentine side of the park there is also a 5* Sheraton hotel. This is a monstrously bad hotel according to the reviews of all my tourists. And so, if there is not enough for Belmond, then you need to settle on the Argentine side. But more about hotels at the end of the report or.

Iguazu, compared to Buenos Aires, is a different planet. Another world. The city is located at a different latitude, and everything is different here, tropical animals, tropical insects, other people, more Indian type, and huge ants running across the red earth

The city of Iguazu itself can be called a city with a stretch. It's more of a village. Although there is a main square there, and even a decent shopping mall Punto Iguazu, with several good restaurants. The city of Iguazu is very Latin American, it’s not like the prim Buenos Aires and the south of the country, it’s simple Latin America! But the good thing about Argentina is that the country is completely different: Iguazu, Buenos Aires, Cumbrecita and Bariloche, Ushuaia, Salta - this is all absolutely different worlds. Traveling through them, you can get impressions of several different countries.

All the soil in this region has a vibrant red-brown color. All the dirt on shoes, on cars, on asphalt is red-brown.

Many people begin their trip to Argentina with Iguazu. Tourists come here from the Brazilian Iguazu. And of course, tourists need to exchange dollars, because as you know, in Argentina the dollar exchange rate is black. I recommend this black exchanger. He looks official because he is official. And by default they will offer you the official exchange rate for a dollar. But if you ask in a hushed voice for more, they will give it. Of course, this is a province and here you won’t get as much for a dollar as in the capital. But it’s quite possible to change it for a couple of days. It is better, of course, for these purposes to ask for help from the driver who will drive you. More details about drivers. Black exchanger address: Av. Victoria Aguirre 564.

So, we enter the park. Here is a map of the Argentine side of the park with the waterfalls. When you click on it, it will open in a larger size.

The park is open to visitors from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a mini-train in the park that takes you to the Devil's throat. There are also 2 routes - the upper, short one, called Paseo Superior and the long lower one, Cirquito Inferior, which has access to boats on which you can ride close to the waterfalls. This attraction is called Aventura Nautica and costs about $17 in pesos at the black exchange rate. There are many signs in the park, there are clear paths, so there can be no problems with orientation there. The park has good restaurant type buffet Fortin, where you can have lunch.

Now I'll arrange it for you virtual tour around this park. In the park you will probably meet local shy and arrogant animals, Coati. They usually beg tourists for something tasty, or check trash cans. On the Argentine side, the trash cans were covered with lids. On the Brazilian one they left a hole into which not too fat Coatis climb for prey.

Coatis, despite their modest appearance, sometimes behave businesslike and impudently with tourists, snatching food out of their hands, and if the tourist is carrying a plastic bag. This is a sure sign for the coati that there is food inside. They try to tear these packages with their nails, or simply snatch them from the hands of a tourist.

There are menacing signs hanging around the park with photographs of terrible wounds, and evil coatis and monkeys. This should warn the tourist from the danger that threatens him in the face of these cute animals. But I personally have never seen coatis bite anyone other than each other.

A flock of free-roaming monkeys also lives in the park.

Please take care of the starving monkeys and bring a bag of peanuts with you to the park.

We go deep into the park along the “Green Path” - Sendero Verde. In general, all routes in the park are clearly marked.

This path runs through the cultivated jungle and takes us to the Cataratas station. Here in the park there is a small narrow-gauge railway open train. And it has 3 stops: Estacion Central, Estacion Cataratas and Garganta del Diablo. You don't need the first and main station, Estacion Central. From central entrance You walk on foot and at Estacion Central turn right onto the Sendero Verde hiking trail. You need to go to the second, main station Estacion Cataratas, where 2 main ones begin walking routes, and not far from this station there is a restaurant called Fortin. The Sendero Verde route runs through the cultivated jungle, and this is where you can meet monkeys. The walk doesn't take long, you can of course travel this distance by train, but it won't be interesting and it'll be long, the train makes a circle.

So, we are at the Estacion Cataratas station. First we will go to the Devil's Throat, then we will return here and follow two main walking routes, Paseo Superior and Cirquito Inferior. That is, this place is key. All main routes start from here. We are waiting for the train and watching a family of loitering coatis.

Please pay attention to the tourist on the left side of the frame. She deliberately covered her face with a book so that the multimillion-dollar public reading my modest notes would not see her. But if she hadn’t covered her face, it wouldn’t have occurred to me or you to pay such close attention to her. Who is this? Why doesn't she want to show her face? These questions still remain unanswered... I ask everyone who recognizes her to write in the comments, so we will find this woman and finally show everyone!

We arrive at the final station Garganta del Diablo. Devil's Throat Station is the name of the main waterfall. The train is not going any further, please vacate the carriages.

Along the iron bridges, we go to the very Devil's Throat, the largest of the local waterfalls, and one of the largest waterfalls in the world.

Lives in this area great amount very beautiful butterflies.

And below they bask in the sun sea turtles, also with butterflies, pay attention!

There it is, the Devil's Throat

On the other side - Brazil

The most unusual body inscription I have ever seen: “Thank you, MORE please.”

Let's go back and take the train.

We return to the same station from where we left, Estacion Cataratas - Waterfalls Station.

And we go to the "Upper Walk", Paseo Superior. Looking ahead, I will say that this route is the most beautiful of the entire Argentine park.

The views are stunning, and if you click on this photo, it will open in high resolution, just right for your desktop wallpaper.

This photo is also in high resolution, just click on the picture.

We go through the entire Paseo Superior route, return to its beginning, and here is the beginning of another route. On the upper level there were global, beautiful views, and now we are going to the lower level, Paseo Inferior, and see what is there...

This route is longer and more wooded.

The opposite bank of the river is Brazil. Extreme jumping unit, year 2013.

This is him in 2014.

In June 2014 there was a flood in Iguazu. Due to the fact that the enterprises located along the Parana River simultaneously opened the floodgates, the water rose. It rose tens of meters and broke many structures. Both the Argentine and Brazilian sides suffered. And for many months, many park routes were closed. But now, in 2015, everything works

This is the Brazilian side, and the bridges over the waterfalls, which we will see up close in my story about the Brazilian part of the park.

Cash register. Here you can purchase tickets for boat rides under the waterfalls. Often this skating is combined with other events, for example, Gran Aventura, Big Adventure. This includes swimming close to waterfalls, cutting through the river at high speed, and then driving through the jungle in trucks. But I don't recommend buying the Gran Aventura. Swimming to waterfalls is very cool, cutting through a stormy river is also great. But a ride in the back through the jungle is a rather boring, uninteresting and lengthy event. Therefore, I recommend you the best option: Aventura Nautica. This is only a swim close to the waterfalls. You buy a ticket at this box office, it will cost about 20 dollars in black-and-peso equivalent.

We bought a ticket and went downstairs to board. It takes about 5 minutes to go there. Before loading onto the boats, all people are given waterproof bags to hide things in.

Everyone still puts on life jackets, and everyone is filmed. With double benefits: firstly, you will then be offered to buy this video, and secondly, this video will conveniently identify the dead.

In 2011, the waterfall covered a boat, it capsized and two people died. They were pulled to the bottom by a strong pressure of water. You can watch a video of the rescue operation here.

But in reality everything is safe. The Argentines take great care of everything, and the boat drivers are masters and virtuosos. During the entire time, only two people died, although the boats overturned several times.

Swimming under a waterfall, or rather swimming close to it, is the same as turning on the shower at full power and pointing it at your face. Everyone comes out wet, absolutely wet. It’s still dry here, but I didn’t film the swim. Because showers, it’s a pity for the camera, and they’re not allowed for safety reasons and the safety of equipment. But even if I were filming, nothing would be visible: there is a very strong breeze near the waterfall, and everything is just white. Well, it’s very difficult to keep your eyes open because of the water pouring into them.

Kites are circling over the swim site, waiting for dinner...

Besides swimming under waterfalls, there are less extreme entertainment, you can simply take a boat to San Martin Island. There he is, on the left

Yonder visible upper route, Paseo Superior, which we have already walked along

By the way, the conquistador traveler who discovered the Iguazu Falls noted in his diary: “waterfalls are just waterfalls, nothing special.”

Carrying children on shoulders is prohibited. Because the paths are slippery

There is only one hotel in the park. This is Sheraton. The hotel is disgusting, judging by the reviews of EVERYONE who has been there. The only plus of this hotel is that it is located inside the park. But you won’t be able to take advantage of this advantage either: after 18:00 all routes will be closed, and you can only walk near the hotel. But, yes, you can see waterfalls from the windows.

In general, that’s all with the Argentine park. We leave it and go back to the city of Iguazu. There is one place there that is definitely worth a visit. This is the Three Borders Park - Tres Fronteras. The thing is that in this place the borders of three countries converge: Paraguay (on the left), Brazil (on the right) and Argentina (we are located there). These three states are separated by 2 rivers: the Parana (the wider one) and the Iguazu (the one closer to us)

Brazilian side.

This beautiful round house used to be a restaurant. But 7 years ago, the waters of the Parana River rose so much that they flooded and destroyed the restaurant. Since then it has stood in this form.

And just above the former restaurant there is a symbolic Brazilian border pillar.

This is an Argentine border pillar.

Well, this is Paraguayan

In general, this hotel has recently become disproportionately expensive, remember that there are many similar ones in the jungle nearby.

Here it is, the Argentine city of Puerto Iguazu, and Parque Nacional Iguazu.

I can organize for you, who will take you to the most important places on the Argentine and Brazilian sides for 120-140 dollars per day

If you are going to Iguazu and want to stay in a comfortable and beautiful place, choose a hotel to your liking on booking, and send me its address by e-mail. And I will advise you whether it is located in a good place, whether it is safe there, whether it is beautiful and whether it is far from there to get to interesting places.

Iguazu Falls - one of 7 natural wonders Sveta. And this is not only a title obtained in a vote from 2007 to 2011, organized by a Swiss non-profit organization, but very, very close to the truth. There are many versions and reviews of which waterfalls can compete with Iguazu, the same Angel in Venezuela, Victoria Falls in Africa, Niagara Falls in the USA/Canada and Kaieteur Falls in Guyana. Angel is the most high waterfall in the world, and Victoria is very impressive. Nevertheless, it was Iguazu Falls that became the best and there are several reasons for this:

1. Iguazu Falls are very large and are located on the territory of two countries: on the border of Brazil and Argentina.

Iguazu Falls are located in two countries: Brazil (pictured on the right) and Argentina (pictured on the left)

2. Very picturesque trails have been laid to the waterfalls, some of which come very close to the streams of water, especially on the Brazilian side.

3. Devil's Throat on the Argentine side - this is one of the most powerful impressions of 2 days at the waterfalls.

Devil's Throat - the main Iguazu Falls in Argentina

4. Visiting waterfalls is affordable for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. From the central cities of Brazil and Argentina there are relatively cheap flights to the waterfalls. Everyone can visit the waterfalls!

5. On the territory of the waterfalls there are a large number of animals, including the terribly cute but treacherous Coati of the Nosuhi genus, which gives a visit to the waterfalls a special charm and unity with nature.

Coati in Argentina

Coatis are mammals from the genus Nosukh.

Lovely Coati from the Nosukh clan - stars of waterfalls

The Crested Teddy Jay is a very talkative and beautiful bird of Iguazu Falls.

Typical Iguazu butterfly

The most beautiful butterfly of Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls in Brazil

If you are traveling from Brazil, for example, from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, then it is definitely more convenient to visit the Brazilian side of the waterfalls first. Inspecting the waterfall complex takes no more than 2 hours, even if you try very hard and walk very slowly and take pictures at each observation deck. On the approaches to the central area you will be greeted by a couple of views that promise something grandiose and several cute Coatis (noses).

The entire trail is no more than 900 meters and will take 20-25 minutes. The short length of the trail will pay off in the last 100 meters under the spray of the raging stream, contemplation of a double rainbow and stunning views. A large number of butterflies fly around and surround you, adding some magical atmosphere. The point, of course, is not about magic, but about the fact that butterflies really like the sun and high humidity due to the proximity of the waterfall. All this creates a very pleasant atmosphere of celebration and a happy moment.

Iguazu butterflies

The Brazilian side of the waterfalls impressed us very much and left a lasting impression. On top of that, 500 meters from the waterfalls there is a Tropical Bird Park, but we didn’t get into it because... it closes very early, around 16:30. Having shown ingenuity, we nevertheless looked into it with one eye, photographing pink flamingos and several others beautiful birds. Of course, it is much more pleasant to watch flamingos in person, such as in the Uyuni Salt Desert in Bolivia, but here you can get very close to them. By the way, the cost of visiting the Bird Park is 45 reals, so we’ll assume that we saved 90 reals.

Flamingos at Iguazu Bird Park

Bird park in Iguazu

Iguazu Falls in Argentina

The Argentine part of the waterfalls is much longer than the Brazilian part and for the most part consists of a long network of branched paths, with a total length of more than 4 km. 1-2 hours is not enough here and there are 5 reasons for this:

1. Firstly, it’s hot and it’s very difficult to walk all the trails at once.

2. Secondly, there are a lot of tourists, so you won’t be able to walk quickly.

3. Thirdly, along the way there are a huge number of observation platforms that beckon you to stop and enjoy the moment. Unfortunately, all the observation platforms are a little far from the water flows, so you won’t be able to feel the power like on the Brazilian side. But!

Some trails and viewpoints in Argentina are very far from the waterfalls

4. Fourthly, there is an observation deck near the main and most powerful stream of water - the Throat or the Devil's Throat. You stand here and can’t believe this is happening to you. You look at thousands of tons of water that fall down from a deep cliff and you come to the conclusion that water is definitely one of the most powerful elements of our planet Earth.

Devil's Throat in Iguazu

On the approaches to the Devil's Throat

5. Oh, yes, and fifthly, there are a couple of hundred of these nosuhs (coatis), it’s a pleasure to watch them.

Wild Coati

Cute coati noses

Hungry Coatis

You should arrive not too late, in the first half of the morning (before noon). But it’s probably not worth coming before 11 either, otherwise you won’t be able to find the almost empty Devil’s Throat; at 16:30-17:00 there is practically no one here.

Is it worth visiting Iguazu Falls in both Brazil and Argentina?

It's definitely worth visiting both sides of the falls. The Brazilian, with its splashes and views of the most beautiful part - the Argentine, wins in terms of impressions. But the Argentinean one, with long trails and a pleasant atmosphere in the evening, and most importantly, with the Devil’s Throat as the central point of the entire trip to Iguazu Falls, harmoniously complements the strong Brazilian part.

Brazil vs Argentina waterfalls

Waterfalls Brazil vs Argentina

Waterfalls in Brazil

Brazil vs Argentina

View of waterfalls in Brazil

Waterfalls in Argentina

What to choose if there is not enough time and money for both sides? According to the authors of the blog site, the Brazilian side leaves a stronger impression.

How to get to the waterfalls

The closest city to Iguazu Falls in Brazil is Foz de Iguazu, and in Argentina it is Puerto Iguazu. Tickets from Rio to Foz de Iguazu cost about 10,000 rubles for two. one way with one luggage. We bought through aviasales and, surprisingly, through this airline ticket search engine it turned out cheaper (without luggage) than on the company’s official website. After purchasing the tickets, we bought one piece of luggage for $10 when we were already in Brazil. From Russia, the link to pay for baggage did not open, I even corresponded about this problem with official representatives of the company (on Facebook - they responded the fastest there).

From the airport you can take a regular bus (stop on the left after exiting) either to Foz de Iguazu or directly to the waterfalls. It makes sense not to waste time traveling to the city and checking into a hostel/hotel and go straight to the waterfalls - there are large lockers for bags and backpacks, the token can be purchased at the general ticket office.

Buses run regularly back from Iguazu National Park (and the waterfalls are part of this park) to Foz de Iguazu. If you are going to visit the waterfalls on the Argentine side, then it makes sense to go straight to Puerto Iguazu, but to do this you will have to change several buses or take a taxi. The cost of the taxi was not specified, but in Brazil there is Uber (unlike Argentina), if you have internet on site it’s worth checking.

If by bus, as we did, then the option is this:

Option 1 - take the bus to Foz de Iguazu in the park, say that you are going to Argentina, drive for about 15 minutes, you will be dropped off at a stop at the entrance to the city, go to the other side of the road and wait for the bus to Argentina. Option 2 - look at the stop on the right white bus to Argentina, runs once every 2 hours, not more often. Hop in and drive to the Brazilian border. Option 3 - go out onto the road leading towards Foz de Iguazu and hitchhike, at least until the stop at the entrance to the city.
You wait for a bus with the sign Argentina [Argentina], raise your hand, pay for the ticket (both Brazilian reals and Argentine pesos are accepted) and go to the Brazilian border, where you are dropped off and left. The option that they will wait for you is extremely rare, unless it’s the last bus of the day, you have the gift of persuasion and very good Spanish. Although we could have waited, there is usually no one at the border, the exit stamp is placed instantly, in general, the process takes 1-2 minutes. Don't throw away your bus ticket, you'll still need it.
Further “more interesting”: option 1 - wait for a bus from the same company, so as not to pay for the ticket again, but it will take 40-90 minutes, depending on your luck, or option 2 - take the first bus you come across, the route is served by 3 companies, so wait it will take no more than 15 minutes, pay again, at the Argentine border the bus is waiting for everyone and now you are on your way to the city. You can ask to get off anywhere; usually the stop is the terminal in the city center. Option 3 - walk 100-200 meters along the highway from the Brazilian border and hitchhike. Option 4 is the strangest, but least tiring - do not get off at the Brazilian border and go to the Argentinean one, but there is a chance that the Argentine border guards, not finding a Brazilian stamp, will send you back. We can say that you do not need a Brazilian stamp. If you don’t plan to visit anything other than waterfalls in Argentina, then on the way back you get an Argentine exit ticket, and don’t leave at the Brazilian border and calmly continue traveling around Brazil using the first stamp. There may be problems when leaving, but unlikely. In any case, this is an option for the brave and the foolish.

How much does it cost to visit the waterfalls?

Iguazu Falls in Brazil costs 70 Brazilian reals. The cost of visiting Iguazu Falls in Argentina is 700 Argentine pesos. The discount is only available to students from MERCOSUR countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay).

Where to Stay to Visit Iguazu Falls

Foz de Iguazu - relatively small town, but there are large supermarkets, restaurants and a huge number of hotels and hostels for tourists visiting the waterfalls. Unfortunately, according to reviews, the place is not very calm; it is better not to walk the streets after sunset. When visiting both sides of the waterfalls, you can stay in Argentina - it is safer here. Hotel prices in Argentina are not more expensive. We liked the Hostel El Guembe Suites - $15 per night for a room with a shared bathroom (1 toilet/shower for two rooms, usually always free), a simple breakfast included, a kitchen and a pool. The staff is polite, although they don't speak much English.

Pros and cons of Iguazu Falls

The large complex of 270 waterfalls is a unique sight;

Relatively inexpensive (each side ~$16-18)

It’s convenient to explore, there are decent viewing platforms, there are cafes and shops on site;

Good infrastructure (close to cities, inexpensive hotels in cities, buses to waterfalls, train on site);

Waterfalls surround wild nature, in addition to coatis, we saw many lizards, butterflies, and in the forest we saw an agouti (a large rodent that lives in South America).

At Iguazu Falls

At Iguazu Falls in Brazil

Cascades of Iguazu Falls

Visitors to Iguazu Falls

— Quite touristy, at some observation platforms there are best places do not approach during rush hour (crowds are avoided by visiting central points after rush hour, at 16-17:00);

— It’s still very far from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires by bus, and besides, the cost of buses will be the same as the plane. To the cost of visiting the waterfalls and hotels you will have to add a mandatory plane ticket (about $75 one way or $120-130 round trip);

— Foz de Iguaçu is the closest city to the waterfalls in Brazil - a rather hectic city, with a bad reputation (avoided overnight in Argentina).

Conclusions about Iguazu

The Iguazu Falls complex is definitely worth a visit.

A good time is March-April.
Reserve 2-3 days to visit both sides: Brazil and Argentina. It is visiting both sides that will truly reveal Iguazu Falls for you!
It is better to spend the night in Argentina (at least two nights).
On Argentine side It’s worth setting aside a whole day, and in Brazil you can visit the Bird Park (considered one of the best in the world).
The easiest way to get there is by plane from Rio de Janeiro.
The best time to visit is early morning or afternoon (by closing time there are very few tourists).
There are places to eat and shops at the waterfalls, but the prices are 1.5-2 times higher (not critical, but it’s better to take a snack and water with you).
Stock up on a good camera or a good phone - the photos will last a lifetime.
If possible, it is worth protecting the camera on the Brazilian part with a cover from splashes.
There is no need to buy or carry a raincoat with you; clothes dry in the sun instantly.
Do not feed coatis (nosuhs), they may bite when trying to share your treat. Some coatis happily expose their bellies and backs to be stroked. The main thing is don’t feed!
Look around, there are many birds around (predatory and not so), beautiful lizards, butterflies, centipedes.
Additional tours, such as a safari walk along the trails, a boat tour to the base of the waterfalls and a helicopter flight over the waterfalls, are optional, but absolutely not required to fully experience the waterfall complex.
Relax and enjoy the views, take your time and don't pay attention to the tourists (there will still be a lot of them, because this is one of the most visited sites in South America).
Write a review about your visit to the waterfalls if you learned about them from this blog.

One of the places that makes the Brazilian side of the park more attractive is a canyon with a widening at the lower base called the Devil's Throat. This is the most impressive part of the entire waterfall complex. Its shape resembles the letter U, the height of the waterfall is 80 meters, the width is 150 meters.

The roar of water and dense clouds of scattering drops from such a thickness of falling water is a unique sight that can only be seen here. To get to the very high point, from where the most gorgeous view opens, you need to walk three kilometers; you can get here only from the Brazilian part of the National Park.

Helicopter rides overlooking the falls are also only possible on the Brazilian side, as Argentina has banned them due to its adverse environmental impact. This is another reason to be sure to look at the waterfalls from both sides; each has its own characteristics. The cost of a 10-minute helicopter ride is $200. Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 5:30 pm, including Sundays and holidays. Four-seater helicopter, best review opens from the front seats. The view is so breathtaking that you should not spare the money; you will definitely never forget this excursion.

To get a closer look at the waterfalls, you can take a motorboat tour. These are inflatable boats, they are safe and suitable for the conditions in which they are used.

Each boat accommodates 23-25 people. Visitors are transported by truck through the rainforest to the boat's departure point. Here tourists are given waterproof clothing and placed on the boat. The trip lasts three hours, the boat arrives at a very close quarters to the falling water of the Devil's Throat. A quick, refreshing shower is guaranteed at this place. The trip is recorded on video, which can be purchased along with photos after the trip. The cost of the excursion is 170 reais ($66).

The tour starts from walking tour to the place where the boats are located. The descent from the rapids of the waterfall is carried out on two types of boats, six-seater and ten-seater. First, the captain gives a twenty-minute briefing. The boats are always monitored by a rescue boat that accompanies tourists during the rafting. The descent path is about four kilometers, two of them are difficult rapids, then another two kilometers pass through calm water in which you can swim.

During the excursion, your guide will tell you about the features local nature. The duration of the descent is about two hours, depending on the weather. Please note that departures may be delayed or even canceled due to weather issues and river flow conditions. The age limit is 14 years, travelers aged 14 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult or have parental permission. You can reserve a place and time in advance by phone or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You must have JavaScript enabled to view it. .

This nine-kilometer route is accompanied by English-speaking guides who will tell you about the local flora and fauna. The walk begins in the very heart of the National Park, from the most beautiful places. The path continues along suspension bridge through a ten-meter gorge that leads to a site with a beautiful panoramic view(Lagoa Jacare). The excursion then continues along the Iguazu River, with an overview of the island of parrots on the way back. Walking tours are organized by the travel agency Macuco Ecoaventura every day. On average, the excursion lasts about four hours.

Kayak excursion

If you like to feel in contact with nature, taking your time and enjoying it, then this type of holiday is suitable for you. The trip route is 1.5 kilometers, the excursion is carried out on inflatable kayaks under the guidance of accompanying qualified guides.

Where to eat, what to buy

There is a restaurant in the park with an unusual atmosphere that matches the location. Price buffet- 45 reais ($17). The attraction of the restaurant is Observation deck overlooking the Iguazu River near the Devil's Throat. The restaurant is open daily from 12 to 16 hours. Also in the park there are kiosks with drinks, sandwiches and sandwiches.

A must-see in town is Churrascaria, a Brazilian restaurant that serves grilled meats. You can eat as much as you want, the fee is charged once, the same. In some churrascarias, waiters walk around the room with freshly prepared pieces of meat directly on a skewer, and you can ask a passing waiter to cut a piece.

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