Beyond BA LATAM
Beyond BA is all about tailor-made trips, providing authentic experiences and offering truly expert advice. Our aim is to help you experience the local culture. We offer you amazing travel ideas, top destinations and experiences in Argentina & Chile.
Visiting Iguazu Falls
Located at the northeastern part of Argentina (province of Misiones), and shared with its neighbor country – Brazil, the Iguazu Falls raise as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World: are considered as the most spectacular Falls in the world by thousands of visitors that every year come to visit.
Even though the name has its origin in the local Guarani language (“Big Waters”), the falls are either known as Iguazu Falls or Iguassu Falls. This is because the closest cities are Puerto Iguazu (Argentina), and Foz do Iguassu (Brazil).
So the first think you need to know, is that you can access to this attraction either from Foz do Iguassu (with flights coming from different parts of Brazil, such as Rio or Sao Paulo), or from Puerto Iguazu (with connections to Salta and Buenos Aires, main distribution hub of Argentina).
Optimizing your time
The falls are a consecution of several jumps across a large area, which means you have many panoramic points with different views and different falls. The most spectacular and with a remarkable flow, is the Devil’s Throat, even though you have also many others such as Salto San Martín or Bosetti.
Over % 80 of the falls are in the Argentinean side, therefore, to visit this side you will need a full day, whereas the Brazilian side can be visited in half a day. Thus, if you want to do your visit peacefully, you need to count with at least 2 nights.
The suggested time to visit this area is 3 nights, in order to combine your visit to the falls with other attractions such as the Birds Park (Brazilian Side), the non-conventional walking trails of the Argentinean National Park, etc.
The Argentine Side
This side counts with three circuits: Upper Circuit, Lower Circuit and the Devil’s Throat balcony.
The Lower Circuit offers a view on several falls, among them the Two Sisters, Bossetti and Hidden Falls; and a panoramic view of the Isla San Martin.
The Upper Circuit offers a panoramic view of the Brazilian falls and the Salto San Martin. Moreover, the catwalks give access to the Iguazu River delta with islands full of vegetation.
To arrive to the Devil´s Throat, you first ride the “Train of the Jungle” towards the starting point for the walking circuit. Then, after 1000 meters, you will be able to see one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world.
During this day, you can do an adventurous excursion known as “The Great Adventure”, where you board a boat that sails in the Lower Iguazu River for as long as 6 km, heading towards the waterfall area, enjoying plentiful rapids.
The rainforest in the National Park has an incredible variety of vascular plants, such as exotic orchids and begonias, and is home to many regional wild animals, among them the Jaguar and the curious “Coati”: this raccoon-like animal is everywhere, and even though they look cute, they can steal your food and even bite!
The Brazilian Side
Even though this side hosts a minor proportion of the falls, the views are incredible as well, because it allows you to see a panoramic view of most of the falls, from a distance that let you immerse in a natural postcard that captures the combination of all the moments in almost one click.
To complete this experience, you can do some of the optional activities, such as a visit to the Birds Park, the Macuco’s Path, or have an unforgettable flight in Helicopter over the falls (with the chance of extending the flight to Itaipu Dam).
Ibera Wetlands: the perfect combination for your trip to the Falls
If you have the chance to stay for a few more days in this area, don´t miss your chances to visit the Ibera Wetlands.
Almost as extensive as Pantanal, but way less known, Esteros del Iberá (province of Corrientes) preserves an uncountable amount of fauna and tropical flora, being part of the prestigious Conservation Land Trust (CLT) and is home to the latest National Park in Argentina.
You can enjoy a stay on a ranch in the heart of the wetlands, such as Rincón del Socorro or Puerto Valle Ibera, right in the area where you can see the animals in their natural habitat: alligators, capybaras, howler monkeys, swamp deers, a lot of endemic bird species, and many other impressive animals.
On the way to the Wetlands (or either on a full day excursion from Iguazu), you can pay a visit to the San Ignacio Mini Ruins, a Jesuit reduction declared World Heritage by the UNESCO, showing the footprints of the interaction between its native inhabitants (Guaraníes), and the Jesuits. On the way, you will be able to see Yerba mate plantations, which leaves are used to prepare one of the most emblematic icons of the local tradition: the Mate infusion.
Before you go
Even though it´s not mandatory to visit both sides of the falls, if you do it you need to make sure you comply with all the relevant travel documentation in order to enter both countries (ask if your nationality requires a VISA).
Don´t forget to bring a rain coat, even though you can buy it directly at the destination.
Bring also comfortable shoes, insect repellent, and sun block.
Regarding the accommodation, there are many amazing jungle lodges, with the possibility as well of staying inside the National Park.
In Beyond BA LATAM, we offer tours and experiences that can be customized to your needs and preferences. Please take a look at some of our selected tours to Iguazu Falls.
We invite you to get in touch in order to start planning your next beautiful journey to the Falls!
Cover picture by Empty007.
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