I can guarantee that you’ve already seen footage of the Iguazú Falls. You just didn’t know it.
The falls have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located in the border between Argentina and Brazil, and each side offers its own experience. They have featured heavily in Hollywood movies, from the semi-accurate “The Mission” to blockbusters like “Indiana Jones” or “Black Panther”. This review is mostly about the Argentinean side.
Iguazú invites you to enjoy the surrounding nature at a slow pace. The park is divided into several trails. The “lower” ones take you through the jungle, where you’ll find all kinds of insects, birds (including the colorful toucans if you’re lucky), and small animals going through their day. With over 300 waterfalls throughout the park, you are guaranteed to find every 10 minutes a nice, cozy spot to experience the sounds of nature. With ants bigger than coins, colorful butterflies, elusive animals, and red soil, it is unlike any other place on earth. The “upper” trail, on the other hand, is designed to give you a panoramic view of the entire park. Not only you get to revisit those small earlier falls and see them from above, but now you also get wonderful views to dozens of falls and the birds perpetually flying over them.
To reach the final trail you take a 10 min ride in an eco-train and then take a stroll on a walkway over the river. As you approach your destination, you’ll notice the river getting faster and stronger, culminating in the “Devil’s throat”: an 80m wide and 70m deep fall that famously led Eleanor Roosevelt to exclaim “Poor Niagara!”. Some tourists like to wear plastic raincoats, but here’s an insider tip: wear summer clothes, get entirely wet, and let the sun and wind dry you on your way back. If this is still not enough for you, you can take a boat trip that will take you as close as possible to the falls. Bring a towel!
The nearest city on the Argentinean side is Puerto Iguazú, a city that lives entirely out of its tourism industry. You will find plenty of hotels and restaurants here, but if you expect a second Las Vegas you’ll be disappointed: if you are spending more time in the city than in the park you are definitely doing it wrong, and the city knows it. Tour agencies here will offer all kinds of day trips: to the Brazilian side of the Falls, Ciudad del Este (to fulfill your shopping desires), the Ruins of San Ignacio (a day trip to the ruins of the Jesuit Missions), night photographic safaris, and romantic candlelight dinners among others.
No review of the park would be complete without the park’s unofficial mascot, the unmistakable Coatí. These tiny furry scavengers know that tourists carry yummy food with them and will appear out of nowhere whenever someone opens a candy wrapper. They are definitely shameless and can get pushy, but don’t worry: they are not overly aggressive, are easily scared away, and are too cute to stay mad at them for long.
