Iguazu Falls
Widely considered to be one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, the Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil, are a certainly must see attraction in the area. The centre of the falls is known locally as ‘Garganta Del Diablo’ (The Devil’s Throat), where the huge volume of water sends a constant mist of spray into the air. With the sun shinning down on the spray, creating a rainbow in the foreground, this is the perfect place to get that trademark Iguazu Falls photograph. However, save some of your shots for the rest of the falls, as in total there are around 270 cascades that spread out over nearly 2 miles of the Iguazu River. (Go to this site's photo gallery for some spectacular photos of Iguazu Falls).
Widely considered to be one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, the Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil, are a certainly must see attraction in the area. The centre of the falls is known locally as ‘Garganta Del Diablo’ (The Devil’s Throat), where the huge volume of water sends a constant mist of spray into the air. With the sun shinning down on the spray, creating a rainbow in the foreground, this is the perfect place to get that trademark Iguazu Falls photograph. However, save some of your shots for the rest of the falls, as in total there are around 270 cascades that spread out over nearly 2 miles of the Iguazu River. (Go to this site's photo gallery for some spectacular photos of Iguazu Falls).
Iguazu Falls | Jesuit Missions
Whilst the falls are the regions highlight, for those with a little time to explore the area there is a wealth of places to see. Nature lovers can explore in more depth the surrounding subtropical rainforest with its huge array of flora and fauna. Hikes can be organized from both sides of the border and the Yacutinga Lodge and Nature Reserve on the Argentine side is one of the more popular bases for such trips.
Jesuit Missions
This area of South America is also famous for the Jesuit Missions, the first of which began in Brazil in the early 1600s. The ruins of these missions can be seen in Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay, but the majority of sites are in Argentina, with Posadas being the best base to see the sites. The origins of the missions were based on the concept of bringing the Roman Catholic religion to the indigenous populations. In that part of the continent the most prominent indigenous population were the Guaraní tribes, who lived as farming communities but also, known as a warrior tribe. The missions reached out to the tribes offering education and protection from other European threats, whilst the tribes spent a short amount of time each day maintaining the land. The growth of the missions (to over 30 in 5 separate countries) was what ultimately led to their downfall. They had become distinct from the Spanish and Portuguese leaders and their size and power had drawn attention from Europe. In the middle of the 18th century the Spanish and Portuguese attacked the missions leaving many dead and wonderful buildings were left in ruins. Those ruins, and the history connected to them, is what now draw visitors to the sites. Several companies in Posadas offer trails to include many of the sites and the trip is fascinating and well worth taking the time to do. Posadas is five hours from Iguazu in the direction of Buenos Aires, so it is a great way to break up the long bus trip.
For many who have travelled extensively in South America, the splendour of Iguazu remains as one of the most vivid memories. It is certainly one the most spectacular natural wonders on the continent, and a site you should include in your travel plans. For those of you with a little more time in the area, you should definitely take in the Jesuit Missions as well, as they are also well worth a visit.
Natasha Lanone - 8th November 2006
The Iguazu Falls are easily accessible and, dependent on your time restrictions and budget, you can get to the area by either bus or plane. The nearest towns to the site are Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, about 12 miles from the falls, and Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil, which is equally close. Both towns have airports that are served regularly from the larger cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. The bus is obviously the cheaper option, and travelling up from Buenos Aires the trip is a full 20 hours, although the buses are very comfortable with spacious reclining seats. The bus trip down from Sao Paulo is a similar affair taking around 18 hours. Foz on the Brazilian side is the larger town, however both are geared up to cater for visitors to the Waterfalls and National Parks, and so offer a range of accommodation for all budgets. For those with a larger appetite for the scenery and a larger budget, there are some hotel complexes much closer to the action with views of parts of the falls.
The site of the falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and set in the heart of subtropical rainforest that is also protected on both sides of the border as national parks. This means that as well as the waterfalls the area itself offers some interesting walks with a lot of local wildlife. To see the site fully it’s recommended that you take a full day on either side of the border to see the full extent of the wonderful cascades. If your time restrictions don’t allow this, the Argentine side offers a more complete look at the falls so would be the better option for a single day there. For those who want to be thorough, you can take boat trips right up to the ‘Garganta Del Diablo’ and also take a helicopter trip from the town of Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side.
The site of the falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and set in the heart of subtropical rainforest that is also protected on both sides of the border as national parks. This means that as well as the waterfalls the area itself offers some interesting walks with a lot of local wildlife. To see the site fully it’s recommended that you take a full day on either side of the border to see the full extent of the wonderful cascades. If your time restrictions don’t allow this, the Argentine side offers a more complete look at the falls so would be the better option for a single day there. For those who want to be thorough, you can take boat trips right up to the ‘Garganta Del Diablo’ and also take a helicopter trip from the town of Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side.
During the wet season (around November - March) the volume of water at the falls is at its peak, with spectacular effect, however the temperatures at that time of year also peak, and it can get very hot and humid. Although Iguazu is a great site to see all year round, the volume of water is lower in the dry season making July and August a less popular time to visit. By elimination, that makes spring and autumn the best time to go, although if you can only go at other times of the year, then I’m sure you will still hugely enjoy your trip.
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