Iguazu Falls Expedition: A Multi-National Adventure
Today we prepared for a journey to the awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls, which required us to travel through three countries. Our adventure began in Paraguay, where we were staying, then took us through a Brazilian National Park, and finally to Argentina at a National Park. We returned back through Brazil to “home” in Paraguay. Navigating these different countries added a layer of complexity as we would have to navigate various customs and immigrations repeatedly – even a single border crossing can sometimes be a challenge.
However, we had an ace of spades – our tour guide would be with us and he spoke fluent English, Spanish, & Portuguese and personally knew half the border agents it seemed. One might question the rationale behind visiting three countries simply to witness a single waterfall. The answer lies in the sheer magnitude and unique positioning of the Iguazu Falls system. To truly appreciate its grandeur in its entirety, one must experience it from both the Argentinean and Brazilian perspectives.
The Iguazu Falls are a breathtaking natural wonder located on the border between Argentina and Brazil. They are considered one of the most awe-inspiring waterfall systems in the world.
The falls are situated within the Iguazu National Park in Argentina and the Iguaçu National Park in Brazil, both of which are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Iguazu Falls span a distance of approximately 1.7 miles and consist of a series of 275 individual cascades. The most famous and dramatic section of the falls is known as the “Devil’s Throat” (Garganta del Diablo in Spanish or Garganta do Diabo in Portuguese), where the majority of the water plunges down in a thunderous display. The height of the falls ranges from 197 to 269 feet – overall they are taller than Niagara Falls and wider than Victoria Falls. The falls are formed by the Iguazu River, which originates in Brazil and flows through the national parks before reaching its spectacular crescendo. The surrounding lush rainforest adds to the scenic beauty of the area, teeming with diverse plant and animal species.
We started the day bright and early. Our guide awaited us on the Paraguay end of the Friendship Bridge to Brazil. The Friendship Bridge holds significant importance for Paraguay as it serves as a crucial lifeline for the country’s supply chain.
Since Paraguay lacks direct access to the sea, the country relies heavily on truck traffic across this bridge. The trucks, shoppers coming for Paraguay’s duty-free deals, and border control activity result in frequent traffic congestion and lengthy waits.
To begin our journey, we, therefore, traversed the renowned Friendship Bridge, across the Parana River (a dozen miles downstream of the massive Itaipu Dam and hydroelectric plant) on foot, bypassing the vehicle traffic.
We started the sightseeing in Brazil where we explored the falls from various vantage points along a series of trails. Every new turn of those trails provided views of new individual waterfalls and new angles on others. At the end of the trails, we were able to get remarkably close to the base of the falls, giving us a truly awe-inspiring perspective on the power of the flow.
The experience was enhanced by the perfect weather conditions—a radiant sun illuminating the scene and the misty spray created by the cascading water. This combination resulted in vibrant rainbow displays that added an extra layer of beauty to the already breathtaking landscape.
The Argentine side, with its panoramic views, offers a wider perspective of the lush greenery and the diverse ecosystem encompassing the falls. Here you take a step back and see the grandeur of the falls as they stretch across a wide arc, and take in the sheer scale and beauty of the falls. We saw more wildlife on this side too, with lots of capuchin monkeys in the tree canopy just above our heads, and large groups of coatis running through the underbrush.
Again, there were many trails and perspectives on different sections of the falls, from above and from below. We saved one of the best and highest for last.
Many people consider the Devil’s Throat viewpoint as the highlight of the Iguazu Falls experience. From Brazil we’d seen that section from below, viewing the full vertical distance of the cascade. From this vantage point in Argentina, we stood just above the top of the Throat and watched the swirling water as it plunges into the mist over the cliff.
The combination of views from the two sides was irreplaceable. Great day, absolutely worth the time and effort!
Smart to walk across the bridge rather than wait in traffic – and excellent to have a guide to get you through the border crossings! Such amazing falls! Amazingly long and so many individual falls! Cool where there are two layers of them. Beautiful rainbows! In one place you seemed to almost be surrounded by the falls! Devil’s Throat is intense – the water almost seems to be swirling – and in the video you were looking almost straight down! So great to see the falls from various standpoints (and countries!). Cute monkeys too – and amazing to see the toucans and other exotic birds just sitting in the trees! You did a great job seeing those falls!!