About the Iguazú Falls
Iguazú Falls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfall systems in the world, is located on the Iguazú River, which forms the border between Argentina and Brazil. The falls span nearly 2.7 km and consist of around 275 individual cascades, with the most famous being the Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo). In terms of water flow, Iguazú ranks among the top waterfalls globally, with an average flow rate of about 1,756 cubic meters per second, often surpassing Niagara Falls. It is taller than Niagara (at 82 m) and wider than Victoria Falls in certain sections. The falls lie within two national parks: Iguazú National Park in Argentina and Iguaçu National Park in Brazil, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
From Montevideo to Puerto Iguazu
From Montevideo, I took a three-hour bus back to Colonia del Sacramento, then boarded a ferry back to Buenos Aires, where I spent one more night. The next morning, I flew north to Puerto Iguazú, a flight of about two hours. Puerto Iguazú is located at the tri-border area of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil.
Puerto Iguazú
Puerto Iguazú is a small town with little to do besides visiting the national park. There is a viewpoint overlooking the tri-border area of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, but since exploring the park on the Argentine side takes a full day, I didn’t have time to go there. The town has a few restaurants and a bus terminal where you can easily catch buses to the park or cross into Brazil.
The Iguazú Falls Park
Entrance to the park on the Argentine side costs 45,000 ARS (about 45 USD). There are three main trails offering different perspectives of the falls. The trail to Devil’s Throat, undoubtedly the most dramatic spot, is about 12 km long (one way), but there’s a free train inside the park that can be used instead of walking.
For an extra adventure, you can join a boat ride for 75,000 ARS (about 75 USD) that takes you close to the falls. You won’t get the full view of the falls, so in hindsight, I’m not sure it’s entirely worth it – but it was a fun experience, and a free natural shower was included too 😉. Accommodate 2 hours for this experience.
Iguazú Falls pictures:
