Iguazú Falls – again?
It is commonly recommended to visit both the Argentinian and the Brazilian sides of the waterfalls. I was hesitating as it seemed to do the same thing twice from different sides, but in the end, the experience is indeed another one and quite worth it. The Brazilian park is smaller and will only take half a day. Nevertheless, I found it the more immersive experience of the two, because you get much closer to some of the falls – so close, in fact, that you can get showers even without joining a boat ride. Entrance to the Brazilian park is cheaper than on the Argentine side, and so is their version of the boat ride (which I did not experience though, because this really can’t be much different; no matter which side you board the boat, the river remains the same).
From Puerto Iguazú to Foz do Iguaçu
Buses from various companies shuttle between the two border towns several times per hour during the day. If you’re just doing a day trip without spending the night, you won’t even need to get your passport stamped. However, if you’re traveling with all your luggage and planning to stay over, the bus will drop you at the border so you can complete the formalities. Afterwards, you’ll need to wait for the next bus (from the same company) to continue the short trip. Be sure not to board the last bus of the day, or you might find yourself stranded at the border.
Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu is essentially the same as Puerto Iguazú, just in a different language. It has a bus terminal, restaurants, and the like. From the terminal, you can easily catch a bus to the Brazilian side of the falls.
Parque das Aves
There is a beautiful bird park right next to the entrance of the Cataratas do Iguaçu Park. Home to many exotic species in large aviaries, it also makes efforts to repopulate several nearly extinct bird species. This charming little park is a lovely addition to the Waterfalls Park (which, unlike the Argentine side, doesn’t take up an entire day to explore) to round up the day.
More waterfalls and some bird pictures:
