There are waterfalls and then there is the mighty Iguazu where the power of nature is on full display, bound to wake up the even most jaded of travelers.
Straddling the border between Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu falls are one of the new 7 wonders of the world and once you visit them, it’s not hard to see why. At least for me and the thousands of people that visited the place :)
They aren’t the tallest by any account, but they are known to be the mightiest of them all. What exactly does that mean? The amount of water gushing through them is stupendous (said to be the highest in the world) and it’s hard to walk away unimpressed or dry for that matter.
The best thing about the Brazilian side is just how close to the falls you can get, you’re literally amidst of it all.
You will most definitely get soaked on this walkway.
A widely popular activity once you’re there are the boat rides, which are spectacularly fun! I was so excited I messed up most of the videos I took, but this one will still give you an idea of what awaits you.
There are nicely maintained footpaths on both sides and it’s easy to get around. Another treat are all the animals that you encounter on your way.
Speaking of animals, there are scores of coatis in Argentina and they get unbelievably aggressive if you aren’t prepared to relinquish whatever food you have. Be smart, don’t carry anything they might fancy in your backpack cause this is one battle you’re bound to lose.
Don't let this furry thing fool you, they can be quite the bastards :D
This is actually a collection of waterfalls, not one single stream of water falling down and it take hours to see the entire area.
The grand finale brings you to the precipice where the waterfalls are at their most brutal. The platform is installed literally on the edge of the cliff and you can just feel yourself being sucked in.
Best time to go
September and October are the best months to visit the falls, as the water levels are high and at the same time chances of bad weather are on the lower side.
Which side to visit?
Ideally you should go to both sides as you really don’t get the chance to see such spectacular waterfalls every day. If for any reason you need to decide only on one side then my vote would go to Argentina.
Brazil: Short and sweet, much smaller than the Argentinian side. Good chance for panoramic photos. A chance to see a really strong waterfall from incredibly close at the end of the walk.
Argentina: You get to see the waterfalls at their most brutal at the Devil’s Throat. The boats can go to more places since the Argentinian side is bigger. In general you can get closer to the waterfalls. Feels like a full day out, while Brazil is a rather short affair.
If you only go to the Argentinian side then you’ve had seen 80% of the falls, while in Brazil it would only be 20%.