Iguazu Falls travel guide

Our Iguazú Falls travel guide offers all the information you need on visiting one of South America's greatest natural spectacles. How to get there, visiting the Brazilian and Argentinean sides, which trails to trek and where to get the best viewpoints are some of the tips offered in our guide and interactive map of Iguazú Falls and the surrounding area.

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Iguazú Falls travel guide

One of the most compelling reasons to travel is to experience the sheer power of nature, to be completely overwhelmed by it. When it comes to nature’s might, Iguazú Falls delivers in bucketloads – around 1,500 cubic metres per second, to be exact. There are in fact over 270 falls here, stretching out over 2.7km, and plunging twice the height of Niagara. As you approach, you’ll hear the roar long before you set sight on the falls. That roar, deep from within the Devil’s Throat is a warning; Iguazú Falls aren’t just there to be looked at – they’ll soak you to your core.

Iguacu means “Great Waters” in the native Tupi-Guarani language, and these falls – higher than Niagara, wider than Victoria – are definitely that.

Iguazú is mesmerising in itself – take time to lose yourself in the rushing water which throws rainbows into the air. But as our Iguazú Falls travel guide explains, you should take time, too, to walk the nature trails through the surrounding national park, to discover the wildlife that lives beside the mighty waterfall, and to take a boat over the rapids and as close as you dare to the base of the Great Waters.

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Things to do in Iguazú …

Get out on the water. Laura Rosales, from our supplier Say Hueque, explains more: “If you would like to be more adventurous, you can take the ‘Gran Aventura’ boat ride that will take really close to the falls and where you will get fully wet, an amazing experience! You can also kayak on the wonderful rivers of this national park and experience nature and the falls from a different angle.” If you didn’t get wet enough on the boat, you can always take a dip at the tranquil base of the 30m-high Arrechea Waterfall. It’s reached on via the 7km-round Macuco Trail, which means few tourists stray this far. Five nights a month, you can experience Iguazú Falls by moonlight. Guided tours depart during the late evening when the moon is at its fullest, with flash photography and torches banned to preserve the magical atmosphere. Plenty of mosquito repellent is advised! You can also book a late dinner as part of the tour. Forget about the wildlife. An astounding amount of creatures inhabit the surrounding rainforest. Many of the 430 species of birds and 70 species of mammal are pretty elusive, but more common species include toucans, electric blue morpho butterflies, lively capuchin monkeys and friendly, raccoon-like coatis. Early morning is the best time to try and find puma or tapir; you’ll likely hear the growl of the howler monkeys reverberating through the canopy too.

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Things not to do in Iguazú...

Cuddle the coatis. These raccoon-like creatures look incredibly cute – but they come with a serious bite and can carry rabies. What’s more, they’re unafraid of humans, and can snif out food from a mile away. There are plenty of warning signs around Iguazú but tourists still can’t resist photographing, feeding and stroking the coatis – often with dangerous results. Pop in. Iguazú Falls are a long way from anywhere – it’s not the kind of place you can pop in and out of. There are also two sides to visit - the Argentinean side which comprises around two thirds of the park, and Brazil which covers the remainder. The Brazilian side needs at least half a day to explore – with Argentina worthy of at least a full day – or longer if you want to walk the nature trails, take a boat ride and see how the cascade changes with the light at dawn and dusk. Worry about your wheelchair. The trails around Iguazú have been designed to be as accessible as possible. The kilometre-long boardwalk leading right into the Devil’s Throat is flat with no steps – meaning pushchairs as well as wheelchair users can easily reach the falls. The Bird Park is also fully accessible.

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Written by Vicki Brown

Iguazu Falls travel guide