Iguazu Falls -Now also a video! But read this page first. |
Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazú or Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of Argentina and Brazil.
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We landed in Buenos Aires on October 27th (2022), switched airports and flew domestic to Puerto Iguazu that evening. Plane ride is 1 hr 45 min. By bus it is over 17 hours! Because we lost a day with a missed flight, we would only have one full day (the 28th) to explore the area. Unfortunately, record flooding in mid October closed down the main walkway in Argentina called Garganta del Diablo BUT there was still much to see and the experience was unforgettable. | ||
Here is the layout. It resembles a backward letter J (with the island in the middle. Argentina on the right and Brazil on the left. There are many walkways or "circuitos" on the Argentine side. The main viewpoint Garganta del Diablo ("Throat of the Devil") is at the end of the Orange "circuit" (upper left in the image) and is accessable by a small train then a 1 Km walk (both were closed, read on). The other walkways, Blue, Green, and Yellow were open. On the Brazillian side, there is only one main walkway but the views are also spectacular and at the end you are looking up into the Garganta, just from a different perspective. (Click on this image for a larger one). | ||
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This image just shows the upper left part of the falls. The pathway that was closed can be seen in the upper right of this image (stock aerial image). . About half of the river's flow falls into this long and narrow chasm (Garganta del Diablo in Spanish or Garganta do Diabo in Portuguese). The parks and waterfalls on each side (Argentina and Brazil) were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986 Numerous islands along the 2.7-kilometre-long (1.7 mi) edge divide the falls into many separate waterfalls and cataracts, varying between 60 and 82 m (197 and 269 ft) high. The number of these smaller waterfalls fluctuates from 150 to 300, depending on the water level. The Devil's Throat canyon is 90 m (300 ft) wide and 80 m (260 ft) deep. Left of this canyon, another part of the river forms 160–200 individual falls, which merge into a single front during the flood stage. The largest falls are named San Martín, Adam and Eva, Penoni, and Bergano. On the lower left you can see the walkway that goes out from the Brazillian side. We went there - wild and wet time! Images below. (you can click on this image for a bigger one) |
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No, we weren't here when this image was taken but it shows why they closed this walkway. The sections are designed to break away in strong currents leaving the concrete pilings. 51 sections of the walkway detached but the pilings were solid and held up. It will take some months before this walkway reopens. See more here. (translate to English) | ||
Getting to both sides in one day required being first in the gate on the Argentine side and getting good connections to Brazil and back - we lucked out! We were in the gate at 8am and walked the open circuits (Blue, Yellow and Green). We spent 2 1/2 hours on this side and walked about 5 miles. |
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At left is a short 40 second clip showing what it is like walking over these waterfalls. With all the roaring water noises, and the proximity to the action, it is pretty quite hairy. The video doesn't do justice to the real experience. You have to go there! |
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Then, we were on the clock to get from the Argentine side to the Brazillian side. We had perfect connections. A bus was waiting just as we exited the park. Then it was a 30 min bus ride back to the bus station in Puerto Iguazu. Ten minutes after arriving, a second bus picked us up for the border (and on to the park). This trip would take over an hour as we had to go through immigration. We were shocked to discover that Brazil wouldn't let people in without proof of vaccination and we left our cards back at the hotel. Fortunately, Jack remembered that he took pictures of them with his phone and that was sufficient... whew! If you go, don't hassle with the Brazillian money (Real). They take credit cards everywhere. Once you get to the entrance on the Brazil side, you purchase tickets and get on another bus. This one is an open air type with multiple stops in the park. We would get off at point A, walk to point B where we would get the return bus. If you need more time, you can hire a car (taxi) and have them take you from one side to the other, stopping at immigration along the way.
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After the three bus rides, we got off for the start of the walking path here. Brazil doesn't offer all the different trails like you find in Argentina but you will get a much more panoramic view from this side. The image at the very top was taken from the Brazillian side, right from where we got off the bus. You can click on it for a really big shot, or just click here. This spot is also a great place for a group photo! See the next shot. |
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This is a popular spot for people photos. You can always find an excited tourist to take your picture, most often taking theirs in return. | ||
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Using a real camera, you can zoom in and see much more detail. You can also click on this one for a larger version, look for the walkways on the Argentina side. We were there earlier this day. |
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The best spot on the Brazil side is at the very end. There is a long walkway that goes out over the water, with cascades all around. You WILL get soaked. But, this day, the air was about 75 degrees and the water was a cool 70 or so. We brought our rain jackets and rain pants and they really helped to keep us somewhat dry. (click for larger). During the flooding in October, this walkway was closed. Only recently was it re-opened. | |
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Another angle. click on it for a big view. This place is crazy scary. You are out on the end platform with nothing but roaring water all around you. Huge clouds of mist are drenching you from the big falls upstream (on the left) and directly below you as you look over the railing is a huge, I mean REALLY HUGE drop with massive amounts of water cascading down. The sound is defening and the excitement of all the drenched people out there on the platform is insane. You have to go here! |
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At left, another short (4 min) video showing what it is like to walk out to the platform in the image above. This area has three observation points. The lower walkway, a secondary one that faces a huge waterfall on your left and the third spot from above that looks down of the first two. You will get wet on the lower two. At the top, there is an elevator for the handicapped to get back up to the parking lot. All in all, we spent about two hours hiking around the falls on this side. |
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Watch the short video we made of the Brazillian side of the falls
See the next section as we head south to Puerto Madryn, Argentina and board a cruise ship for the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica. A three week voyage. |
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