Discover The Natural Wonder Of Argentina’s Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is simply one of the most beautiful places on Earth

Located in Argentina’s northern province of Misiones, Iguazu Falls is one of those places that somehow lives up to the photos. Set along the Iguazu River—its name comes from the Guaraní words for “great water”—the falls are among the largest and most spectacular waterfall systems in the world.

When former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited, she reportedly took one look and exclaimed, “Poor Niagara!”

It’s easy to see why. The Iguazu River plunges over some 275 individual falls, separating the river into its upper and lower sections. The showstopper is Devil’s Throat, a massive U-shaped cascade where water drops roughly 80 metres into the gorge below. It’s loud, misty, slightly overwhelming—and absolutely worth getting a little wet for.

Must See And Do At The Falls

The Park
To experience the Falls in all their glory, head into Iguazu National Park, created in 1934 to protect the surrounding subtropical rainforest and its extraordinary biodiversity. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and stretches across roughly 660 square kilometres (66,148 hectares).

And there’s a lot more here than waterfalls. The rainforest is home to around 400 species of birds, some 2,000 plant species and an incredible variety of wildlife and insects. Keep an eye out for the butterflies—they’re everywhere, often fluttering around you as you walk the trails, adding a little extra magic to an already unforgettable place.

The Devil’s Throat

Garganta del Diablo—Devil’s Throat—is the moment you came for. From Garganta station, a 1,100-metre walkway takes you out across the river to a viewing platform perched right above the thundering falls. The closer you get, the louder it gets, until you’re standing face-to-face with an almost unbelievable wall of water.

And yes, you’re going to get wet. The spray is intense, so embrace it.

Don’t miss
There’s plenty more to do once you’ve seen the Falls from above. Take a boat ride that brings you thrillingly close to the cascading water—and yes, you will get completely soaked—or explore more of the park’s trails on foot. Head into the rainforest on a photo safari in an open 4×4, or, for something truly special, see the Falls after dark on a full-moon tour.

For more info, visit www.IguazuArgentina.com

In 2011, Iguazu Falls was named one of the New7Wonders of Nature following a worldwide public vote, joining the Amazon, Ha Long Bay, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River and Table Mountain.
So if the Falls already seem worthy of your travel wish list, consider this one more reason to move them closer to the top.

Wonderful Iguazu Falls: TRULY A NATURAL WONDER!

Not Far From The Falls: Discovering Misiones, Argentina

Provincial Flag of Misiones

QUICK FACTS: MISIONES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA
Location: North-eastern corner of Argentina
State Capital: Posadas
Population: 1.1 million
Language Spoken: Spanish
Currency: Argentinian Peso
Trivia: Leading producer of Argentina’s national beverage, yerba mate
Notable: Inspired the film The Mission starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons

There is a ton of stuff to do in and around Iguazu Falls, a nice variety of hotels and dining (some absolutely fabulouso!) and even some great shopping at the border duty-free mega-mall. Here is a look at some of the adventures we enjoyed during our stay:

Get outfitted, climb platforms and then soar via zipline over the forest canopy.

Motoring around on a 4×4 is a great way to see the forest, but be prepared to eat a little dirt!

Visit the region’s bird and animal rescue and nature centres and see the amazing work being done to save and protect the wildlife. You’ll most likely get to see South American raccoons (called coatis) rummaging through garbage bins.

If you’ve got some energy to spare you can rappel down a waterfall or do some rockwall climbing; but if you’re looking to slow down the pace you can always visit a historic Jesuit mission.

Check out a mine where you can see workers actually extracting stunning gemstones, such as pink quartz and amethyst, from the earth.

A FAMOUS ARGENTINIAN: EVA PERON

Eva Peron is one of Argentina’s most adored celebrities. She was married to President Juan Domingo Peron, and served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952, when she died of cancer at the age of 33. In the years before her death, she was given the title “Spiritual Leader of the Nation” by the Argentine Congress and was a presidential candidate for Argentina, winning over the lower-income voters. She was truly beloved by the working class of Argentina, building clinics and a hospital for the working class, creating her own charitable institution and becoming as iconic as a Mother Teresa figure to her nation. Through all the love and devotion she received from the people of her country, she then went on to be the subject of a famed musical, Evita. Even today, this beautiful figure is still echoed in the streets of Argentina and the world, through her musical and the legacy she left for her country.