Cataratas do Iguaçu — one of the New Seven Wonders of the Nature

One of the new seven natural wonders of the world, the Iguazu Falls are located on the stretch of the Iguazu River on the border between Brazil and Argentina. Larger and twice as wide as the Niagara, Iguazu Falls are unique.

The Iguaçu Falls dump about 1.5 million liters of water per second in normal periods. But this volume ranges from 500 thousand liters, in times of dry season, to 6.5 million liters in flood periods of the Iguazu River. The falls are composed of 19 major drops: three in Brazil and the others in Argentina, but facing the observer who is on the Brazilian side. The drop that draws the most attention from visitors is the Devil’s Throat, a deep fissure caused by erosion, where the main part of the Falls plunges laterally.

The Devil’s Throat is almost 85 meters high and its shape resembles a horseshoe. The Iguazú National Park, home to the falls on the Argentine side, was created in 1934, with an area of 67,620 hectares. In 1984, it was declared by UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Iguaçu National Park, the Brazilian side, was created in 1939, with an area of 185,262.2 hectares. In 1986, it was also declared by UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Brazilian Park

As said, most of the falls are located at the Argentinian side facing Brazil, which gives the Brazilian park visitors a special panoramic view of the beautiful landscape. The visitation at Iguaçu National Park, located in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, occurs daily (including Sundays and holidays) from 9 am to 5 pm.

The main trail allows an overview of different angles of the set of waterfalls that make up the Iguazu Falls. Along the way, there are belvederes that provide a closer look at some of the drops. The track is 1,200 meters long, and due to existing stairs the traject is considered of moderate difficulty. On the way, it is possible to observe some species of fauna and flora of the park. At the end of the trail, visitors will find the access to the Devil’s Throat, the most impressive of the falls, approximately 80 meters high. It is possible to get really close to the water at this point, so if you don’t want to get wet, wear a raincoat.

Private vehicles are not allowed inside the park: the visitor must leave their vehicle in the parking lot outside. The fee for parking is R$ 30.00 per vehicle (cars and motorcycles) and it must be paid at the park entrance at the Visitor Center. To move around inside the park, use their shuttle service.  This transportation is done through panoramic buses, allowing the visitor to enjoy every moment of the ride. The price is already included in the ticket price.

The tickets to the park can be bought at the entrance, in the Visitor Center, paying by cash or debit / credit. You can also buy tickets online. For Brazilians, the cost is R$ 25,10 per person, for visitors from Mercosul (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela), it costs R$ 33,35  and for visitors from other countries, it costs 41,60. For children (2 to 11 years old) of all nationalities, the ticket costs R$ 7,50. It is also possible to purchase different tours inside the park. All the options are available at a tour desk also at the visitor center.

One of the main attractions of the park is the Macuco Safari, a boat tour through Iguazu River that takes tourists a few meters from spectacular waterfalls. The boarding on the boats is done on a platform situated on the right bank of the Rio Iguazu, about 4000 meters after the Falls. On the way to the falls, the boatmen deviate from the stream, while tourists take the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, which almost always includes the rainbows that form from a border to the other.

After an hour and a half of pure adventure, with the clothes soaked by the water from the Falls, it’s time to go back, but the experience is impossible to forget. Tips: It is advisable to leave belongings and documents in the dock. Plastic bags are distributed to protect camcorders and cameras. The use of lifejackets is required. The tour costs R$140,00 and R$ 70,00 to children from 7 to 11 and elders.

Other options of activities are also available at the park, such as abseiling, canopy tour, climbing wall, rafting, nocturnal tours (Full Moon Tour) and also trails like the Black Well Trail and the Banana Trail. All these tours can be booked and purchased at Macuco Safari group, located inside the park or at the visitor center, at the entrance of the park.

There are also scenic flights by helicopter over the Iguazu Falls, offered by Helisul, where it is possible to enjoy a beautiful view of the waterfalls of Iguaçu. The options are a 10 minute flight over the National Park and Iguazu Falls and 35 minutes on the Iguaçu National Park, Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant and the Three Borders Landmark.

The Argentine Park

It is also recommended to visit the park at Argentina. The sights are different and to have a complete experience at the Iguazu Falls, it is interesting to visit and see it from both sides. To start the tour, the Iguazú National Park offers a Nature Interpretation Center, where it is possible to have a detailed explanation of the forest biodiversity and local culture. After that, ride the Ecological Jungle Train, a journey through the forest and along the Iguazu River, passing through the different parts of the park.

The main attraction is the visit to the Devil’s Throat, that can be seen from above. Three balconies allow a single view of the monumental landscape. From there you can experience the sound of the roar of the falls, the moisture from the steam of the water and appreciate the rainbows that form with the mist of water and sunlight. To reach this point of the park, you have to take the Jungle Train up to Devil’s Throat Station. From there, it is a linear hike of 2080 meters.

The park offers two different walking circuits. The upper circuit gives the visitor beautiful panoramic views of the falls seen from above Upper Iguazú River, while the lower circuit has views of the falls from below, enabling an intimate encounter with nature. There are also options for boat tours, trekking activities, nocturnal walks and jungle safaris.

Tip: Avoid visiting the parks on holidays, such as Carnival and Easter. It gets crowded and you won´t be able to see as much as on regular weekends.

Legend of the Falls

It is said that many years ago, there was a big and monstrous serpent that lived in the Iguazu River. Its name was Boi. Once a year, the Guarani tribe had to sacrifice a beautiful maiden and throw her in the river, as an offer to Boi. All the tribes, including the ones that lived far away, were invited for this ceremony. One time, a young man named Tarobá, leader of his tribe came for the ritual, met a beautiful girl named Naipí and fell in love, but she was already chosen to be the one sacrificed. Tarobá tried to convince the elderly members of the tribe to not offer her, but it was in vain. In order to save Naipí, he decided to kidnap her the night before the sacrifice, so he put her on a canoe and escaped by the river.

But Boi learned about it and became furious. The serpent’s anger was so deep that it split the river in half, forming a huge waterfall and trapping Naipí and Tarobá. Engulfed by the water, the canoe and the escapees fell from a great height and disappeared forever. The legend says that Naipí was turned into one of the rocks in the center of the falls, which is permanently flogged by the raging waters. Tarobá was turned into a palm tree standing at the edge of a cliff, leaning on the river gorge. Under this palm tree, there is the entrance of a cave under the Devil’s throat, where the vengeful monster lies eternally watching its two victims. However, on sunny days, the rainbow surpasses Boi’s power and joins the lovers again.

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