We recently returned from a trip to Iguazu Falls, which straddles Brazil (country #70) and Argentina (country #71). Below you will find information and photos from our visit.
Foz do Iguaçu
Brazil is 4000km (2485mi) from North to South, and 5200km (3231mi) from East to West. It has a population of 292 million people, 10 million of whom live in Sâo Paulo (20 million if you count the surrounding metro area), making it the third biggest city in the world.
Foz do Iguaçu (the second busiest city in Brazil after Rio de Janeiro) is the gateway to Iguazu/Iguassu/Iguaçu Falls. We went at the end of December/beginning of January, which is the start of summer. It can get up to 45 degrees Celsius (113F) in the summer, and down to -4 or -5 degrees Celsius (23F to 24F) in the winter, but it averages 10 degrees Celsius (50F) in winter. It was 31C (88F) with 100% humidity when we arrived, and lightly rained for a brief time shortly after we landed. Rainy season is October to February. If the capital gets a lot of rain, the river that feeds Iguazu Falls will have more water and will make the Falls more full. In 1992, the bridge to the Falls broke because of the volume (39 million liters) of water. In 2014, there was flooding, and 80% of the Falls were closed because it was too dangerous to visit. At that time, there were 46 million liters of water that fell per second, versus the typical two million meters per second. Currently 1.7 million liters of water per second fall when the Falls are full. They were not at their fullest when we were there, and water was falling at 900,000 liters per second (compared to Niagara Falls, which is 7 million liters of water per second).
(photo is taken in Brazil; Argentina is the land sticking out just beyond the round building on the left; Paraguay is the land directly across the river to the right)
In this part of Brazil, the border to Argentina is 3km (1.8mi) away, and the border to Paraguay is 15km (9.3mi) away. There is a tourist spot where you can see the convergence of the two rivers (Paraná and Iguaçu). While both Spanish-speaking countries are so close to Brazil, we were told that Brazilians do not take the time to learn Spanish. What’s interesting is that, similarly to our time in Scandinavia, Brazilians assumed we spoke Portuguese, and would speak to us accordingly. However, we then realized that this was a function of the “laziness” that the driver referenced. Also of note: we discovered that Uber will not cross borders, even though they are so close.
IGUAZU FALLS: Argentina side
(Argentina side)
We went to the Argentina side of the Falls first, on January 1, making it the first new country for 2020! From Foz do Iguaçu, it was a 45 minute drive to the entrance of the National Park, and then we took a 25 minute train ride to the 1km (0.6mi) walkway that eventually takes you to Falls. The first part of the Falls that we walked to was Devil’s Throat (above).
(Argentina side)
Iguazu Falls is 2.7km (1.7mi) long and is in a horseshoe shape (vs. Niagara Falls, which is also a horseshoe shape and is 800m [2624ft] in length), with 75% of the Falls in Brazil, and 25% in Argentina. Every year, 2 million people visit the Falls. This is the third largest multi-country waterfall we have visited, and this one is our favorite! Besides the Devil’s Throat, there is also an upper and lower part of the falls.
Aside from the Falls themselves, people often go to Iguazu to look at the flora and fauna. There are 44 different types of orchids in Iguazu. There are also Capuchin monkeys, jaguars, deer, and tapir. There are also small, raccoon-looking animals called Coaties (koh-ah-tees) that are a nuisance because they will try to get your food, even if you have it in a bag. The photo taken above was of a Coatie trying to get into this woman’s handbag. I was actually rather shocked by how calm this woman was, as she just sat there as if this was something that happened every day (because I do not know her, I edited her out for privacy purposes). I was also shocked at how bold the Coatie was!
IGUAZU FALLS: Brazil side
Upon entering the National Park for the Brazil side of the Falls, our driver had to get a GPS that monitored his speed. He said that if drivers go over the limit, they are banned from the Park for 60 days. A second infraction yields a 6-month ban. The third time, the driver is banned forever. Once we got to the parking area of the falls, it was an 1100m (3609ft) walk to the falls. There are 275 total falls within Iguazu, and our tour guide said it is best to go to the Brazil side to see the entire falls.
(The male Guacho will make 7 nests to trick the Toucan and keep it from eating the eggs)
Iguazu’s National Park system (established in 1942; became a UNESCO site in 1986, and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2011) consists of 180,000 Hectares (444,790 acres) of land, or the equivalent of 180 soccer/football fields on the Brazil side, and 79,000 Hectares (195,213 acres) on the Argentina side. The Park system works together on some issues (e.g., animal control). There are 257 species of butterflies, 2000 species of plants, and they have 22 jaguars in the park, which eat all of the other animals in the park. There are other animals, including puma and other wild cats (e.g., jaguatirica, which is grey and white, compared to jaguars, which are gold and black). They also have wild dogs, as well as 4 of the 47 types of Toucans that are found in South America. Swallows are also found in the park, and make their nests behind the Falls, making the Falls a literal wall of protection. In all, there are 200 species of birds, 8 different species of lizards, and 41 different species of snakes, 3 of which are poisonous.
So, that was our adventure. In summary, we would highly recommend visiting Iguazu Falls. They are simply amazing!
Until next time, take care and be well…