iguassu
Falls TRAVEL map AND FACTS: location, TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS, best
visiting TIME
The Iguassu Falls (or Iguazu Falls, in Spanish-Argentinean; or Iguaçu / Iguacu Falls in Portuguese-Brazilian) are situated in
Brazil's south, at the Iguassu river, 650 Km/390 miles from the Brazilian coast, near the boarder with Argentine. They are part of a National Park with the same name, divided between Brazil and Argentine.
The Falls appear a little before the river Iguassu meets the river Parana, when part of the Iguassu plunges in itself for nearly 1,8 miles/3 Km, and origins 275 interlinked cataracts, immense precipices and an unexpected and breathtaking natural spectacle.
The Niagara Falls, compared to the Iguassu Falls are a «leaky faucet», to use the words that Eleanor Roosevelt allegedly used, when facing the place. The
Brazilian Iguassu Falls are, undoubtedly, one of the greatest natural phenomena of our planet.
Besides, Iguassu benefits from the spectacular forest nearby – a forest with a rich flora and fauna (the toucans are extremely numerous) and hundreds of butterfly species. The mist and foam caused by the falls, boils up all around, causing almost permanent rainbows and providing to the surrounding forest an additional green. The Iguassu place was once sacred to the native Guarani Indians. Their drums, venerating the huge beauty of the place, are rarely heard today. But its sacred and magnificent beauty remains.
The map on left, of the Iguassu Water Falls region, exposes the big geographical references
and location.
Map of Iguassu Falls:
- The Iguassu Falls are in the river Iguassu (1)
- There is at the region another big river: Parana River (2)
Iguassu River and Parana define the borders of three neighbouring countries: Brazil (3), Argentine (4), Paraguai (5)
- There are three cities in the region, each for each country: (6) Foz do Iguacu (Brazil), (7) Puerto Iguazu (Argentine), (8) Ciudade del Est (Paraguay)
- There are two big local Parks, bordering the Iguassu river: the Brazilian (9) and the Argentinean (10)
- There are two international airports: the (11) Iguacu Intl Airport (Brazil) and the (12) Iguazu Intl Airport (Argentine)
- Hotels are mainly located in the cities or near the road that links the (13) Falls and the Foz do Iguacu (Brazil) or the road that links the (14) Falls and Puerto Iguazu.
- The Devil’s Throat (15) is at the heart at the Falls.
- The access to Argentine (or to Brazil, if you are in the Argentinean side) is made by crossing the bridge Tancredo Neves (16).
- The access (from Brazil) to Ciudad del Est, in Paraguay, is made northward Foz do Iguassu city (17)
March to November is frequently considered the best time to visit the Iguassu Falls. But, in reality, there isn’t a best time. It depends on what you value most.
The high season is in January and February, when most Brazilians and Argentineans are in holidays. For those who want to experience the splendour and the impressiveness, that’s a good period to visit the Iguassu Falls. But… there are some downsides. The sky is bluer (it’s the peak of the summer) and the volume of the waters is high, but the humidity and the heat are also at their highest levels (as are the hotels prices and their occupation). And this is also a crowded period, you might wish to avoid.
If you want to avoid crowded periods, avoid the Easter time also. There is a strong Brazilian and Argentinean tradition to visit the Iguassu Falls in Easter. Vast throngs of tourists invade the place in Easter, crushing the quietness of most of the year. If you want to bet on low hotel prices, this is not a good season, either.
May and July are rainy months and the volume of the waters is at its maximum. The rain is rarely a problem, except for those who are looking for a quick day visit. In that case, the rain may strike the unfortunates.
If you want to enjoy an agreeable temperature, lower prices, less people and a very low probability of a troubling rainy day, September and October are great months. But it all depends of your style and preferences – and possibilities...
SEARCH FOR
BRAZILIAN IGUASSU FALLS TOURS?
Just
click the Search button in the Search box below
Many people arrive at Iguassu in the morning, and depart that same day, at night or late afternoon. That’s a way of getting a big picture of the place. But it’s also a very restrictive option, and a tiring one. The Iguassu Falls deserve at least a one night stay. And two or three days are not too much. There are several optional tours and visits to occupy them well.
For more details about tours, see:
The Brazilian side of the Falls: visits and tours
The Argentinean side of the Falls: visits and tours
You don’t have to have a pre-organized tour. There are buses (at the airport or at the local bus terminal), every few minutes, to take you to the key visiting points, either in the Brazilian or the Argentinean sides. And there are also plenty of cheap taxis, and tourist offices (at the airport and the bus terminals). You will not have too difficulties in visiting the main spots, and the several complementary options, as the Bird Park, the Iguassu Dam, and so on...
Anyway, there are pre-organized tours. And to avoid drawbacks and imponderables, that can be the best option.
SEARCH FOR
IGUASSU TOURS?
Just
click the Search button in the Search box below
Should I visit the Argentinean side of the Falls, besides the Brazilian?
You should. Crossing the frontier is easy, and you don’t need a visa to do a one-day visit trip. The Argentine side of the Falls (the Iguazu Falls, as the Argentineans say) is more extensive then the Brazilian, and the Devil’s Throat and the local Argentinean Circuits in the Falls deserve at least some hours of your presence. The views from the Brazilian side are more spectacular, but the Argentinean side should also be visited.
For more details about the Argentinean Iguazu Falls, see:
The Argentinean side of the Falls: visits and tours
It depends on what you want. The Tropical Cataratas Hotel, is a renowned hotel, and a top reference, situated close to the Falls, in the heart of the Brazilian Iguassu Park, just a couple of minutes from the viewing sites, on foot. But it is also an expensive hotel. You can choose a more distant accommodation, and use the taxis and the buses for the several short circuits you will have to do. There are multiple and good alternatives.
SEARCH FOR
IGUASSU FALLS HOTELS?
Just
click the Search button in the Search box below
For more information about Hotels in Iguassu Falls / Iguazu Falls, see:
Hotels in Iguassu Falls
The main highlights are, of course, the Falls – both in the brazilian and in the Argentinean side. Besides the Falls there are the Parks (with their luxuriant subtropical forest), tours around the Parks and on the rivers Iguassu and Parana, and a pack of related options, including visits to the three cities around the Falls.
For the many possible tours and visits, see:
The Brazilian side of the Falls: visits and tours
The Argentinean side of the Falls: visits and tours
Most of the visitors of the Iguassu Falls are also interested in other Brazilian destinations. And there are plenty of opportunities, depending on the extension you want to give to your vacations, and of your style and preferences. Multi-destination vacations involving Iguassu but also Florianopolis and Rio de Janeiro (and Buzios and Angra dos Reis, near Rio) are very common. But you can opt for other packages: involving the Amazon, and some Northeastern tropical beach resorts in Bahia, for instance.
SEARCH FOR
BRAZILIAN PACKAGES INVOLVING IGUASSU?
Just
click the Search button in the Search box below
For options and more information about multi-destination visits to Brazil, see:
Tours involving Iguassu Falls and other Brazilian destinations
Sao Paulo airports have several daily connections to Iguassu Falls, and it’s the best hub for those who come from abroad. But Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Florianopolis and other south Brazilian cities also have regular flight connections with the Iguassu Falls. And you can consider a flight travel from Buenos Aires, or a bus trip, if you are in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or other south Brazilian place. The problem with the buses is the distances, and the time: the travel Sao Paulo and the Iguassu Falls is… about 16 hours (four hours more, for a travel from Rio de Janeiro).
For more information about flights to Iguassu, and strategies to get better airfare, see:
Flights to Iguassu Falls
Of course you can. Ciudad del Est, the main Paraguayan city reference in the region, is just some minutes from Foz do Iguacu and the brazilian airport.
For more information about visits to Paraguay, from Iguassu Falls, see:
A visit to the Paraguayan side
Back to Brazil and Argentina Iguassu Falls Maps and Facts
Return to Brazil Travel Guide Home
|
