Iguazú Falls is an impressive collection of over 270 waterfalls spanning almost three kilometres through lush forest on the border of Argentina and Brazil. With the possibility of visiting Iguazú from two countries, people often ask the question “but which side is better?” Fortunately, here at Llama Travel our tours include a visit to both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of Iguazú so you do not have to choose between them – but what are the differences?
With about three-quarters of the falls located on the Argentinian side, this park offers a larger area to explore compared to its Brazilian counterpart. Follow an array of boardwalks on both upper and lower circuits, offering impressive views of the falls from above as well as on the water’s edge, where at times you may be close enough to feel the water spray from the cascade.
Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo) is a monumental waterfall taller than the rest where the falls culminate in a horseshoe shape, and can be viewed from above on the Argentinian side of the falls. A train takes you to a one-kilometre walkway over the River Iguazú, where you can peer right over the edge of the waterfall, looking at the river flowing 80 metres below.
While a fair amount of walking is involved, navigating the Argentinian side of Iguazú is rather simple and you are provided with a map when you initially enter the park. With such an extensive area to explore, it is recommended you spend the whole day in the park to see as much as you can.
For a more exhilarating experience of Iguazú, it is also possible to book a drenching boat ride to the base of the falls when you are in the park. The boat rides allow you to experience the ferocity of the falls at close proximity, but expect to get wet.
The Brazilian side of Iguazú offers the more impressive panoramic vistas of the falls of the two sides, with grand views towards Argentina. As the falls are so incredibly vast and a great proportion of them sit on the Argentinian side, visiting the Brazilian side allows you to put the grandeur of the natural wonder into perspective and appreciate its scale from more of a distance.
A trail runs along the river on the Brazilian side with galleries offering viewing points of the falls along the way. As the Brazil side is not as expansive, there is less walking involved compared to the Argentina side and can be achieved in half a day.
In addition to exploring the park from the walkways, there are also trails to follow through the surrounding forest, allowing you to enjoy the jungle scenery and spot wildlife such as toucans, butterflies, coatis, monkeys and caimans. Similar trails are also on offer on the Argentinian side, so you will have plenty on your to-do list.
While the Argentinian side of Iguazú offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with the falls, the Brazilian side provides you with incredible panoramic vistas that put them into perspective. Visiting both sides gives you a multi-faceted experience of the jaw-dropping natural wonder, and is offered as part of many of our Llama Travel holidays.
“My favourite place in South America is Iguazú Falls. Iguazú Falls are the biggest waterfall system in the world - they are nearly three times as wide as Niagara Falls and even wider than Victoria Falls. The falls border both Argentina and Brazil, but the better side, in my opinion, is the Argentinian side for its walking trails and the Devil's Throat viewpoint. Although the Brazilian side gives you a panoramic view of the falls, the Argentinian side gets you up close and personal with the falls themselves.”
- Paige, Llama Travel
Call us on 020 7263 3000 to speak to someone who’s been to Iguazú Falls.
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