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Iguazu Falls (Iguazú Falls, Iguassu Falls, Iguaçu Falls, or Yguazú Falls)

The mighty Iguazú Falls




Iguazu Falls (or more accurately Iguazú Falls) is the spanish name (Argentina) for this mammoth waterfall. You might also see it referred to as Iguassu Falls or Iguaçu Falls if you're in Brazil or you're Portugese. Moreover, you might also see it referred to as Yguazú Falls in Paraguay or if you're a native Guaraní. The meaning of the name (originally Guaraní) roughly translates to "big water."

There's lots to say about this waterfall. Click on one of the following links to jump to the section you're interested in...

ABOUT THE FALLS
No matter how you spell or say Iguazu Falls, it is indeed a crazy waterfall.

How crazy, you might ask?

Consider a network of 275 different waterfalls spanning an area 3km wide (2km of which is the upper rim of the waterfall) during its normal flow of around 1000 cubic meters per second. It is such a natural wonder that UNESCO designated the falls as a World Heritage Area in 1986.

Looking right into Devil's Throat from the Brazilian catwalkSitting on the Iguazú River, it is shared by Argentina and Brazil as both countries are separated by the river. Catwalks are built on both sides providing closer (often times mistier and wetter) views of the great waterfall.

During normal flow, Iguazu Falls is actually split into two main parts by the San Martin Island (La Isla San Martín). The part with the largest volume of water is the narrow horseshoe of the Devil's Throat (La Garganta del Diablo). This is the portion of the falls that is split between Argentina and Brazil.

Wall of water as seen from the catwalk on San Martin IslandOn the other side of San Martin Island is another series of waterfalls and cascades (many of which have names) with the main one being Salto San Martín. This side is exclusively Argentinean. Among the names of the waterfalls on this side are Salto Eva, Salto Adán, Salto Bossetti (very impressive), Salto Dos Hermanas, Salto Alvar Nuñez, Salto Guardaparque Bernabé Mendez, Salto Mbigua, Salto Chico, and Salto Lanusse. There are also several waterfalls going through San Martín Island (e.g. Salto Rivadavía and Salto Escondido; also on the Argentina side) as well.

As far as we were concerned, what made this mega waterfall so special was that it felt like it was in Nature where it belonged. Sure the catwalks and jet boat tours (along with Brazilian helicopters) could take away from the Nature, but it was certainly more natural than one of the rival waterfalls like say Niagara Falls.

Speaking of which, numerous catwalks afforded us various ways to view and experience Iguazu Falls. Argentina had most of the catwalks while Brazil's walks mostly focused on panoramas of the Argentinean side as well as closeups of the thunderous Devil's Throat. Regarding the Argentinean catwalks, Paseo Superior took us around the upper rim of the waterfalls Salto Bossetti and closer views of Salto San Martín while Paseo Inferior took us to the bottom of parts of the falls while providing boat access to San Martín Island.

The gushing Salto San MartinSan Martín Island got us as close to the gushing Salto San Martín as we could safely get on land as well as other falls and pools on its lee side. We even saw some wildlife on these catwalks (in addition to those on San Martin Island) such as the banded-tailed coaties (they seemed to have become accustomed to being fed or digging for trash), birds like various species of parrot and toucans, and butterflies of many different colors. There were even predatory cats like the Jaguar as well as the Puma and Ocelot though we weren't lucky enough to see any of the big cats.

We even managed to experience the falls in other ways such as a thrilling boat ride, which you can read more about here.

Indeed there are many ways to experience the falls. Heck, if the timing's right, you could even do special tours of the falls by moonlight (something I wish we could've done)! But in any case, what's mentioned on this page merely scratches the surface of how you can spend your time here. Check out the photos below to see the mighty Iguazu Falls...

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PHOTOS OF THE FALLS
View from the end of El Paseo Superior (the upper trail on the Argentina side)View from the end of El Paseo Superior (the upper trail on the Argentina side)

View from the upper Salto Bossetti LookoutView from the upper Salto Bossetti Lookout

Another look from the Paseo SuperiorAnother look from the Paseo Superior

Salto Alvar NuñezSalto Alvar Nuñez

Looking down at one of the lower Salto Bossetti LookoutsLooking down at one of the lower Salto Bossetti Lookouts

Distant view of the Devil's ThroatDistant view of the Devil's Throat

The catwalk and Salto BossettiThe catwalk and Salto Bossetti

Another look at Salto BossettiAnother look at Salto Bossetti

Salto ChicoSalto Chico

Salto Dos HermanasSalto Dos Hermanas

Looking right across La Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) from the Argentina sideLooking right across La Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) from the Argentina side

One of the falls tumbling from San Martin Island as seen from Brazilian sideOne of the falls tumbling from San Martin Island as seen from Brazilian side

View from Brazilian sideView from Brazilian side

The Three Musketeers FallsThe Three Musketeers Falls

Looking into the Devil's Throat from a distant overlook on the Brazilian sideLooking into the Devil's Throat from a distant overlook on the Brazilian side

The immense scale of Iguazu FallsThe immense scale of Iguazu Falls

Looking down at the falls from the tower on the Brazilian sideLooking down at the falls from the tower on the Brazilian side

View of the misty mess while on the boat tourView of the misty mess while on the boat tour

Boat getting drenched beneath Salto San MartinBoat getting drenched beneath Salto San Martin

View of Salto Bossetti from the lower overlookView of Salto Bossetti from the lower overlook

Drenched beneath Salto San MartinDrenched beneath Salto San Martin

Palm trees framing Iguazu Falls on the Argentina side from a very popular lookout spotPalm trees framing Iguazu Falls on the Argentina side from a very popular lookout spot

View from Isla San MartinView from Isla San Martin

Salto EscondidoSalto Escondido

Sun bathers on San Martin IslandSun bathers on San Martin Island

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VIDEOS OF THE FALLS

Sweep of the turbulent Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo) as seen from the Argentina side


Sweep of the waterfall starting from the Brazilian side beginning from Isla San Martin and moving towards the Devi's Throat (Garganta del Diablo).


Sweep from Brazilian catwalks near the Devil's Throat


View from the top of the observation tower on the Brazilian side


View of Iguazu Falls from Salto Bossetti to Salto San Martin as seen from El Paseo Inferior on the Argentinean side


Sweep of the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls as seen from La Isla San Martin


Looking towards the wall of waterfalls on the Argentina side just as the boat turns


Short look ahead at the falls as we approach it on motorboat. As you can see the view is mostly of someone's head

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MAP OF THE FALLS

View Larger Map

TRIP REPORTS
For more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES


NEARBY WATERFALLS






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What Other Visitors Have Said

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Most Amazing Waterfall! Iguazu Falls  Not rated yet
I visited Iguazu Falls in February 2010 for two days staying at the Sheraton Hotel in the Park on the Argentina side. Two days was not long enough ...

1999 Visit  Not rated yet
We visited the falls in 1999 traveling from Sao Paulo to Foz du Iguazu.

I can't wait to return since it was beyond amazing!!!

Our trip was ...

Thank You  Not rated yet
This website helped me a lot for a history project.

Great videos and pictures.

Also with in depth information.

Clueless Tourist - Iguacu Falls  Not rated yet
The first time I saw Iquacu Falls was from a small jet in 1985. It was my first trip to South America and shamefully I did not know of the Falls. We ...

More Than Worth The Trip  Not rated yet
On our way from USA to Antarctica we purposely made a stop at the Iquazu Falls on the advice of a friend - and it was MORE than worth the trip! We live ...

The Most Amazing Thing (Iguassu Falls)  Not rated yet
I was there when I was 17... and it was the most amazing thing I`ve ever seen in this world!!!! they are really great and deserve to be on the top !!! I ...

Iguazu Falls - Fee to Cross from Argentina to Brazil  Not rated yet
It should be noted that there is a $100 fee to cross from Argentina to Brazil. If you hire a taxi and guide in Puerto Iguacu he might be able to get ...

Iguazu Falls Summer 2008  Not rated yet
It is so amazing to see this waterfall. It was only then that i really realized the powers of nature, AND WATER!!

I never thought there could be enough ...

Retired Medical Missionary  Not rated yet
I have been twice to Iguassu and can say without a doubt it is the most beautiful and exciting Falls to visit that I have ever seen.

It is easily ...



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