Recently in Iguazú Falls Category

Both Argentina and Brazil maintain national parks surrounding Iguazu Falls - nearly a quarter of a million hectares of virgin rain forest, home to jaguars, monkeys, giant anteaters, and caymans. The park infrastructure is comparable to what you'd find in North America: a well-maintained and modern visitor's center (with information, restaurants, and gift shops), well-marked trails, an electric eco-train to ferry visitors between trails, and a spectacular system of elevated metal walkways designed to keep a million visitors a year from trampling the fragile rain forest.

These walkways are divided into three "circuits" all of which are well within the capability of visitors with reasonable mobility. The lower circuit is the most strenuous, mostly at the base of the falls, and takes guests to spectacular panoramas of the waterfalls and right into the mist of the cataracts. The upper circuit allows visitors to wander at the very upper edge of the falls - sometimes within a few feet of the water on one side of the path and a hundred meters above the booming falls on the other side. The third circuit, known as Garganta del Diablo, or the Devil's Throat, (see video) takes visitors to the very edge of the most spectacular waterfall in the park, where you can stand, drenched in mist and the thunderous sounds of 270 degrees of waterfalls surrounding you - absolutely mind-blowing. Remarkably, the Devil's Throat pathway is wheelchair accessible - we saw at least two disabled visitors being wheeled out to this astounding overlook.

Visitors with more time to spend can easily extend a visit by taking one of the many excursions offered - you can take a jeep ride through the jungle where you're more likely to spot some of the resident wildlife, or take a boat trip up to the very base of the waterfalls. Be aware, you'll get completely soaked, so make sure your camera is enclosed in a sealable plastic bag. There are even short helicopter rides available on the Brazilian side, but these are controversial, as the rotor noise has scared away many of the toucans and parrots that formerly inhabited the area. All are conveniently located near the Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa, the only hotel within the boundaries of the park and within sight of the falls.

Iguazú Falls, an enormous complex of waterfalls on the Iguazu River near its confluence with the Parana River, lies amid the dense rain forest at the boundaries of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. The falls are a 90 minute plane ride north from Buenos Aires, the closest large city. It's an amazing, spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime place.

Visitors to the area will find lots of lodging options in the nearby Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu or in the Argentine town of Puerto Iguazú. However, if you've come this far to see the falls, you would do well to consider staying at the Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa, which is the only hotel located within the boundaries of the park and within sight of the falls. It is unquestionably the most desirable lodging option.

The park is located about midway between the Puerto Iguazú airport and the town itself. Transportation from town to the falls is available via public bus (for a few pesos) or taxi ($10-15 one way). Travel time between the airport and the park is about 20 minutes, and it's another 15-20 minutes from the park to Puerto Iguazú.

By general consensus, the Argentine side of the falls offers closer, more exciting views of the falls, while the Brazilian side provides a more panoramic overview of the entire area. US visitors who want to see the Brazilian side are going to need a visa, which currently costs $160 per person. Don't blame Brazil - this tariff is reciprocal and is based on what it costs a Brazilian citizen to visit the US. Although it used to be possible to sneak across for an hour or two without a visa, authorities have recently cracked down on this practice, and there are no more loopholes - if you want to get into Brazil, you'll need that $160 stamp in your passport.