Iguacu Falls, one of the most eminent wonders of the world, is capable of astounding you at the very sight. It is wider than the Victoria Falls and much taller than the Niagara. Much like some rare sights of nature, it is truly humbling. Then a sudden thought awakens, the realization of our meager existence against the humongous nature.
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The Iguacu Falls area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage spot. It lies along the border of the three South American nations namely- Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
To Visit the Iguacu Falls you can reach the falls via. any of the three nations. It is surrounded by the cities Foz do Iguacu on the Brazilian side, Puerto Iguazu on the Argentine side and the Ciudad del Este on the Paraguayan side. While the waterfalls majorly lie between Brazil and Argentina, the Paraguayan city of Ciudad del Este is just across the bridge from the Brazilian city. The sight of the Iguacu Falls from the Foz do Iguacu is the most exquisite and huge as Brazil enjoys the largest share of the view of the falls.
From Brazil
The Foz do Iguacu airport is situated just in between the Foz do Iguacu city and the Iguacu Park. Once you reach the Foz do Iguacu airport, taxis are easily available. To hire a taxi, enquire at the desk about the availabilities to the desired destinations and the rates. Both card and cash payments are possible. You can pay while booking itself or later to the driver. In Brazil, the fare to the park gate is cheap as it is close. Bus service is also available to the park. The buses are available every half an hour and are pretty cheap and convenient. Out here, the buses run through the city passing several important hotels on the way to choose from. It starts at the stop outside the airport terminal, till the other terminal situated at the furthest end of the city, well provided with tourist enquiry offices. The bus drops you at the park entrance.
You may wish to stay at any of the hotels on the Argentinean side also. In that case, it’s more favorable to hire a cab to do a more detailed city tour and sightseeing. It is advisable to book a cab in advance else the taxi fare can be quite expensive.
Taxis are available to the city of Puerto Iguazu on the Argentine side from the Foz do Iguazu airport. The fares are negotiable. Again, there are also buses to the city that arrive every half an hour, which are comparatively cheaper. However, they are attainable until 8pm, which can be restrictive to your late dine out plans. If you are ready to pay a little more, you can book a cab from the hotel itself.
From Argentina
From the Iguazu Airport terminal, you can hire a taxi at the baggage counter to the hotel. Hiring a taxi will give you the ease to plan your trip, provided it is in your budget. Here too, buses are readily available every half an hour or more.
Enquire about the taxi fares, as they are fixed and non-negotiable. The entry fee to the park for foreigners on the Argentine side is a bit pricey.
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You Must See
The Iguacu Falls are magnificent and enjoying beauty at the fullest will take up most of your time. The rush and gush of the overwhelming waters is so much superior to the Niagara or Victoria combined. However, it is pretty unfair of human trait to compare nature’s magnanimous creations anyway. Though, most of the falls are on the Argentinean side, the Brazilian side offers a wider and fuller view.
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You Must Do
- A Boat Trip under the falls is a must.
- Go on a Safari into the Iguazu Jungle on the Argentinean side. Some tourism websites even provide trip packages comprising of both the boat ride and safari.
- On the Brazilian side, you can go on a planed Macuco Safari on boat. These boat rides are loads of fun as the boats take you almost under the falls. Also, carry a raincoat, though you will get wet anyway.
Time Required
For the entire experience to sink in, it’s advisable to have adequate time in hand when planning for a vacation to the Iguacu Falls. You need to spend at least a day on both the Brazilian (which is a must) and Argentinean side.
