Iguazu National Park

Iguazu catwalk. Photo by Karen Nagy

Iguazu falls. Photo by Karen Nagy

The main reason tourists come to the 167 acre (67, 600 hectare) Iguazú National Park, located in the northeastern corner of Argentina, is to see the impressive waterfalls. Iguazu was given it's name by the aboriginal Guarani, and translates to "big water." During the wet season, there can be up to 260 individual cascades, which are accessible from both Argentina and Brazil. On both sides of the falls there are walking paths that lead you around and over the many small waterfalls. The major attraction of this World Heritage Site is the jaw-dropping Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo), which can be seen from both countries. 

The easiest way to get around the big park is by the free "Ecological Jungle Train" which connects the Upper Circuit, Lower Circuit, and the Devil's throat. However, if you're interested in seeing more flora and fauna of the Parana jungle, the 3600 meter Macuco Nature Trail is a great early morning hike, which allows glimpses of monkeys, coati and other wildlife. The woodsy trail cuts through the forest surrounding the park leading down to the small Arrechea Waterfall. Allow two hours and bring insect repellent.

Devil's Throat is the biggest of the falls at an impressive 80 meters high, and should be saved for last. Catch the jungle train or walk the 15 minutes to the start of The Lower Circuit, a 1700 meter circular path, which allows you to see the waterfalls from below. The series of catwalks are a pleasant shady walk from the entrance, past Salto Lamuse and Salto Alvar Nuñez, up to the launch for the free one-minute boat ride across to Isla San Martin.

Continue the trail across to the island at the heart of the falls, keeping watch out for the rich variety of bird life sheltering there. The trail continues over the river with stunning views of the Salto San Martin and Salto Dos Hermanos, ending back at the watchtower. Allow two to three hours for the whole trail.

The Upper Circuit is a 650 meter walk that takes roughly thirty minutes to one hour, with views of the same waterfalls but from up above. It's a short route, but offers great panoramic photo opportunities and lizard spotting.

For the final course, take the train up to the Garganta del Diablo and enjoy the stunningly serene swamp land as butterflies float past. With luck, you can spot alligators in the water and birds in the trees. The catwalk ends with a platform over the awesome and spectacular semi-circular cascading Devil's Throat. The pure white spray thunders over the edge with such terrific power it ends clouds of spray into the air and multiple rainbows visible for miles around.

For information about history, geology, area culture, and habitat, visit the Yvira Retá Interpretation Center at the entrance. Admission to the park is ARS$60 for foreigners and ARS $30 for nationals.

National Park

By Karen Nagy

Karen Nagy is a staff editor/writer at V!VA. She studied travel writing and learned the joys of Mediterranean island-hopping in Greece, and went on...

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