jaw-droppingly beautiful (Foz do Iguacu)

Member Name: bigronny

Product:	Foz do Iguacu
Date:	15/05/01 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: stunning views

Disadvantages: most hotels are expensive, the town offers little more than the Falls and bars

Awe-inspiring doesn't even get close to describing Foz do Iguacu. The falls are breath-taking: a 4km arc of seething water, even in the dry season.

They're on the border between Brazil and Argentina, close to where both countries meet Paraguay. You can fly to airports nearby in all three countries. The most amazing views are from the Brazilian side, but it's worth seeing it from both countries. Border crossing is easy, and it's cheap to get into the National Park on both sides. You can get close to the falls on paths running at all levels, but it's worth avoiding visiting at weekends when they can be crowded. Some walkways take you right to the drop, for that jelly-knees view over the edge.

There are official tours, but if you want to be independent catch a bus from the town to the falls in both countries, or barter with a taxi driver to act as an unofficial guide. You can even splash out on a helicopter trip, or take a boat ride on the river below into the spray zone.

The falls are surrounded by forest in the National Park. However, access to the parks themselves seems to be difficult to arrange, and there isn't much of a trail system running into the forest. This is the far south of Brazil, so the forest is temperate. Still interesting, but don't come expecting rainforest. There'd been heavy frosts several months before we visited, and the forests were looking very autumnal. Still scorching in the sunshine though, so get some water before you set off.

You will get to see some wildlife - coatis have learnt that tourism means food. They're like red-coated raccoons and are very tame here, wandering amongst the visitors to the falls.

The town of Iguacu has little to offer. It thrives mainly on visitors to the falls and conferences in several of the large hotels. Don't plan a long stay.

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