Iguazu Falls is one of the most famous and spectacular waterfall in the world. It is located on the Iguazu River, on the border of Brazil and Argentina.
Legend
Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful native girl but she fled with her mortal lover in a canoe. Furious, the god sliced the river, hence creating the waterfall.
How to get to the falls from the Argentine side
The waterfall can be access via two roads, on both sides. If you want to visit it from the Argentine side, the town near Iguazu Falls is Puerto Iguazú, in the province of Misiones. The falls are part of the Iguazú National Park, shared between Argentina and Brazil.
Puerto Iguazú has an airport which receives daily flights from Buenos Aires. Buses also connect the city to other important Argentine cities.
To get to the falls there are buses leaving every 45 minutes from Puerto Iguazú.
Tickets
On the Argentine side, you can buy the tickets at the Visitor Center. A ticket costs about US$10 and includes two train and a boat ride that crosses over to the San Martin Island.
What to do
Water sports and rock climbing are the main activities which can be done here.
There are plenty of tours available, from luxury to budget and everything in between. The best time to visit the falls is between August and November. You can see the fall from lower altitudes but nothing compares to see it in full splendor after a short hike up.
The Brazilian side of the falls offers only the panoramic view of them but the Argentine side allows the tourists to get closer and hike on longer trails.
Once inside the park from the Argentine side, you can take the train at the Central Station or walk the Sendero Verde (green trail) to Cataratas Station. This is the starting point of the Upper Circuit which is a long and quite easy walk inside the jungle. The views of the falls are magnificent so make sure to bring enough memory cards for your camera.
The Lower Circuit is a bit harder to tackle but if you take it slow there shouldn’t be any problems. It goes all the way down to the river where the boat crosses to the island.
Many courageous tourists take a boat ride which takes them to the base of the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s throat fall), right below the waterfall.
Also starting at the Cataratas Station you can take the train ride to the Garganta del Diablo.
If you are at the falls for a day-trip, explore the Upper and Lower Circuit first, then take a lunch break and explore the other side in the afternoon.
Where to stay
There are plenty of cheap places to stay in Puerto Iguazú, and you can find them under the name of hostels . A bed can cost as little as US$9 per night.