Parque Nacional del Iguazù Favorites

Favorite thing: Iguazu Falls is one of the most spectacular and accessible falls in all the world. The many catwalks leading to the three different viewing areas are very well planned and quite safe.

When viewing the Garganta del Diablo the largest and most awe-inspiring fall you will walk about 10-15 minutes meandering through the catwalks and crossing over many sections of the Rio Iguazu Superior hearing the thundering roars of the mighty Iguazu Falls before you can see them. The catwalks are quite sturdy and new after the original catwalks were destroyed in a flood.

Along the way you may spot some caiman, many different butterflies and see circling birds (not sure if they were vultures) as you approach the falls, so keep your eyes open.

Fondest memory: Walking on the catwalks and hearing the mighty thundering roars of the Iguazu Falls before you get a glimpse of falls themselves.

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Favorite thing: We did the park on our own (not with a tour) and therefore base this information on entering the park on your own.

We noticed that the entrance fees changed from our first visit only a year ago, so be prepared to pay a bit more if you visit after 11/2008 (fees are an every changing thing).

During our latest visit (2008/2009) we paid an entrance fee of $60 pesos per person.

The visiting hours were from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.

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Favorite thing: The park is full of many different species of butterflies which at times seems like an invasion. There are some really beautiful colorful ones and if you stand or just stop long enough, you may have one or a few of these creatures use you as a landing spot.

It was a nice treat to see so many of these beautiful creatures just fluttering around and landing where they wanted.

I was able to photograph a few different species.

Favorite thing: This is probably the single most important tip I have ever seen anywhere on a trip to the falls that includes staying at the Sheraton. The Sheraton is inside the National Park here and therefore you are required to pay park entrance when arriving the first day. From then on, your room keys will double as your park pass. I know I should have thought of this ahead of time but no one ever told us we would need to pay the park fee in the taxi that is in addition to the 60 pesos for the ride.

So in our case the ride to the hotel cost us 80 pesos for the 2 admissions and 60 pesos for the ride plus a small tip of about 5 pesos. 145 pesos just like that. I know its not a big deal coming to Argentina with dollars but it’s a lot more than you probably will be expecting. It was more than I was expecting.

Favorite thing: Iguazú Falls are located in the region bounded by the municipalities of Iguassu Port /Argentina, Foz do Iguacu /Brasil and Ciudad del Este /Paraguay. To preserve the falls and the surrounding Subtropical Forest the countries created 2 Nacional Parks: the Parque Nacional Iguazú in Argentina and the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu in Brasil.
The Parque Nacional Iguazú was created in 1934 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Fondest memory: The falls are located 17 kilometers from the town where the borders of Argentina, Brasil and Paraguay meet, 1.350 kilometers to the north of Buenos Aires and 1.470 kilometers to the south of Rio de Janeiro.
Depending on the water level, you can see anywhere between 160 a 260 falls, that on average flow at a rate of 1500 cubic meters of water per second. The most impressive falls of the group, the eighty meters high Devil’s Throat.

Website: Parque Nacional Iguazú
Directions: See enclosed map

Favorite thing: I read on several travel boards and the Center for Disease Control website that a yellow fever vaccination was recommended for visiting this part of the country so I dutifully went and got one (yellow is not one of my favorite skin tones!) at a travel clinic at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago which was the only other vaccination they recommended for me as I already have vaccinations against Hep A, diptheria and tetanus.

Did I really need it? Probably not in our case, I don't think I saw a mosquito the entire time I was there and I brought Deep Woods Off for my husband who opted not to get the vaccination. But you'll need to make up your own mind based on your personal health concerns and take into account what season you are visiting in.

Favorite thing: After we got off the train at Devil's Throat there was a traffic jam on one of the catwalks and people looking over the railing and pointing. This guy was hard to see at first because he blended right into the rocks he was sitting on.

Caimans are reptiles, closely related to the Crocodile although the ones I've seen are much smaller than any Croc I've ever seen.

Favorite thing: after a rainy day lots of butterflies appeared. They flu in swarms and it felt like in a fairytale.

Fondest memory: It really makes you recognise that you are in a tropical, rain forrest area. You think that the eco system seems intact.