Iguazu Falls is a dream for many people. They are one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Iguazu falls are located on the Iguazú river on the border between the province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. On the Argentina side, they are inside the Iguazú National Park and on the Brazilian side they are inside the Iguaçu National Park.
The name “Iguazu” (in Spanish) comes from two words of Guaraní origin. “Y” “Guazú”, which means “big water”. The falls are made up of 275 waterfalls and, although 80% are on the Argentine side, my recommendation is to visit both national parks because, as they say: “on the Argentina side, the Cataratas are lived and on the Brazilian side the better panoramas. “
The entrance fee to the Iguazú National Park will depend on whether you are a resident of Misiones, of Argentina, of Mercosur or abroad. There are also cheaper prices for children under 12 and you are retired or pensioned. People with disability certificate and even a companion do not pay entry. It is necessary to present a document or passport and, the address that appears there is what determines the cost of entry.
The park opens every day from 08:00 hs. Until 16: 30hs you can enter and stay inside the Park until 6pm. Something important is that with your entry on the first day you can access a discount of 50% on the value of the entry on your second day. Because yes, you usually need two days to visit the Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls. To access the 50% discount, when you leave the first day you have to go through the ticket offices and validate the ticket that you can only use the second consecutive day (ie, yes or yes is to return the next day).
What does the ticket include?
• The Nature Interpretation Center
• The transfer in the Ecological Train of the Jungle
• The Green Path
• The Upper Promenade
• The Lower Walk
• The devils throat
• The Macuco Trail and the Arrechea Falls
Ecological Train of the Jungle
The Ecological Train of the Forest leaves from the Central Station, meters from the entrance to the Park, passing through the Cataratas Station (from which you access the lower and upper circuits) and ends at Garganta del Diablo Station.
The total journey is 30 minutes and the last train to Garganta del Diablo leaves at 4pm. To return, the last train to the Central Station leaves at 6:00 pm (consult always before).
The train goes at a maximum speed of 20 kilometers to take care of the fauna. It is 100% accessible. It has spaces for wheelchairs and baby cars. Recently, an electric locomotive was added that moves forward with the purpose of the National Park with the care of the environment.
Green Trail
This path is the one that joins the entrance of the Park with the entrances to the upper and lower circuits. Instead of going on the Ecological Train of the Jungle, you do it walking between a bath in the middle of the jungle. The green trail has a length of 650 meters and is 100% accessible.
I recommend that you do it, instead of the train, because it is an area inhabited by coatis, monkeys and birds of the area. Important: do not feed the animals that are inside the Park. Far from being helping them, you harm them for two reasons: the food that people eat is not healthy for them. In recent years they have detected coatis and monkeys with diseases such as diabetes and because they then become “lazy” to find their own food and get used to it. The National Park is a natural habitat and they get their food by their own means. They are not domesticated animals, they are wild animals. For this reason, it is forbidden to touch them. Remember that you are a visitor, respect their place.
Lower Circuit
There are two ways to make the lower circuit: by means of a ramp or by stairs. I chose the stairs to go down and the ramp to go up (it can be done upside down but have your knees and physical capacity in mind).
The lower circuit has a length of 1700 meters and it is estimated that in an hour you can cover it. In this trip you will have more contact with the jungle because it goes below the falls. You’re more likely to get wet because you’re going to be there just when the Saltos Dos Hermanas, Chico and Ramirez break. The end of the circuit leaves you standing in front of the huge wall of water that is the fall of Bossetti Falls.
There is a part of this circuit that has stairs and takes you to the falls of the Salvos Alvar Nuñez, Elenita and Lanusse. Look for our Iguazu Falls Tours and contact us for more information
Superior Circuit
The upper circuit is 100% accessible. There are no stairs. It has a length of 1750 meters and it is estimated that in an hour and a half it can be done. Equal time will depend on you, how fast you walk, how many people there are and especially how many pairs to take pictures, videos, write, rest.
During the circuit, a footbridge crosses the Upper Iguazú River to reach the edge of San Martín Falls (the second most important waterfall). In this walk you have the best views and you can see the Brazilian shore.
To leave the circuit, you will go along a footbridge that takes you through the islets of the Upper Iguazú River and flows into the Cataratas Station (where, if you want, you can take the train that takes you to the Garganta del Diablo).
Devil’s throat
To go to the Garganta del Diablo inside the park there is an electric train.
The last train that takes you to Garganta del Diablo Station leaves at 4pm. But the park is open until 6pm and the journey to the station will be about 10 or 15 minutes. That makes you have less than an hour and a half to visit the Devil’s Throat and, my recommendation is that you devote a little more time.
The length of the route is 2200 meters in total. The estimated duration is 2 hours but for me it is a little longer. Not because of the difficulty because it is all ramp, it has no stairs. But because it will cost you to leave when you arrive.
Macuco trail and Arrechea waterfall
This path is a dirt road in the middle of the jungle that ends at the Arrechea waterfall with a natural water pool just below the waterfall. On this trail you are likely to see monkeys in the treetops. And the same recommendation that I made above. Do not feed them, do not try to touch them.
The entrance to the Macuco Trail can be done from 08: 00hrs until 15hs. They are 7 kilometers round trip and the route depends on your pace when walking and how much you stay when you arrive. But they estimate about three hours.
Unfortunately, it is not an accessible area.
Activities within the Iguazú National Park
Full Moon Walk
The walk of the full moon is an activity that takes place only 5 days a month. It has three different shifts and optional dine at the park restaurant. The route that is made is up to the Garganta del Diablo. Can you imagine what it is to be next to that great jump while the moon illuminates you?
The duration of the walk without dinner is almost three hours or dinner included lasts four hours. There is limited space for this activity so I recommend that if you already know the dates you are going, book in advance on the Iguazú Argentina page. You can pay by credit card and Mercado Pago. You can also book in this link that includes roundtrip transportation from your accommodation, the full moon ride and dinner.
Safari
There are three safaris to do inside the National Park: waterfall safari, pioneer safari and jungle safari.
The one I did was the jungle safari. It is a 4×4 excursion that is carried out by the Yacaratiá II Path in the reserve of the Iguazú National Park. The guide will tell you about everything that is around you.
Great Adventure
Inside the Park you can find a private company that does the nautical tour. It is an activity that, if you have the possibility to do it, do not hesitate. I know it’s expensive but it’s really worth it.
