The seven wonders of the Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
The falls of Iguazu (or Iguacu in Portuguese) combine to create the world’s largest waterfall system. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.
1 Be dazzled by the Devil’s Throat
The falls and the Devils Throat.Credit: iStock
Iguazu is made up of 275 falls, but the most magnificent up-close encounter is at Devil’s Throat in Argentina, where the ground shivers and the air dances with rainbows. The horseshoe of 14 cascades, best viewed in late afternoon with the sun behind you, is easily appreciated from walkways at the top of the plateau, some right at the lip of waterfalls. The roar and slide of water is mesmerising. The outlook from Salto San Martin is the best of eight viewpoints.
2 Get soaked on the Lower Circuit
You’d be mad to miss the 1.7-kilometre walk at the bottom of the falls around Devil’s Throat, even if you will get wet in the process. You get a different perspective and a far more visceral experience as the falls thunder, spray drifts and jungle steams. The Salto Bossetti falls are the highlight. Unless high water prevents it, you should nip across by boat to Isla San Martin, whose small trail gets you a good look at several turbulent waterfalls.
3 Meet the wildlife at Guira Oga Centre
Local wildlife – a toucan.Credit: iStock
This wildlife hospital and rehabilitation centre, nestled in rainforest on Puerto Iguazu’s edge, gets you up close to rainforest creatures, some endangered; the centre also has a captive breeding program. The focus is mostly on birds, including spectacular toucans and macaws and modest-looking but rare guans and macucos. You might also see capybaras and capuchin monkeys. Guides give interesting accounts of how animals were injured and are coaxed back to health, sometimes after being retaught how to fly.
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