The waterfall photographs are from Iguazu Falls National Park in northern Argentina. If you are headed for Iguazu Falls, see the map included: Iguazu Map.

You can fly to Puerto Iguazu, or take the bus. The bus trip from Buenos Aires was a smidge under 15 hours. However, if you pick your bus wisely, you will sleep overnight and the 15 hours will go by in a flash. Plus, the bus affords you a chance to see some Argentine countryside (although much of the ride most likely will take place overnight).

Many nationalities need a visa to enter Brazil. The rates vary by country. There are stories that you can get across by taking a cab. The cab driver apparently does all the work. It is also rumoured that you can get across via bus. I can say that it certainly is possible from talking to people, but I didn't bother trying.

While the panoramic view from Brazil is supposedly much better, the Argentine side allows you to get up close and personal with the falls. You can do the whole Argentine side in 1 day. I suggest at least 2 nights so that you can get to the park when it opens, and have the full day without scampering around trying to make your plane or bus. Also, Puerto Iguazu is a relaxed, safe town.

Recommendations

The best time to go totally depends on what you are looking for. If you want to see the falls at their strength, you'd go during the rainy season, which is sometime between November and March. Of course, going during the rainy season means you increase your chances that you'll be walking around in the rain. For this, I'd recommend getting wet - because if you have a chintzy rainjacket, you'll be sweating so much that it makes no sense. If the rain keeps up long enough for days on end, you could face an issue whereby certain pathways, boat crossing, etc. are closed off. I'm not sure of how often closure occurs - I do know that the boat service out to the island was cancelled for several days when I was there due to turbulence. It reopened right before I left. Another option is to schedule yourself to go during a full moon, as this way you can visit the falls at night, lit by the moon.

December & January can be busy due to people on vacation/holiday. Another downside is that some find it too hot & humid in the middle of the rainy season. If you want nicer weather, you may have less water flow thru the falls. So there are trade-offs either way. I went in late-January, got rained on, and had a marvelous time.

If you want to get away from the crowds, I would suggest going on the Sendero Macuco Trail. Yes pumas have killed people on this trail, and yes, jaguars and poisonous snakes are also present in this environment, but all of these are rarely encountered. The trail is primarily a dirt path. At the path's termination, after you descend down a somewhat eroded footway, is a waterfall. No spectators, no fences, just nature to yourself.

Many, I think, would be disappointed by the trail, as its a good 6km round-trip and may seem at first glance to be pretty bland - but for for an obervational minimalist, or for someone looking for a breather from the crowds - I'd recommend it.

Try going first thing in the morning, or last thing near evening. Typically wildlife disappears during the hottest parts of the day. The morning can give you a chance to be the first one down the trail - spotting wildlife before it runs off the trail for the day.

Also, on a slightly related note, instead of taking the sometimes crowded train from the upper trail to the visitors center, do the Green Walk (Sendero Verde). You very well may see a bunch of monkeys or other wildlife. This is, however, a much more polished/tourist-friendly trail than Macuco. Walking this trail will be just as quick as taking the train - and you can get some extra wildlife sightings in.

Iguazu NP is a highly recommended place as far as what it is. Unfortunately, it is quite touristy in appearance/setup. I could do away with the colorful signs, fast food vendors, and gift shop - but unfortunately it's all what one would expect at any place this magnificent. Places like this are bound to have many tourist dollars at work making it accessible to all.

I only spent one day at Iguazu and thus was photographically limited but the following pictures should give a rough idea of what can be expected from a place where you can see over 250 waterfalls.

The other pictures in the gallery are from the vicinity in and around Ushuaia, Argentina which is one of the southernmost cities of the world. Tierra del Fuego National Park is a very beautiful place as is the Patagonian region.

To enter the picture gallery, click here: South American Photo Gallery