Brazil - Iguazu Falls / Brazil - Cataratas de Iguazú

Here in the Brazilian state of Paraná, we are at the tri-border area of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. In the southern part of the country, you can feel the strong European influence (there are also many German Brazilians here) and the stronger economic development. Everything is so organized, and you can feel the proximity to Argentina, mate tea is consumed like water, and instead of Forro or Samba, you hear more Gauchomusic here.

We actually came here only because of the waterfalls and because it is more or less on the way to Bolivia. I didn't want to come at first because I thought, pfff, a few waterfalls and all the crowds, I don't need that. But David wanted to come, and in hindsight, I have to say, I don't regret accompanying him 😊

You can see the waterfalls from two perspectives, from the Brazilian side, you get a panoramic view from a distance, and from the Argentine side, you get closer. Both sides have their charm. It is truly indescribable what you see. Unbelievable proportions and brutal natural force. You can't even imagine it beforehand, you can't put it into words, and of course, photos or videos don't really capture it. You just have to come and see for yourself 😉

The whole surrounding area is quite off-putting, especially on the Argentine side, where the national park has been turned into an amusement park, which is really unfortunate and annoying. And of course, you can't enjoy the natural spectacle undisturbed, there are a lot of people. We found the helicopters and boats very disturbing, constant noise pollution and pollution in a national park. If it is declared a protected area, it should be enforced more consistently, we think. But as I said, it was still worth it. It's really moving and the Garganta del Diablo is truly overwhelming.

So if you're already nearby, I would definitely recommend coming here. It's unique. You should try to ignore the surroundings as much as you can. Then it's a great experience despite some drawbacks!

We arrived in the city of Foz do Iguaçu after a long bus trip from Rio, about 22 hours of travel, but well, we're getting used to these journeys.

Here in the south, you can see that it is more economically developed than the rest of the country, and it is much more organized :) We are right at the point where the borders of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil meet.

But we have definitely come to see the waterfalls. They can be seen from two different perspectives, from the Brazilian side and from the Argentine side. We decided to do the Brazilian side on the first day, and the next day we will cross the border to Puerto Iguazú.

The result of what we have seen: incredible, unique, and you can hardly believe that something like this can exist. Certainly, you can't see exactly what you experience when you are here in the photos, and you really can't describe it in words either, so all you can do is come and enjoy it for yourself!

But come with the idea that you won't be alone. There are a lot of people visiting the waterfalls and you need quite a bit of patience. The Brazilian side is quieter and offers a more complete panoramic view than the Argentine side, as on the latter, you are closer to the waterfalls. On the Argentine side, and it's sad to say, they have turned a natural park into an amusement park. But you have wonderful views of the waterfalls and especially of the Garganta del Diablo, which was the most spectacular for me. And I would recommend going to the Argentine side only if you only have one day to visit the waterfalls.

In summary, if one day you decide to take a trip near here, don't hesitate, it's worth it. But for us, it was a bit sad to see what they have done here from a point of view of respect for nature, especially the fact that they allow helicopters and boats to pollute the environment with noise. If it is a protected area, there should be more action taken accordingly, I think. But well, we focus on the positive, and it is truly a natural wonder.