Iguazu Falls, if I were to use one word to describe this place it would be “magical”. The Iguazu Falls lie on the border between three countries Paraguey, Brazil, and Argentina.
I flew up to the border town from Buenoes Aires which was a 1 hour rather bumpy plane ride and arrived in the town of Puerto Iguazu Argentina. When I arrived and jumped off the small plane, the first thing that I noticed which was surprising me was both the German architecture and my german cab driver named Adolpho who looked like he belonged somewhere in Bevaria but only spoke only spanish. The town looked and smelled like I was about to embark on Oktoberfest with a touch of Paraguyan native culture mixed into it.
The town of Puerto Iguazu was very sleepy and relaxed, it is though a major tourist pub and everything revolves around these crazed tourists that come from all around the world to visit the water falls.
On the Brazil side, lies the town of Fog Do Iguazu which is actually a major city in Brazil with 65,000 people and on Paraguayan side there is the town called Ciudad Del Este, which is known for super cheap electronics and black market everything.
The three countries make what is referred to as the Triple Frontier. The area is a cultural melting pot, there obviously was a lot of german influence but also Chinese and arab as well who mostly resided on the Brazillian side of the water-falls.
I stayed in the town of Puerto Iguazu, and just like everywhere else in Argentina they loved both their steaks and their mate tea.
I didn’t get a chance to venture to the Brazillian side, since you needed to pay $375 for an expedited visa if you were traveling from the states.
I actually though from what I was told, preferred the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls. They made the water falls, into almost like a nature park and installed a train that would bring you to all the different areas of the water falls. They also made like a little board walk that gave you the ability to literally stand next to the waterfalls. The water falls are compromised over 1 big waterfall and over 40 smaller water falls.
Overall, it was one of the most peaceful places I have visited in all my travels.
Some traveler tips, I was there in April and early May which was the raining season and the weather was cold and rainy. It was off peak tourist season and the park was nearly empty. The best time to go to South America is in the winter time in the US. Also come prepared with a Brazil visa if possible as that will make your life a lot easier.
