Iguaçu & the Falls

In the far southwestern corner of the country, straddling the border with Argentina, is one of Brazil's most amazing assets. The power and the splendor of Iguaçu Falls has always earned the awe and admiration of travelers, from indigenous tribes to Jesuit missionaries to modern-day tourists. Contained within 212 square miles of protected national parkland, Iguaçu includes almost 300 individual falls, occupying an area that is more than a mile and a half wide and 270 feet high. While most of the park is not accessible to visitors, the falls are on full display. The Trilha das Cataratas follows the bank of the Iguaçu ...

In the far southwestern corner of the country, straddling the border with Argentina, is one of Brazil's most amazing assets. The power and the splendor of Iguaçu Falls has always earned the awe and admiration of travelers, from indigenous tribes to Jesuit missionaries to modern-day tourists. Contained within 212 square miles of protected national parkland, Iguaçu includes almost 300 individual falls, occupying an area that is more than a mile and a half wide and 270 feet high. While most of the park is not accessible to visitors, the falls are on full display. The Trilha das Cataratas follows the bank of the Iguaçu River, providing innumerable photo ops of the cascades along the way. The trail terminates at the Garganta do Diablo, a mammoth horseshoe-shaped canyon, surrounded by 14 waterfalls gushing with thousands of gallons of water. While the attraction of Foz do Iguaçu is its proximity to the waterfalls, the city has a few other sights to see while you are in town. The most intriguing is Itaipu Dam, the largest hydroelectric power plant on the planet.

About the Expert

Mara Vorhees has written or contributed to many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Brazil and Morocco.