Paraná (the Brazilian side, Foz do Iguaçu)
Iguaçu Falls is one of the great natural wonders of the world, a chain of some 275 cascades spread across nearly two miles of rainforest on the border between Brazil and Argentina. The two countries share the falls, and each side offers something different. From Brazil you get the grand panorama, the wide, breathtaking view that takes in row upon row of falling water at once, while the Argentine side leads you out along walkways for the up-close drama. We love starting travelers here on the Brazilian side, where the whole spectacle opens before you in a single, unforgettable sweep.
The Brazilian trail runs along the edge of the gorge, and at every turn another tier of the falls comes into view, the river breaking into countless white ribbons that tumble through the green. The path builds to a walkway that juts out over the river toward the Devil's Throat, the deepest and most thunderous part of the falls, where the spray rises in a constant cloud and rainbows hang in the mist. For an even closer look, a boat ride carries you right into the churning water beneath the cascades, and a helicopter flight lifts you over the whole horseshoe for the view from above.
All of this unfolds in subtropical rainforest that is alive with its own quieter wonders. Toucans cross the canopy in flashes of color, coatis snuffle along the trails, and clouds of butterflies drift through the warm, damp air. The falls are the headline, but the forest around them is part of the magic, and we build the day so you have time for both the roar of the water and the gentler life of the jungle that frames it.
