Iguazú consists of between 250 and 350 separate waterfalls, depending on the season, that plunge more than 200 feet onto the rocks below. They are located in the Iguazú River where the borders of Argentina and Brazil meet and also very close to the borders of both these countries with Paraguay. The rain forest around the falls consists of huge pine trees that because of the high humidity and hot temperatures take almost 20 years to mature, three times as much as in other parts of the world, producing very dense wood. The Iguazu Falls are rated as one of the modern wonders in the world and depending on definition might well be the biggest water falls in the world, making them an unmissable part of the best tours to Argentina.
The falls and the lands around them are protected by Argentina's Parque Nacional Iguazú (where the falls are referred to by their Spanish name, the Cataratas de Iguazú), which was created in 1934, making it one of the oldest National Parks in the country. Though there is a big Sheraton hotel in the National Park itself, most visitors choose the nearby town of Puerto Iguazú, with its many lodging and food options as their hub for exploring the falls and surrounding jungle.
The wildlife in the park includes several endangered species such as the jaguar, the ocelot, the harpy eagle and the Yacare Caiman. Swallows nest in the walls behind the falls and are an ubiquitous sight, even making it into the official park logo. There’s also a large diversity of butterfly species to be found. An environmentally-friendly train runs through the jungle for nearly 5 miles between the visitor centre and the most impressive of all the falls in the park, the 270 degree Garganta del Diablo.
Many people take the opportunity to also visit the falls from the Brazilian side, which offers a more panoramic view of the fall as opposed to being right at them and both locations have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1984.
If you want to spend the night outside of the park, the affordable La Sorgente is a very nice little posada in close by Puerto Iguazu and one of the best options in town. Very close to the 3 borders point with Brasil and Paraguay, it also has a perfect little pool with terrace and an excellent restaurant.
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