Iguazu Falls Tours
Iguazú means “great waters” in the language of the native guaraníes who inhabited the region before Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca discovered their existence for the western world in 1541. Located 20 km from the Argentine city of Puerto Iguazú, the Falls thunder down across the frontiers of Argentina and Brazil and are a key eco tourism attraction. The river travels 1,200 km on a basalt plateau, gathering speed and power as hundreds of smaller rivers join its course before it reaches the cliff on the geological faultline. Flowing at 5,000 cubic metres a second this incredible mass of water abruptly crashes down from a height of some 90 meters – it is a spectacular sight to behold, no less than 275 waterfalls in a horseshoe formation that Mother Nature has generously provided for our enjoyment.
In order to protect the falls, the forest and the whole surrounding ecosystem, these areas were classified as a National Park on both sides of the border, before being included in the World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO (1984 and 1986). The predominant humidity favours the growth of a large amount of vegetation, food that is available for a wide variety of wildlife: 450 species of birds, 80 species of mammals, reptiles, fish, insects and butterflies inhabit this ecosystem. A train was built within the Park to facilitate the transfer of visitors from one area to another with minimum impact on the environment. It runs only at 20km/hour to avoid disturbing or hitting animals, and is powered by LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) to prevent pollution.
Start planning your tailor-made tour to the Iguazu Falls
If you are visiting the Iguazu Falls from Brazil, please send the travel enquiry from the Brazil destination page. If you are visiting from Argentina, please send the travel enquiry from the Argentina destination page. In both cases, you will be able to visit both sides of the Iguazu Falls, as well as nearby attractions such as the Itaipu Dam and the Parque das Aves (Bird Park).
