Iguazu Falls National Park -- Argentina and Brazil

Iguazu Falls National Park 

The Iguazú River, which means “big water” in Guaraní language, flows into the Paraná River. It is 1,500 meters wide (0.9 miles), and runs through islands and islets to finally fall from a lava cliff formed 120 million of years ago.  This creates one of the world’s most inspiring waterfalls.  Enjoy this Iguazu Falls overview video.

Now that you are totally immersed in this once in a lifetime experience, let’s learn more about the national parks surrounding the falls. There are actually two parks with the same name – one on the Argentinean side and one on the Brazilian side—that form the borders between the two countries.

The 167,340-acre Argentinean Parque Nacional Iguazú was created in 1934 and became a UNESCO National Park in 1984.  Iguazú is the Argentinean spelling. 

Its sister park on the Brazilian side is larger at 457,794 acres and was created in 1939.  It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.  The Brazilian spelling is Parque Nacional Do Iguaçu, so if you have seen both spellings it is due to the country referring to it.  Remember…Argentina natives speak Spanish, while Portuguese is the national language of Brazil.

This combined area is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, and the mountain of mist created by the falls enables the lush vegetation to flourish.  The subtropical rainforest that surrounds the falls boasts over 2,000 plant species, 400 bird species including the harpy eagle and toucan,  and a wide variety of wildlife including tapirs, coatis, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, caimans…and a plethora of butterfly species. 

Coatis and Tourists!

We are not likely to run upon the dangerous ones, but don’t be surprised if you see a howler monkey or coati!!  An important rule to remember: no matter how much fun it looks, don’t feed the animals.

Iguazú (Iguaçu) parks and neighboring property comprise a significant remnant of the Atlantic Forest spanning Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.  It is one of the most threatened global conservation priorities as it now covers only 5% of its once one million square kilometers. 

Both the Iguazu park and the Iguaçu park have several walking trails of varying length and difficulty to reach the falls and explore the forest, as well as interpretive visitor centers.  In addition to walking, a jeep ride is included in our tour, along with the boat ride to the falls. 
There is also a train ride, but our tour does not list it.  Looking for tips on what to bring on this adventure, look here.

This video is really cool to show the falls from a tourist’s view…just what you’ll see.

Test your photography skill…bring along a selfie stick.  Watch how this guy films himself hiking along the falls!

The Iguazu Falls and park experience will be one to check off your bucket list!

Iguazu Falls -- Brazil and Argentina

Iguazu Falls

Named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011, Iguazu Falls is the largest waterfalls system in the world.  Located on the border of the Brazilian state of Parana and the Argentina province of Misiones, its name means “big water.”  That’s easy to see as Iguazu Falls is made up of 275 waterfalls or cataracts spanning 2.7 kilometers. 

It is located on the Iguazu River within one of the few remaining inland rainforests in South America, the Atlantic rainforest, preserved as national parks by both Brazil and Argentina.  The parks were named UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively .

The Argentinean side, which features over two-thirds of the falls, offers visitors the opportunity to walk up close on a series of rustic-looking boardwalks, while the Brazilian side offers more panoramic views.

The tallest of the waterfalls is called Devil’s Throat and drops over 80 meters into a permanent cloud of mist.  Shaped like a horseshoe, it is the largest water curtain in the whole system and includes 14 waterfalls.

To put that into perspective, Iguazu Falls is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls and rivaled only by Zambia and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls, which are taller at 108 meters.

Iguazu Falls boardwalks

On average, 1,500 cubic meters of water flow every second.  In the rainy season between November and March, as much as 13,000 cubic meters of water flow every second – enough to fill five Olympic size swimming pools.  One of the highlights of touring the falls is the unforgettable “baptism” during a boat ride to the falls.

One legend says that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman who fled with her mortal lover in a canoe on the Iguazu River.  In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.

Iguazu Falls has been featured in many films including Moonraker (1979), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and Captain America: Civil War (2016).

Now enjoy the falls through the eyes of a phantom drone!

2017 Tour to Brazil, Argentina, and Iguazu Falls -- Itinerary

We are planning our next tour and it will be to Brazil and Argentina in South America!  The 10-day tour is June 19-28, 2017.

Get ready for some fun and adventure on one of our most exciting tours yet!  And marvel at one of the most fantastic waterfalls in the world…the majestic Iguazu Falls on the Brazil/Argentina border.  Highlights of the tour include: the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, a tour of the famous Rio beaches, boat cruise on Rio’s Guanabara Bay, samba dance lessons, viewing the massive Iguazu Falls from two different countries, boat ride right up to the falls, jeep tour and hike the forests surrounding the falls and see capuchin monkeys and toucans in their natural habitat, and enjoy a Fiesta Gaucha at an Argentine ranch to enjoy gaucho competitions, traditional folk dances, and horseback riding.

Better yet…we will be traveling in South America’s winter…and that’s a wonderful 80 degrees!  Rio de Janeiro will play host to the 2016 Summer Olympics…and that means the city will still be all spruced up when we arrive in 2017.

To get a closer look at what you will experience on the tour, then watch the slide show below  that highlights these locations and many more.  Simply click on this link, or click in the box below.  (Note: I’ve found it works best when viewing with the Google Chrome browser.)

2017 Brazil and Argentina slide show

More presentations from Sharan

Click on the forward button in the middle of the screen to start the show.  To advance the slides, click on the forward button at the bottom left to view this size.  To view full screen, click on the square in the lower right corner of the slide show and simply click your mouse on the screen to advance the slide show.  Enjoy!

Brazil, Argentina, and Iguazu Falls

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly overnight to Brazil

Day 2: Rio de Janeiro (3 nights)

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro

Take a guided tour of Rio de Janeiro with your expert local guide to see:
--Catedral Metropolitana

--Pyramid Fountain

--Imperial Palace

--São Bento Monastery

--November 15 Square

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro

Visit Corcovado Mountain and view the Christ the Redeemer statue

Enjoy an authentic BBQ lunch

Take a tour of Rio's beaches

Time to explore on your own

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro

Enjoy a cruise of Guanabara Bay with views of Sugarloaf Mountain

Visit a Samba School

Participate in a Samba lesson

Day 5: Iguazu Falls (2 nights)

Fly to Iguazu Falls, with 275 falls cascading over a precipice nearly 2 miles wide and 269 feet high!

Jeep ride through Iguazu National Park and watch for 400 bird species including toucans, parakeets, hummingbirds and 2,000 plant varieties

Hike through the forest and watch for exotic wildlife including capuchin monkeys, tapirs, and coatis

Day 6: Iguazu Falls

View the falls from the Brazilian side

Ride a boat right up to the falls

Day 7: Iguazu • Buenos Aires (2 nights)

View the falls from the Argentine side

Fly to Buenos Aires

Day 8: Buenos Aires

Take a guided tour of Buenos Aires with your expert local guide to see:

--National Congress
--Plaza de Mayo

--Casa Rosado

--the Cabildo (first city hall)

--San Telmo, the city’s oldest barrio

--colorful La Boca District

--Colón Theater

--Palermo

--Recoleta and a visit to Eva Peron’s grave (Evita)

Time to explore on your own or add this optional excursion: Tango lesson

Day 9: Buenos Aires

Participate in a traditional Fiesta Gaucha ranch visit

--Authentic barbecue

--Gaucho horsemanship competitions

--Folk dancing

--Horseback riding

Board an overnight flight

Day 10: Arrive home

2017 Tour to Brazil, Argentina, and Iguazu Falls -- General Information

2017 South American tour

--We are traveling with EF Educational Tours. 

--This is a 10-day private tour June 19-28, 2017 especially for our adult group. We will not be combined with any other groups. Note: EF now requires 4 days of flexibility on either side of our requested departure date in order to find the best available flights.

--The current all-inclusive tour price is $4,875 per adult.  This includes the $95 enrollment fee, departure fees, program price, private bus, adult supplement, 7 overnight stays in double rooms with private baths, roundtrip airfare from DFW, internal flights, all breakfasts and dinners, lunches on days 3 and 9, samba lessons, 2 boat rides, jeep ride, fiesta gaucha excursion, horseback riding, entrances to sites per itinerary, guided sightseeing and walking tours, and full-time EF tour director.  

--Those who have previously traveled with EF will receive an additional $100 discount.  This will be reflected on your account when previous travel has been verified by EF.

--This tour offers two additional optional excursions.  It is your individual choice whether you opt for either, both, or neither of these extras.  The entire group does not have to enroll.  1) a Brazilian Evening ($120) a traditional Rio Carnival experience show, and 2) Take an Argentine tango lesson in Buenos Aires ($65)! 

--EF continues to offer the EF Price Guarantee.  Once you enroll on the tour, your price will never change due to increase in program price.  In addition, there will be NO INCREASING DEPARTURE FEES after you enroll!

--The optional $155 All-Inclusive Insurance Plan covers medical and accident, baggage and property, flight delay, 24-hour emergency assistance, and tour cancellation and interruption.  The insurance is not required, but I do recommend it as many U.S. insurance companies do not provide adequate insurance for travel abroad.  I would recommend contacting your insurance company to make sure.  If you do not want it, you can decline it during enrollment.  You can, however, add the all-inclusive coverage plan up to 70 days prior to departure.

--This tour requires at least 30 participants for the private bus at this price.  If there are fewer, the fee will increase slightly.

--Each participant must have a roommate or will be subject to a single supplement charge.

--The minimum amount required at the time of enrollment is $95.

--Enrollment options:

1.       Internet: enroll online quickly and easily at http://www.eftours.com/enroll.  Our tour number is 1800998ST.

2.       Phone: call 1-877-205-9909.

4.       Fax: complete the enrollment form and fax to 1-800-318-3732.

--Payment options:

1.       Manual Payment Plan: pay $95 with enrollment and lock in the current price, required $500 due in 30 days, $500 due 90 days after enrollment, and the rest you may pay as you please as long as the balance is paid 110 days prior to departure (about March 1, 2017).  There is a $50 to use your credit card.

2.       Monthly Payment Plan: pay $95 with enrollment and lock in current price, then the balance is automatically divided into small, manageable monthly payments deducted monthly from your checking account as a bank draft or debit charge.  With this plan you have 2 more months (until May 19, 2017) to make payments (30 days prior to departure) and you do not have to worry about late fees. 

--When registering, you MUST put your name on the application EXACTLY as it is on your passport or birth certificate.  This is the same name that will be put on your airplane tickets (and passport if you don’t have one yet) and the names MUST match.  Married women use your married name.  EF requires you to include a middle name (or maiden name if that is on your passport) for enrollment.

--You will need a passport to travel abroad.  If you have one, make sure it will be valid at least six months after our return in 2017.  Adult passports are good for 10 years; children’s passports are good for five years.  If you do not have a passport, then wait until about 6 months prior to departure to apply.  You will also need a tourist visa to enter Brazil, which we will obtain prior to departure.

--Once we have organized our traveling group, I will keep you informed of everything you need to know.  I will have a meeting a month prior to departure.  Until then I will keep you informed on sites we will see, what to expect, what to pack, how to obtain currency, where to shop, how to get passports, inform you of airline flights and hotels…everything you need to know through my travel blog at http://luv2go.blogspot.com. 

Right now you just need to decide if you want to join us…and we hope you do!