Overview
On my first trip to Brazil, I chose to visit Rio de Janeiro and one of the new world’s natural wonders – Iguazu Falls. This waterfall was on my travel list since a decade and I still can’t believe that I was able to explore this gorgeous site, because my trip got cancelled many times due to different reasons, which also included health restrictions.
I went to Iguazu in March, because March, April, and September are the best months to visit Iguazu Falls as the water levels are still reasonably high and it isn’t too hot. I took a non-stop flight from Rio to the town of Foz do Iguaçu. Airport is conveniently located near the entrance to the Iguaçu National Park. I stayed in the only hotel inside the national park, Belmond hotel, which is just steps away from the waterfall.
Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls straddle Brazil and Argentina. You’ll find the Falls in the Brazilian state of Paraná. In Portuguese, the Falls are called Cataratas do Iguaçu. On the Argentinian side, the Falls are in the Misiones province. In Spanish, the Falls are called Cataratas del Iguazú.
The Iguazu Falls are the largest waterfall system in the world. Stretching almost 3 km (1.80 mi) along the border of Argentina and Brazil, the falls are made up of roughly 275 different vertical drops, with heights varying from 60 meters to 82 meters (269 feet). This makes the Iguazu Falls taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide.
The Iguazu Falls got their name from the Guarani word Yguasu. The Guarani language is one of the official languages of Paraguay. In this local language, the falls are known as Chororõ Yguasu. “Y” means water and “ûasú” means big. Therefore, Iguazu simply means “big water”. Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.
Nature of the Iguazu is simply mesmerizing, and I enjoyed my time there a lot. The surrounding subtropical rainforest has over 2,000 species of vascular plants and is home to the typical wildlife of the region: tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, and caimans.
To see waterfalls from Brazilian side, you need to enter Iguaçu National Park by paying an entrance fee (which is always changing) and use buses provided by the park, that bring you from the entrance to the falls. Working hours of the park are Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 16:00. On Mondays park is closed to the public.
Helicopter tour of Iguazu
If you are looking for exclusive views of the Iguazu Falls don’t look any further and take a scenic helicopter tour of the falls. I flew in a helicopter with company Helisul, which has a good reputation, and located near the park entrance. I was blown away by the bird’s-eye view of the rushing waters and surrounding rainforest. On top of that I got a prime seat, just next to the pilot. This spectacular aerial view is the best memory that I have from the Iguazu Falls trip.
Hotel das Cataratas, a Belmond Hotel
As the only hotel inside Brazil’s Iguassu National Park, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas is uniquely located mere footsteps from the waterfall. My stay in this pastel-colored hotel felt truly special. The first advantage of this property is that I walked to the Iguazu Falls for sunrise and sunset and had all this world’s natural wonder just to myself, unlike visitors of the park who have restricted timing of opening hours.
Some other perks of this wonderful Belmond hotel are that they have uniquely tailored tours of the tropical forest and the waterfall for its guests. Inside the property there is a swimming pool, tennis court, gym, spa, restaurants, cachaça bar, etc. Hotel das Cataratas offers traditional Portuguese styled rooms with the marble and dark-wood furniture. Some of the rooms face Iguazu Falls, as well as the terrace of the restaurant. Did I mention yet that this is a 5-star accommodation?
During my stay I had a room facing jungle, savored breakfast, enjoyed their pool and gym, had sunset cocktails at the tower, and an afternoon picnic on the lawn. The picnic came with a basket of sweet and savory delights, bottle of sparkling wine, juices, and fruits. It was an unforgettable experience, since I was enjoying food while admiring breathtaking Iguazu Falls and the sights and sounds of the surrounding jungle.
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