Day 1: Iguazú Falls — The Argentine Side
Upper & Lower Circuits
Enter the Parque Nacional Iguazú (ARS 28,000 for foreigners) as the gates open at 8am. Start with the Circuito Superior (Upper Circuit) — a 1.7km boardwalk above the falls with panoramic views of the cascades plunging into the gorge below. The mist, rainbows, and roar are immediate and overwhelming. Then take the Circuito Inferior (Lower Circuit) — 1.4km of steps and platforms that take you down to the base of the falls, face-to-face with walls of water.
Devil's Throat — Garganta del Diablo
Take the Tren Ecológico de la Selva (free park train) to the Garganta del Diablo station. Walk 1.1km across metal boardwalks over the Iguazú River to reach the Devil's Throat — the most powerful section of the falls where 14 cascades converge into a U-shaped chasm 82 metres deep. The noise is deafening, the mist creates permanent rainbows, and the sheer volume of water defies comprehension. You will be soaked. This is the highlight.
Puerto Iguazú Town
Puerto Iguazú is a small, friendly border town. Dinner at La Rueda for river fish — surubí (giant catfish) or dorado grilled with lemon and herbs (ARS 12,000–18,000). The Hito Tres Fronteras viewpoint marks the triple border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay where the Iguazú and Paraná rivers meet — go at sunset for photos. Drinks at Quita Penas or La Barranca for cold Quilmes beer (ARS 2,000–3,500).
