Iguazu Falls

On the last stretch of its westward course the Iguazu River doubles as border between Brazil and Argentina.

Just 25 km upstream of the confluence with the Parana River, the Iguazu has to negotiate the steep edge of theParana Plateau.

Over a length of 2.5 km and divided over 250 falls, the waters plunge 70 meters, creating the world's largest waterfall system, the unique Iguazu Falls.

In 1541 Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was the first European to describe the falls. He was one of the few survivors of the ill-fated Narvaez expedition.

Each side offers fantastic but starkly different views.

The Brazilian side sits on the high ground and thus provides stunning panoramas. At the Argentinean side, the views, smells and sounds are more up-close and certainly wetter!

So you really have to visit both sides, but unfortunately it takes a bus ride of more than 40 km and a border crossing to get from one side to the other!

Those who want the full experience can first take a wild water zodiac trip to right under the falls where you will get wet and then board a chopper for a geat helicopter view of the area.

We visited the magnificent Iguazu Falls in March 2008, and from our hotel room we could already see, smell and hear the thundering Devil's Throat Falls, more than 2 kms away.