16 Best things to see & do in Iguazu Falls

Recently voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Iguazu Falls stretch for nearly 3km, emptying 46 million litres of water over an 80m drop every second.

Fringed by lush rainforest and often framed by rainbows rising from the mist, they are majestic – whether flowing in a single curtain – when the river is full or dropping over some 275 separate falls at low water.

The falls span the border between Argentina and Brazil and to see them in their full glory you should walk the extensive panoramic jungle trails on both sides and take one of the myriad adventure excursions on offer.

These tours begin with a ride along a forest trail in an open-topped electric bus, followed by a half-kilometre walk through the jungle to the river bank. Visitors then climb into a large inflatable boat and ride right under the San Martin drop, close to the most intense part of the Iguazu Falls – the Devil’s Throat.

With regular troops of vehicles on the paths, the safari offers little chance of seeing wildlife. But getting this close to the waterfall is thrilling.

There’s edgier white-water rafting in Latin America, but you won’t find a more spectacular setting than Iguazu. And it’s not just the falls – where the rafting excursion begins. River descents run through the heart of the protected rainforest – so you’ll see parrots and toucans all around, and if you’re very lucky a jaguar, healthy populations of which live in the jungles around the river.

Depending on the water flow, the rapids vary from 1.5 (easy) to 3.5 level (intermediate). They can go up to level IV or even V after very heavy rains in December and January, but tour operators seldom run trips under these conditions.

All visits to Iguazu, on both the Brazilian and Argentinean side, include walking rainforest trails that run around the top and base of the falls. However, there are always lots of other people on these.

To see more wildlife, hike or mountain bike one of the forest trails on the Brazilian side away from the waterfalls themselves. Very few tourists do this, the rainforest is pristine and you will see rare birds, monkeys and possibly ocelot or jaguars.

The best trail is the 9km-long Poco Preto Trail leading to a sinkhole and then the Iguacu River; organised hikes will include time kayaking on the water.

The Parque das Aves is one of the best small aviaries in the world. It is the only institution devoted to rehabilitating and conserving birds of the South American Atlantic Costal rainforests – which have the highest endemic species counts on the planet.

The park work on a series of conservation projects and is well-maintained with large enclosures lying off paths in a gorgeous jungle setting. It’s one of the few places where you can see magnificent, ultra-rare species like Alagoas curassow, harpy eagles and hyacinth macaws – the latter are huge parrots unique to Latin America. There are other animals too – including kitten-sized marmosets and caiman.

This small wildlife rehabilitation centre is worth a visit if you’re staying on the Argentina side of the falls. Come to see sloths, monkeys and birds rescued from the animal trade or traffic accidents.

The world’s largest river dam on the nearby Parana River destroyed waterfalls even larger and more magnificent than Iguazu. Tours include walking through the heart of the dam, a boat trip on the lake and the adjacent Bela Vista wildlife reserve – a semi-wild zoo with jaguars and giant harpy eagles.

This little island sits opposite one of the most intense drops at Iguazu. It’s reachable on a two-minute boat hop from the end of the Lower Circuit path (Circuito Inferior) on the Argentinian side, followed by a 200-step climb. There’s a small beach and river swimming in the dry season. Head here first thing to avoid queues for the boat.

This little house in Puerto Iguazu shows and shares what it’s possible to do with waste plastic. The entire building is made of some 3,000 bottles. Doors and windows are made of CD covers and the owners offer all manner of know-how on ingenious ways to turn waste into practical art.

This evening out offers an introduction to Argentinean food and wine for the uninitiated, with a meal of the best Argentinean Lomo steaks, Malbecs and Mate, cultural tips and guides with a great sense of humour.

The best food in Iguacu is at the Belmond, but the top end international menu and wine list isn’t the main reason for coming. The Belmond sits right next to the falls and by dining here you get to see them after the park closes, in the moonlight.

This small ecological theme park offers guided tours of the enormous, 5-story model of an aripuca, a live trap made from indigenous trees used to catch monkeys and birds invented by the local indigenous Guarani people. Tours take about an hour and offer an interesting insight into Guarani culture.

Sip a cocktail with an Iguazu Falls view, albeit a distant one – in the Merkado bar at the Gran Melia Hotel. It’s one of two hotels inside the national park.

A traditional Buddhist temple in Brazil? The country has the largest ethnic Japanese population in the world outside Japan. This traditional temple belongs to the Amitabha Pure Land school of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism. It’s easy to visit on the edge of Foz do Iguacu town, and is a lovely, peaceful place and a curiosity for those unaware of Brazil’s Japanese heritage.

There are falconry centres everywhere, but they don’t have the huge tropical eagles and owls you’ll find here. And you get to handle them as well as see them fly. A good place to see the extraordinary Harpys Eagle.