The Iguazu Falls are simply spectacular. Fed by the mighty Iguazu river whose journey begins over a thousand kilometres away in the coastal mountains of the state of Paraná, gathering force until it pours itself flowing at an average of 1.750 cubic metres per second over a 2.7km-wide cliff, dispersing 275 waterfalls that plummet through vibrant rainbows peppered with great dusky-swifts and black vultures, who glide through the swirling mists that rise from the base of the falls seemingly unaware of the breathtaking natural splendour that surrounds them.
Iguazu lies on a triple border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The majority of the falls (around 70%) are situated on the Argentinean side of the border, which offers visitors a more intimate experience of the falls. The best views, however, are from the panoramic viewpoints on the Brazilian side of the falls.
Both sides of the falls are surrounded by verdant National Parks - the Argentine side created in 1934 and the Brazilian side in 1939, both were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in the mid-1980's. Together they cover an area of more than 245,000 hectares and conserve the last remaining tract of subtropical humid forest in South America.
Flora is divided into two groups: semi-deciduous, made up of orchids, bromeliads, lianas, cedar and the araucaria pine forest where the mate tea plant is found. Fauna that can be found in the region includes toucans, parrots, hawks, hummingbirds, monkeys, tinamous, jaguars, pumas, tapirs and many other large animals.
To get from Brazil to Argentina and vice versa you need to cross the Tancredo Neves Bridge and go through immigration formalities for both countries. Even if you intend to visit solely for a daytrip, remember to take your passport . If you intend to spend than one day in either country, you will need to go through standard immigration procedures.
There is no official 'best' time to visit the falls however come August the amount of water can be significantly lower than at other times in the year due to lack of rainfall. It is also worth trying to avoid the Easter period as the place tends to overwhelmed with Argentine and Brazilian tourists.