Chasing waterfalls at the Iguaçu Falls, Brazil

Louis Armstrong famously sung a song entitled, ‘What a Wonderful World’ and it is just that, isn’t it? After all, there are several lists which state all the wonders of the World (and we all love a good list, don’t we?)

There used to be just one list of wonders of the World. However, this list has evolved somewhat, and now there are several wonders of the World lists, ranging from the ancient wonders, to the new seven wonders cities, to the seven wonders of the underwater World.

So if you think you’ve ticked off most of the seven wonders of the World – you probably haven’t, and it is likely that a new list will appear sometime soon, highlighting another amazing area or place you should visit.

The problem with these lists, I find, is that everyone instantly wants to go. This then increases the cost of entry, and in some ways the actual wonder itself can look a little spoilt.

So if you are looking for the picture postcard image of a place; you won’t get it. What you’ll get is tour guides holding giant umbrellas, several people holding selfie sticks in your face, and the locals trying to flog you tourist tack from rain ponchos to keychains.

Attempting to get a shot of myself at the Iguacu Falls in Brazil, but being drowned out by everyone else there. — Attempting to get a shot of myself at the Falls in Brazil, but being drowned out by everyone else there.

However, in saying that – this is not a reason to avoid it. The wonders, are wonders for a reason, and you should visit!

Visiting one of the Seven New Wonders of Nature – Iguaçu Falls, Brazil

Brazil is a massive country, and unless you have an inordinate amount of time then, it will be hard to see it all, so you’ll have to pick where you really want to see.

For me, it was the Iguaçu Falls, which is described online as an immense scenic set of waterfalls. Who can shrug off going there? It looked spectacular, and I thought that I may not make it to somewhere that awesome again, so jumped on a flight from Sao Paulo, and stayed in a shipping container, in the local town of Foz Do Iguaçu, for a few nights.

How to get to the Iguaçu Falls (Brazil side)

Squashed on bus 120 to the Iguacu Falls — Squashed on bus 120 to the Iguaçu Falls

If you are staying in Brazil, likely in the town of Foz Do Iguaçu, then you can actually get a local bus to the falls. Buses depart every 20 minutes from the main bus terminal in the town centre (bus 120), and will take approximately 30 minutes to get there, at a cost of about 3 Brazilian Reals (60p). You can also get a taxi (if you are silly enough to waste your money on that of course)

The only thing you’ll have to prepare yourself for is a bit of a squeeze. Unlike in the western World, where if the bus is too full, they won’t let any more people on. Not in Brazil; they like to ram as many people on as possible, to maximise profits.

How much does it cost to get into the Iguacu Falls in Brazil?

At the entrance of the Iguaçu Falls in Brazil

Visiting the this wonder of the World, isn’t actually as expensive as you’d think. Not when you compare it to some of the other wonders of the World.

When you hop off the bus at the falls, you’ll come up to a large red building – head in there, and buy your tickets from the various windows (we didn’t need to queue up for long).

CJP10210 — Price information at the Iguacu Falls

The cost for adults to get into the falls is 57.30 Reals (£11.50), which isn’t bad for a major tourist attraction.

After handing over your tickets, you’ll head over to another queue, which was actually empty for us, and head onto the many buses that will await to take you to the start of the walkway (which, to get to the Devil’s Throat, is only a few kilometres).

Along the journey on the bus journey, you will have options to stop off at various places, including the Safari boat trip, which takes you right to the bottom of the falls, where you can get a close encounter of the falls, or you can stop off and join the eco adventure tour (which I later did). You can also stop off on the way back – just remember to keep you ticket.

First views of the falls

As soon as you step off the bus, you’ll hear the roar of the water – it is so powerful, then you’ll see them, and they are quite a sight!

The walk to the end of the falls on the Brazil side won’t take you that long, and the beauty of being here yourself as opposed to a tour is that you can stop as often as you want, for s long as you want. You may just need to get in a queue at the prime photo spots for ‘that shot’.

Photo Diary of the Iguaçu Falls

As you approach the main walkway to the Devil’s Throat (which is also visible on the Argentina side of this wonder), you are likely to get very wet, which is where a rain jacket comes in very handy. However, being the typical prepared traveller that I am – I did not have one, so instead opted to get very wet!

At the bottom of the walkway, there is an elevator (lift), which will take you to a viewing platform, and give you a better overview of the falls – it is worth the long queue.