The trails that leads you to the Garganta do Diabo

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Read the portuguese version (português) and the spanish one (castellano/español)

Turistando’s made its luggage and went to Foz do Iguacu to show why the Iguaçu Falls were voted one of New Seven Wonders of Nature in the World — election completed by the end of last year. This adventure will be called here Special Iguaçu Falls: seven posts with videos that will be exclusively published on tuesdays, starting today. We’ll show the Parque Iguaçu (Iguaçu Park)and its waterfalls, the Macuco Safari (boat ride), the helicopter ride, the Parque das Aves (Bird Park), the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant, the Hotel das Cataratas and the Argentina’s city called Puerto Iguazú with its attractions.

We start today talking about the most traditional point to visit in the Brazilian side, which is Garganta do Diabo, located inside the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Iguaçu National Park). The park, in Foz do Iguaçu, has a visitors center with a good infrastructure. In addition to the box office, there are clean restrooms to the visitors, as well as shops, public telephones, parking lot, cafeteria and self-service banks .

Brazilians over 12 years pay R$ 24.60 to enter, foreigners living in the Mercosur countries pay about R$ 32.85 and other foreigners pay R$ 41.10. Children under 12 and seniors over 60 years pay different values. To be allowed to enter, it is important for you to take document with photo.

After the box office, you access a platform to take one bus that leads you to the trail you want to ride. The most traditional one is the trail to the waterfalls. The bus is air-conditioning for visitors withstand the heat of 40 ° C that usually do in the city — there are double-decker buses, such as Curitiba’ touristic buses.

Aside the numerous butterflies — very colorful — that are easy to see during the ride to the trails, visitors can see — with a little luck — toucans or have contact with raccoons. The park advises not to take food or eating food during the ride. The raccoons can “attack” visitors to “steal” food.

The trail that we followed — the most popular one — takes about 30 minutes of walk (the only way to do it). The heat is strong, but it worth the sacrifice by stunning views. At the end of the trail you’ll find the main waterfalls and the Garganta do Diabo. On sunny days, the falls’ visitors are graced by a beautiful rainbow.

Watch the video about the trail, made with the help of a tour guide (the tour guide is optional, not included in the price paid for entry).

The beauty is such that U.S. President Roosevelt’ wife, Eleanor, when visiting the Falls in 1944, had said contemplating the landscape: “poor Niagara.”

Next Tuesday we’ll show the falls from another point of view: from a helicopter ride. Do not miss!