Foz do Iguaçu - Puerto Iguazu - TravBuddy

If you're passing through the south end of Brazil, you cannot afford to miss Foz do Iguaçu. It's a set of spectacular waterfalls, in the most incredible surroundings, which straddles the border between Brazil and Argentina. As a result of this, the falls are half on the Brazilian side and half on the Argentinian side (OK, so I've only kind of visited Argentina, since all I did was to go to the Argentinian side of the falls - but hey, I got my passport stamped :-P ). Both sides really need a day each to see all the sights.

The Brazilian side, I felt, was better for photos - especially if you get it on a good day - whilst the Argentinian side gets you right up closer to the falls. The Argentinian side also offers you the chance to do boat rides along the base of the falls - very worthwhile at about R$30 per person (US$15). DO it on a sunny day though, as you do get a bit soaked. Most people, including me, come away from the falls saying that the Argentinian side is better, though that doesn't mean the Brazilian side isn't worth seeing. The Brazilian side also offers helicopter rides, which were a lot more expensive than the boat rides (obviously), and also a lot shorter.

Whilst you're there, it may be worth taking an extra day to travel to The Itaipu Dam, one of the biggest and most controversial dams in the world, and one of the main reasons why Brazil had such a huge foreign debt. Its controversy continues today - now the Paraguayan government wants to charge Brazil for water which leaves their country through the rivers and enters into the Itaipu Dam to provide electricity :-S I can't actually say how worthwhile this trip is since I didn't go there. I know it's free to visit, but expect a lot of pro-Itaipu propaganda - they're trying to repair the damage of all the international criticism from environmentalists (and economists!).

I also visited Ciudad del Este in Paraguay - a border city visited by Brazilians when they're in need of some "cheap" technology. Unless you actually want to buy something (and cheap means roughly UK prices), don't go. It's dirty, very poor, and you will get mobbed by street sellers selling everything from flick-knives to socks. By way of interesting contrast, if you enter the Mona Lisa shopping centre, passing two guards armed with no less than three guns each and wrapped in ammo belts, you enter a very posh place, with solid marble floors and expensive shops selling designer perfume. I went in just to get away from the street sellers.

Photos of the waterfalls and my friends who went with me are all online:

http://picasaweb.google.com.br/pcottam

Enjoy!