Iguacu Falls Itinerary and Photography Question
Jul 31st, 2016, 11:51 AM
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Iguacu Falls Itinerary and Photography Question
Hello -
I've read many many entries on the Iguacu falls but still have a couple questions. I am a single woman who will be doing this part of the trip on my own in Feb/Mar 2017. I am debating whether to spend 2 or 3 days (including one either arrival or departure for part of the day) and would rather spend the money to be safe and to have access to the falls in early morning/late evening. However, I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help me with!
1) Hearing that the Brazil side is best for morning photography, if I stay at the Hotel del Cataras, can I truly get out on the trail to see the waterfalls at sunrise before the park opens to the public? Like at 6 or 7 am?
2) Hearing the Argentina side is best for afternoon photography, if I stay at the Sheraton, can I truly get on the trail to see the waterfalls after the crowds are gone? I've heard mixed reviews on this.
3) Does anyone know what side is best for sunset pictures? I've heard both sides .. and because of that I don't know if I should stay one day on the Brazil side and one day on the Argentina side. Or if I should just stay on one side and get a taxi to the other ... more than likely, if the morning light is best on Brazil side and I can truly get out to see the sunrise staying at Cataras then I might stay there and day trip it to Argentina for the majority of the day (assuming I could grab a taxi back to the Brazil side and my hotel...?) instead of changing hotels and luggage ... but if there are perks or good sunset pics I could access from the Sheraton then I would consider changing hotels.
thanks for your help!
I've read many many entries on the Iguacu falls but still have a couple questions. I am a single woman who will be doing this part of the trip on my own in Feb/Mar 2017. I am debating whether to spend 2 or 3 days (including one either arrival or departure for part of the day) and would rather spend the money to be safe and to have access to the falls in early morning/late evening. However, I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help me with!
1) Hearing that the Brazil side is best for morning photography, if I stay at the Hotel del Cataras, can I truly get out on the trail to see the waterfalls at sunrise before the park opens to the public? Like at 6 or 7 am?
2) Hearing the Argentina side is best for afternoon photography, if I stay at the Sheraton, can I truly get on the trail to see the waterfalls after the crowds are gone? I've heard mixed reviews on this.
3) Does anyone know what side is best for sunset pictures? I've heard both sides .. and because of that I don't know if I should stay one day on the Brazil side and one day on the Argentina side. Or if I should just stay on one side and get a taxi to the other ... more than likely, if the morning light is best on Brazil side and I can truly get out to see the sunrise staying at Cataras then I might stay there and day trip it to Argentina for the majority of the day (assuming I could grab a taxi back to the Brazil side and my hotel...?) instead of changing hotels and luggage ... but if there are perks or good sunset pics I could access from the Sheraton then I would consider changing hotels.
thanks for your help!
Aug 1st, 2016, 12:54 PM
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First of all, there is very little safety risk in Foz, as is the usual situation outside the large cities in Brazil, so no real need to stay inside the park because of this concern. (written by a woman who’s regularly been traveling solo all over Brazil for over 20 years with no problem). There are decent hotels with pool in the town of Foz for maybe U$50/night. The town is quite close to the park.
I would stay 2 nights if you are using part of a day to travel.
It’s pretty easy to get around, by taxi or even by local public bus, so IMO it is easier not to move and to stay on the side you will fly out of. It takes less than an hour to go between sides, including crossing the border with stops at both the Brazilian and Argentine immigration booths. Taxis are all over the place. Buses run regularly.
What is “Hotel del Cataras”? The word “del” does not exist in Portuguese; we speak Portuguese in Brazil, not Spanish. The word for waterfalls in Portuguese is ca-ta-ra-tas (pronounced cah-tah-RAH-tahs), so that is what locals call the falls, as well as the name of the hotel the Belmond chain now owns in the Brazilian park (Belmond Hotel das Cataratas).
The Brazilian side of the park has an asphalt path alongside the river, with one walkway out into the river. It takes about 3 hours to walk it, play with the coatis, and take “normal” touristic photos. The trail is right next to the hotel, maybe 100 feet, no fence between path and hotel. If you stay in the park, though, you are quite isolated, and confined to the hotel’s food; there is much more variety in town, but you’d have to take a taxi. Walking around while in town is not particularly risky.
Other things to do in the area, besides walk the trails on the Argentine side, are to visit the bird park, near the entrance to the Brazilian park, and to take a boat ride under the falls (from either side).
IMO a visit to the city in Paraguay is not worthwhile, although you might think the dam is interesting enough to tour if you have time.
I would stay 2 nights if you are using part of a day to travel.
It’s pretty easy to get around, by taxi or even by local public bus, so IMO it is easier not to move and to stay on the side you will fly out of. It takes less than an hour to go between sides, including crossing the border with stops at both the Brazilian and Argentine immigration booths. Taxis are all over the place. Buses run regularly.
What is “Hotel del Cataras”? The word “del” does not exist in Portuguese; we speak Portuguese in Brazil, not Spanish. The word for waterfalls in Portuguese is ca-ta-ra-tas (pronounced cah-tah-RAH-tahs), so that is what locals call the falls, as well as the name of the hotel the Belmond chain now owns in the Brazilian park (Belmond Hotel das Cataratas).
The Brazilian side of the park has an asphalt path alongside the river, with one walkway out into the river. It takes about 3 hours to walk it, play with the coatis, and take “normal” touristic photos. The trail is right next to the hotel, maybe 100 feet, no fence between path and hotel. If you stay in the park, though, you are quite isolated, and confined to the hotel’s food; there is much more variety in town, but you’d have to take a taxi. Walking around while in town is not particularly risky.
Other things to do in the area, besides walk the trails on the Argentine side, are to visit the bird park, near the entrance to the Brazilian park, and to take a boat ride under the falls (from either side).
IMO a visit to the city in Paraguay is not worthwhile, although you might think the dam is interesting enough to tour if you have time.
Aug 2nd, 2016, 11:57 AM
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Our first time there we spent 4 nights and 3 full days which, in retrospect was one too many. We stayed in Puerto Iguazu which was pleasant enough but Foz seemed a much nicer place and we returned there to spend a spare day.
On the argentine side we got a very early bus to the entrance and queued to be on of the first through the gates, jumped on the train and stayed on until the end and had the Devils Thoat area almost to ourselves for a while. We then worked our way back to the entrance and then, at least for the early part we found there were fewer people around.
In terms of photographing the falls, the Brazilian side definitely has the advantage. The views are much more panoramic, the argentine side, providing more opportunity to get up close to the falls. If there is any particular place which is fantastic for capturing the dawn breaking over the falls, I don't know, but if there is, I imagine it would be much like Angkor Wat in Cambodia - i.e. you and thousands of others!
Whether things have changed since we were there in 2008 I know not, but the Brazilian operation seemed altogether slicker and more well organised than on the Argentine side.
I don't know whether staying at the hotels within the park on either side will provide early access ( probably does) or any other advantage compared with staying outside. It will be expensive though and personally, rather than spend that sort of cash on a hotel room, I would be inclined to stay out of the park and made use the savings to engage a good driver/guide, perhaps a specialist photography guide, to get you around to the best places and/or a helicopter trip to get a truly different perspective on the falls.
To be frank, the falls are so impressive it is really hard not to get a few good shots!
On the argentine side we got a very early bus to the entrance and queued to be on of the first through the gates, jumped on the train and stayed on until the end and had the Devils Thoat area almost to ourselves for a while. We then worked our way back to the entrance and then, at least for the early part we found there were fewer people around.
In terms of photographing the falls, the Brazilian side definitely has the advantage. The views are much more panoramic, the argentine side, providing more opportunity to get up close to the falls. If there is any particular place which is fantastic for capturing the dawn breaking over the falls, I don't know, but if there is, I imagine it would be much like Angkor Wat in Cambodia - i.e. you and thousands of others!
Whether things have changed since we were there in 2008 I know not, but the Brazilian operation seemed altogether slicker and more well organised than on the Argentine side.
I don't know whether staying at the hotels within the park on either side will provide early access ( probably does) or any other advantage compared with staying outside. It will be expensive though and personally, rather than spend that sort of cash on a hotel room, I would be inclined to stay out of the park and made use the savings to engage a good driver/guide, perhaps a specialist photography guide, to get you around to the best places and/or a helicopter trip to get a truly different perspective on the falls.
To be frank, the falls are so impressive it is really hard not to get a few good shots!
Oct 12th, 2016, 05:50 AM
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Hello
I know your questions and your needs.
i am a local tour guide and photographer at Iguassu Falls. Me and my partner run the Phototour Iguassu.
Depending of how many time you have in Iguassu we can recommend a diferent itinerary for you for photography.
The Hotel Belmond das Cataratas you will have anytime acess to the Falls, but i do not recomment to go alone, there are big cats in the Park, well this advertise is for night time.
The Sheraton has a great location but the acess is only 8am to 6pm, like everybody, but i do recommend it.
The Sheraton and Das Cataratas are the most expensives hotels in the area, they are about USD350 per night, well tey have the falls views.
I do recommend to hire someone to assist you in your stay, someone that know the area and logistics, that will really make a diference, expecially for photography.
Depending of the moon, full monn time is very nice for Long exposure photos, if you have done before it will be a new challenge, you can see the rainbow at night.
If you have anyquestion let me know will be a pleasure to assist you.
I know your questions and your needs.
i am a local tour guide and photographer at Iguassu Falls. Me and my partner run the Phototour Iguassu.
Depending of how many time you have in Iguassu we can recommend a diferent itinerary for you for photography.
The Hotel Belmond das Cataratas you will have anytime acess to the Falls, but i do not recomment to go alone, there are big cats in the Park, well this advertise is for night time.
The Sheraton has a great location but the acess is only 8am to 6pm, like everybody, but i do recommend it.
The Sheraton and Das Cataratas are the most expensives hotels in the area, they are about USD350 per night, well tey have the falls views.
I do recommend to hire someone to assist you in your stay, someone that know the area and logistics, that will really make a diference, expecially for photography.
Depending of the moon, full monn time is very nice for Long exposure photos, if you have done before it will be a new challenge, you can see the rainbow at night.
If you have anyquestion let me know will be a pleasure to assist you.
