Day 21 – January 15, 2026
Foz do Iguaçu, Argentina
It was an early start today—we met for breakfast at 6 am since Eduardo was picking us up at 6:50. Today’s plan: exploring the Argentine side of Iguazú Falls, and we couldn’t have been more excited!
Catherine had arranged a private tour with Eduardo, which turned out to be a huge advantage. We were able to skip the lines entirely and head straight into the park—worth every penny. Iguazú National Park offers three main trail systems and walkways that wind through lush jungle and provide spectacular views of the falls from multiple angles.
The Lower Circuit lets you experience the falls from below, while the Upper Circuit takes you above them for an entirely different perspective. Both were incredible in their own way. The highlight, though, was Devil’s Throat—standing just feet away as massive volumes of water thundered down, soaking us in mist. It’s loud, powerful, and absolutely unforgettable.
Afterward, we stopped at a café for a quick snack, and I changed into a bathing suit in preparation for what was coming next—the boat ride. We hopped into an open truck that carried us down the Yacaratía Trail to the river. From there, it was over 100 stairs down to the dock, where we were fitted with life vests and chose our seats.
Eduardo told us the best experience was in the front rows, so John and I grabbed row 2, with Catherine and Scott right behind us in row 3. The ride began calmly, weaving through the river, then picked up speed as we navigated the rapids—lots of laughs and great photo opportunities. Eventually, we were told to stow our cameras (unless waterproof), and then… straight under the falls we went. We were absolutely drenched—in the best way possible! One of the guys on the boat filmed the whole thing, so we now have proof of just how much fun it was. With the heat, it felt incredibly refreshing and was easily one of the most memorable experiences of the trip.
Once back on land, we climbed those 100 steps again, rode the truck back up, changed into dry clothes, and regrouped with Eduardo. From there, we crossed into Paraguay, making a couple of stops before heading back toward the hotel. Crossing back into Brazil took about an hour and a half, since Paraguay has an open border and Brazil does not. Paraguay—especially Ciudad del Este—is well known for shopping, thanks to low prices on electronics, cosmetics, and clothing.
By the time we returned to the hotel, we were ready for showers and a relaxed evening. We met for dinner at the hotel restaurant and then called it an early night.
Tomorrow, Eduardo will pick us up at 8 am to explore Iguazú Falls from the Brazilian side—can’t wait to see how the views compare! 🌎💦✨
On our left is Argentina (Puerto Iguazú).
On our right side is Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu).
