Known as one of the world’s Official Wonders of Nature, 275 individual and stupendous natural water slides make up the Iguazu falls. It is one of the dreamy tropical places to visit in South America and boasts the largest broken chains of waterfalls in the world - which are connected to make the Iguazu River. This extensive and magnificent system of waterfalls is situated on the border between the Brazilian state of Parana and the Argentine province of Misiones, leaving many tourists to wonder which side is better for seeing Iguazu Falls: the Brazilian or Argentinian side? Still, whichever side one visits, it's guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience.

The word Iguazu is derived from the native Indian Gurani word meaning "Great Water", and honestly, this spectacular natural sight has spell bounded visitors with its vast scale network of waterfalls. In fact, it's taller and four times wider than Niagara Falls, which made Eleanor Roosevelt exclaim, “Poor Niagara!” when she first caught sight of this awe-inspiring nature’s waterslide. While Iguazu Falls are one of the top attractions South America has to offer nature lovers and photographers, many don't know that the site also boasts a number of hidden falls and lesser-known trails. Interested? Here's the scoop on some of these secretive spots.

10 Iguazu Falls Devil’s Throat: Not Nearly As Scary As It Sounds

The Devil’s Throat, also known as La Garganta del Diablo, is among one of the monstrous and largest waterfalls consisting of 14 falls in total, making a horseshoe-type curtain tumble directly from a height of more than 262 feet into a creamy white colored pool. Before starting the journey to Devil’s Throat, make sure to have booked tickets for the jungle train, or alternatively, get a rental car.

After having reached Devil’s Throat, take a brisk walk on the footbridge, which takes visitors directly to the awe-inspiring waterfalls. Some people say that visitors can actually hear the thundering roar of the falls before even seeing them. It is suggested to visit fall in the afternoon when the sun's rays shine on the falls, making them visually stunning as well as producing quite the rainbow - perfect for any photographers trying to capture magnificent pictures of these wonders of mother nature.

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9 Macuco Trail

The Macuco Trail at Iguazu Falls is a one-hour return hike through the jungle and is among the fantastic and fascinating trails around the national park. It is a natural trail that takes vacationers directly to Arrechea Falls. This trail enables one to view and spot a diverse variety of wildlife, including insects, lizards, a rare variety of exotic birds, capuchin monkeys, and colorful butterflies. Those visiting can also enjoy swimming, picnicking, and an incredible activity called Macuco Safari at the Macuco Trail. When planning for a hike, make sure to take a camera!

8 Arrechea Falls Trail

A thin stream of water dripping from a height of 30 meters or so makes this waterfall clearly lacking in potential and force when compared to the mightiness of other waterfalls. But the water dripping slowly and peacefully over the rocks creates a serene melody and a stress-free zone.

During an hour hike that leads to Arrechea Falls, make sure to leave the camera lens uncapped. as one can witness beautiful scenery and fascinating wildlife. It's also one of the public’s favorite spots, where they enjoy picnics and swimming, so do grab a picnic basket before traveling here.

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7 San Martín Waterfall

To experience one of the incredible views of the splendid San Martín waterfall in Iguazu National Park, travelers can take a ferry from the lower circuit that will take them to San Martín Island. And the good news is that the price of these ferries is included in the park entrance ticket, and they arrive every 15 minutes, depending on the level of water at the time.

This ferry ride will take tourists to a sandy beach where they will find themselves right in front of 170 stairs. After this challenging trail, they will be rewarded with tremendous views of San Martín Falls, along with other mighty waterfalls, including the Brazilian Falls and the famed Devil’s Throat.

6 Raft At The Brazilian Falls

Among the many reasons to visit Brazil, the Brazilian Falls include the waterfalls and trails located on the Brazilian side of Iguazu. Many tour guides suggest visiting this green and gold side of the falls first because it covers the sheer extent of the Iguazu Falls from where one can witness mesmerizing viewpoints.

There is a 1.5 km long trail, which also includes a river walk over the water edges. It usually takes 1.5 to 3 hours to transcend this path. Also, this tour will only cost 18.50 USD dollars, which includes entrance and transportation charges.

5 Iguaçu National Park

The Iguacu National Park is home to diverse endangered species of flora and fauna. Some of its parts consist of small parks in Argentina, which extend over some 27,00m, and a vast and sheer coverage of the area in the state of Parana, in southern Brazil. The major center of attraction for tourists is the geomorphological features of the landscape as a result of volcanic processes, rivers, and systems of numerous cascades.

4 The Green Trail

Among many different yet mesmerizing trails found within the immense Iguazu National Park on the Argentinian side, the Green Trail offers an opportunity to take a winding route through the jungle. This trail leads to the summit of the waterfalls that are located on the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls. This trail also enables explorers to spot plenty of spectacular visuals and a diverse variety of wildlife, including massive butterflies, insects, and even groups of monkeys.

3 Itaipu Dam — The Largest Hydroelectric Dam In The World

The world’s largest hydroelectric dam is the Itaipu Dam, which is located on the Parana river between Brazil and Paraguay. When planning to visit, it's recommended to watch one of the many documentaries that highlight this dam’s significance and history.

A visit to this dam should be combined with a trip to the external part of the dam, the front part of the spillway, and the upper part of the dam, which is the final stop. Moreover, there is a nighttime light show as well for which this dam is well-known.

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2 Biking The Rainforest Trail At Iguazu Falls

Adventurers visiting Iguazu Falls can also enjoy a guided tour of the rainforests located in their surroundings. For biking enthusiasts, there is a four-hour guided tour that takes bikers throughout the forest and along various trails. Within these four hours, one comes across the biologically challenging environments in and around the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls.

This route is 25 miles long and is framed by red soil tracks. One can discover diverse flora and fauna, more commonly, the native toucans and jaguars. It's also advised to take adequate water when challenging this route because the trail can turn out to be quite difficult.

1 The Bird’s Park

One of the final tips for visiting Iguazu Falls is this: don't forget to check out The Bird Park (Park das Aves, translating to The Bird's Park). Why? Because it's regarded as the top attraction on Argentina's side of Iguazu Falls. Reportedly, this park is home to 900 rare varieties of birds of 150 different species. One can also spot butterflies, caimans, pythons, monkeys, and marmosets.

Not only is this area reserved for wildlife, but it also provides protection for them and is intended to educate those visiting on the different animal species that reside here. So, this park provides an opportunity for a peaceful tread along with spotting a variety of animals that visitors might not otherwise see elsewhere.