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Iguazu Falls
- The Brazilian Side
 The Brazilian side of the falls is a
bit more crowded than the Argentinean side because there is
only one path leading to the falls. The views are
somewhat more
panoramic, however, because it opposes the Argentinean side
which has more falls. And there is an elevator to
bring you up and down next to the falls.
Hiking on your own is not allowed; you
need to stick to the allotted areas and walkways. It is possible to take helicopter
rides from Brazil, but Argentina had forbidden such flights
in their space because of the environmental impact.
Boat rides are also available from the Brazilian side.
An important note about visiting the
Brazilian side:
YOU NEED A VISA.
This visa is basically a stamp on a
page of your passport, letting the Brazilian authorities
endorse your visit to their country. You must apply
for your visa in advance. You can use a local
Brazilian consulate. The fee is around $110 and is
usually required in the form of a money order. You
then need to wait 10-15 business days, which means you will
be without your passport for at least those days.
Shorter times are possible if you submit the forms directly
to the local office or through an expeditor.
Your valid application for the visa
must contain a passport-sized photo, and a valid printed
itinerary of your time in Brazil. Your passport must
have at least one blank page (for the visa stamp which is
quite large.) Your passport will be stamped again as
you enter and leave Brazil.
Most tourists find the Brazil side of
the falls not nearly as impressive as the Argentina side,
and suggest forgoing the difficulties in obtaining entry
into Brazil. If you really would like to add the
Brazil portion and don't mind the visa hassles, it is
recommended that you start with the Brazilian side, and then
work your way to the Argentinean side.
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