Itineraries — Iguazu & South

Iguazu and Southern Brazil is a surprisingly diverse natural and cultural region — condensing one of the world's greatest natural wonders (UNESCO 1986 Iguazu Falls), mythical tropical beaches (Florianópolis and the 42 beaches of Santa Catarina island), Europeanised cities (German planned Curitiba, Bavarian Blumenau) and one of South America's most beautiful rail excursions (Serra Verde Express).

The iconic attraction is undoubtedly the Iguazu Falls — 275 cascades over 2.7 km front, average flow of 1,500 m³/second, at the border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. UNESCO-listed in 1986, they are one of the seven modern natural wonders according to the New 7 Wonders 2011 ranking, and the most visited South American natural wonder with 1.5 million annual visitors. The Brazilian side (Parque Nacional do Iguaçu) offers the spectacular panoramic view, the Argentinian side (Parque Nacional Iguazú) the immersive experience — our recommendation is to visit both sides over 2 days for the most complete formula.

The region is organised around several complementary hubs. Foz do Iguaçu (260,000 inhabitants, Paraná state) is the Brazilian gateway to the falls — touristy city without particular charm but useful (hotels, restaurants, transfers). Curitiba (1.9 million inhabitants, Paraná capital) is one of Brazil's cleanest and best-planned cities, departure of the legendary Serra Verde Express train. Florianópolis (Santa Catarina capital, nicknamed "Floripa") is one of Brazil's most beautiful tropical islands — 42 beaches, world surf, young sporty vibe. Gramado and the Serra Gaúcha (Rio Grande do Sul) offer a Swiss-European mountain dimension unique in Brazil.

Our advice: integrate Iguazu in any 15+ day Brazilian trip — it's an unmissable site you may never see again. The ideal combination is Iguazu (2 nights) + Florianópolis (3-4 nights) for 6 days in the region, complemented by Rio + Pantanal or Salvador for a complete 12-15 day Brazilian trip.