{"id":13340,"date":"2026-01-24T14:39:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T21:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petersontravels.com\/?p=13340"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:25:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T22:25:35","slug":"iguazu-falls-one-of-the-new-7-wonders-of-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petersontravels.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/24\/iguazu-falls-one-of-the-new-7-wonders-of-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Iguazu Falls, One of the “New” 7 Wonders of the World!"},"content":{"rendered":"

As soon as I started planning this trip I knew I wanted to visit Iguazu Falls.\u00a0 We have seen the falls in photos and on various TV shows, including The Amazing Race, who I think were there twice!\u00a0 The falls are considered one of the “New” 7 Wonders of the Natural World based on a global poll taken between 2007 and 2011 that attracted more than 100 million votes.\u00a0 Iguazu is the local native word for “big water”.<\/p>\n

Tony and Julie were all in, so we made the 2 hour flight together from Rio to Foz de Iguazu.\u00a0 During the flight I saw this developing thunderhead!\u00a0 Always cool to see weather like this.\u00a0 Didn’t impact us at Iguazu thankfully!<\/p>\n

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The ride from the airport to our accommodation, Hotel Das Cataratas, takes about a half hour.\u00a0 It’s not very far away, but the hotel is actually in the National Park, and once you enter the park you can’t drive faster than 25 MPH, and it is strictly regulated to the point our driver had to carry a park-issued GPS with him.\u00a0 It’s a heavy fine if you speed.\u00a0 These Brazilians are serious about protecting the local wildlife!<\/p>\n

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This 5-Star hotel was built in the 1950’s, and is definitely the best place to stay if you come to Iguazu Falls!\u00a0 The waterfalls are literally right across the street.\u00a0 Here is the view from our room.\u00a0 You can’t beat that!<\/p>\n

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Since it was late in the afternoon the crowds had dissipated, as the park closes to everybody not staying at the hotel at 5:00.\u00a0 We took a short walk along the path next to the waterfalls before dinner.\u00a0 Little did we know what spectacular falls awaited us the next day!<\/p>\n

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On the side of the trail was this Tegu Lizard, which we didn’t see the rest of the trip, likely because they don’t care for the crowds.\u00a0 I must have been a Tegu Lizard in a past life!<\/p>\n

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One more look at the gorgeous Hotel Des Cataratas!<\/p>\n

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The next morning we had a guided tour of the Argentina side of the falls with super guide Marcello.\u00a0 He knew every in and out of the park!\u00a0 The Iguazu River running down the middle of the falls is the dividing line between Brazil and Argentina.\u00a0 Fortunately, by using a licensed guide you skip the line at the border, which was at least an hour long if not more!\u00a0 Once inside the Argentina side of the falls, our guide got us on an earlier train to the path to the “Devil’s Throat”, the most impressive part of Iguazu Falls!<\/p>\n

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Devil’s Throat is 492′ wide and drops 269′, but good luck seeing the bottom amongst all of that mist!<\/p>\n