Iguazu Water Falls Lower Circuit Trail
Pictures of Argentina Iguazu Falls Park
The Iguazu Water Falls Lower Circuit Trail (yes, there's an Upper Circuit Trail, too), in Argentina, is apparently less crowded here than the Brazil side of the waterfalls (see Iguazu Falls Map).
But with most visitors touring in the middle of the day, crowds are to be expected. A bottle of water, lots of sunscreen and a cooperative attiude go a long way to making this walking tour a highlight of your visit to Iguazu Falls.
After you've finished your walk on the Upper Circuit Trail and then the Lower Circuit Trail, you may want to take a ride in a zodiac boat across to San Martin Island. See history of Iguazu Falls .
Iguazu Falls Lower Circuit Trail Lookout 
On the lower circuit trail at the Iguazu water falls, there's a split level view point. Built on two terraces, there is more room for visitors, but it's still very crowded.
Tourists inadvertently step into one another's shots, and photographers continually ask people to move away from the railing.
I was no different. Our tour bus driver for the day mentioned that the Argentina side isn't at all crowded compared to the Brazil side, saying, "On Sundays, they can get 11 thousand visitors on the Brazil side. It's very, very crowded."
Three Iguazu Water falls and San Martin Island 
There are at least three named waterfalls in this view on the Lower Circuit Trail : From left, they are San Martin, Mbigua and Bernabe Mendez, though with the high water levels occuring at the time of this visit, these water falls blend together.
The patch of dark green to the left center is San Martin Island. In non-flood times, the boat crosses the river below here, and you climb the trail to the top of the dark green in the center. It must be wonderful. Just before reaching this part, we took a long set of stairs down to this lower circuit trail, and stopped for a half hour at an air-conditioned cafe, and the washrooms. It's much cooler here, closer to the river.
Optional Iguazu River zodiac boat ride to the Water falls 
Sharp-eyed viewers may have noticed that despite all my talk about no boat trips to the island at the time, there is indeed a boat on the muddy waters. This is an optional zodiac boat ride tour that leaves from the river bank dock below here, down another long series of stairs.
The half hour or so zodiac boat ride takes you right up to, and under, both Devil's Throat Falls, shown here where the mist rises in the middle of the picture, and to the series of waterfalls, in the photo above. You will get very wet. I believe the price of this optional tour is about $40 U.S. though prices can and do change.
When conditons are safe, those going to San Martin Island are required to be very fit and able to climb, as there are no stairs on San Martin island - just trails. The island is not included on the usual tour circuit.
Zodiacs on river Below Iguazu Falls - a closer look 
You can barely make out the several zodiacs flirting with the heavy mists and turbulence at base of the waterfalls. It's not unheard of for tourists to get too close to the river's edge, especially if they are on San Martin island, where a misstep can send you into the swift current.
When the tour stops at the coffee shop near here, keep an eye out for coatis, the small animals that are related to raccoons. Several coatis were snuffing around the patio tables at the coffee shop, begging for food.
Be careful around them, as, like raccoons, they may bite. Less often seen are the more shy, nocturnal jaguars and pumas; that's why the park closes at night.
Argentina Iguazu Falls ~ Click on a Picture and Go!
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