“As I’m walking on the footbridge over the Upper Iguazu River, I notice a faint murmuring coming from the distance. With every step I take, the murmur grows louder and louder, slowly overpowering the exciting chatter of the exotic birds. Halfway down the walkway, I realize the sound has turned into more of a grumble – a loud, low, dull continuous noise – and my heart quickens. I’m getting close. Fueled by the increasing energy of the sound waves, I accelerate my step, until I finally reach the balcony overlooking the source of this auditive power display.
My eyes widen. The now thunderous roar swallows up every word I dare to utter. Engulfed in clouds of mist, I let my body get wet. This is it. I am in Devil’s Throat!”
Get ready reader, as we dive into the soundscape of the Iguazu Falls! 💦
Oh, Iguazú! As you can tell from the introduction, this impressive, U-shaped system of cascades & rapids holds a special place in my heart. Located on the border betweenArgentina 
and Brazil 
, the falls lie at the heart of two separate national parks, one on the Brazilian and one on the Argentinian side. The name Iguazu – after the river the falls divide into an upper and lower part – derives from the indigenous (Guarani) term for ‘great water’; an appropriate name, given that Iguazu is considered the largest waterfall system in the world.
An average of 1,8 million liters of water is estimated to plunge down every second, divided over roughly 275 individual falls that stretch 3 kms wide along both country sides, with vertical drops ranging from 60 to 82 meters. WOW. 😱
To top it off, many of the waterfalls have a two-step, staircase-like character because of the rocky outcrops and river islands the area is rich in. As such, you can do both a ‘lower -’ and an ‘upper falls’ trail in the Argentine park, allowing you to observe the cataracts from literally every angle. This undoubtedly makes Iguazu an absolute sight to behold, especially on sunny days, when countless vibrant rainbows🌈 delicately kiss its misty surface.
👂🏽 275 Falls – 360° Sound 👂🏽
Yet, much less mentioned, the fragmented property of the falls also brings about one of the most immersing and weirdly calming acoustic spectacles I’ve ever experienced on earth. Without exaggeration! At Iguazu, there are SO many water curtains enveloping you in sound that they act like a natural surround sound system* in the sense that you get the illusion you are right in the midst of the action, ready to be swept away by the swirling currents yourself. 🌪️
Though visually, at its maximum, you are surrounded by “merely”260 ° of waterfalls, the sound effects make it feel as if it’s 360. For a proper surround experience, the human ears require a minimum of 5 speakers or audio sources: 2 or 3 in front of you (left, center, right) and 2 or 3 to your sides or behind you (left rear, right rear). Personally, I found the surround effects to be at its best at the main, circular panoramic viewpoint in the Brazilian national park, where there are even falls below you (as well as to your front, back and side!).
Of course, the devouring illusion of the surround sound is strongly amplified by the incredible loudness the crashing waters produce. The noise is so intense that it becomes very difficult for your brain to understand from what direction sound is coming 🤯. In addition, because of these high-volume levels, the falls can be heard from miles and miles away, making the climactic build-up as you approach them absolutely cinematic.
📣 Devilish Vocal Cords 📣
Beyond doubt, the loudest of the bunch is the previously introduced Devil’s Throat: the star of our Latin show. The Devil’s Throat is actually a set of 14 individual waterfalls that collectively form the bend of the U-shape. Out of all the sets, it is also by far the most voluminous, able to fill 36 Olympic swimming pools in just 1 minute! This is unmistakably also reflected in the vastness of the spray clouds the devil exhales, which makes the bottom of the throat almost impossible to see and yet all the clearer to hear.
Ironically, the thundering, furious ‘voice’ of Devil’s Throat is a beautiful, almost poetic testimonial to its legendary origins. According to Guarani myths, the falls were created by the Serpent god M’boy, who wanted to marry the gorgeous aborigine girl Naipí. Desperate to get away, the girl escaped with her mortal lover Tarbobá in a hand-carved canoe 🛶 down the Iguazu River. When the deity found out, he became so blinded by anger that he sliced the river in two, creating the waterfalls so that the two lovers would be condemned to an eternal fall. Ay, como amo el folklore!
🎶 Sub-Tropical Tunes 🎶
Now – if you thought Iguazu’s soundscape was composed only of crashing water sounds, think again! The falls are set amongst a breathtaking, protected and rather talkative subtropical rainforest that harbors a highly specialized ecosystem. The clouds of mist constantly soak the surrounding land, creating an extremely humid microclimate that stimulates the growth of over 2000 species of plants 🌱 .
Naturally, the dense, juicy vegetation attracts many types of (rare) animals, including the harpy eagle, the giant anteater and the jaguar 🐆 . Although most creatures will remain safely hidden in the bushes, attentive listeners will be able to make out various species based on their calls and songs. Catch the melodic tunes of tropical birds like toucans and parrots, the lively chirping of insects and the occasional bombastic howls of monkeys! In any case, your ears will definitely pick up on the scratching sound of the nails of the coatis, the racoon-like mammals wandering the walkways of both national parks in search of open bags and snack-providing humans.
🧘🏽♀️From Tumult to Harmony 🧘🏽♀️
Then, dear fellow explorer, only one question remains: why did I describe the falls as ‘weirdly calming’? Well… this has got to do with the fascinating continuous element of waterfalls. The Sound. Never. Stops. ♾️ I found it to bring me in an almost meditative state; feeling every cell in my body vibrate from the natural white noise entering my ears every single nanosecond I spent on those platforms. My recommendation? At various points along the trail, try closing your eyes to really zone in on the sound.
I guarantee that these ‘great waters’ hold the power to transform any inner tumult into great calmness.
Love 🫶🏽,
Marie
*Note: humans continuously hear in 3D; with ‘surround sound’ in this article I refer to the feeling that sound is coming from every horizontal direction (at ground level) around you.
💡 Bonus Tips 💡
→ Feeling adventurous? Take the boat trip in the Argentinian national park (if water levels allow)! It will take you under the extreme end of one of the falls. It was the absolute highlight of my visit; feeling that water crash onto my body from such heights and with so much force, soaking me to my underwear. Don’t worry: the subtropical climate will get dry in no time!
→ Five nights a month, during (almost) full moon, the Iguazu Park opens its door for a magical visit underneath the stars. If I were to come back, I would definitely book my trip during these days. I can only imagine how the jungle comes to life after the sun has set….
✍🏼 Practical Information ✍🏼
→ Both national parks are worth the visit. The Brazilian Park triumphs in best panoramic viewpoints, whereas the Argentinian park allows you to get closest to the Devil’s throat.
→ I do not recommend visiting both sides on the same day. The falls and its jungle are so enchanting that I bet you want to walk several trails. Please note you need more time to complete the Argentine side.
→ The walkways are wheelchair accessible and easy to navigate. The Devil’s Throat is reached by taking an ecological train in the Argentinian park and continuing by foot on the trail mentioned in the introduction.
→ Take cash (dollars/euros) with you to exchange money against a better rate (the ‘blue dollar’ rate). It can save you a lot of money.
→ The towns closest to the parks are Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) and Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil). If you can, I would stay in Foz. It’s known to have a livelier atmosphere.
→ Beware of the furry banditos! Carry your backpack on the front of your body. The coatis are notorious for rummaging through bags and stealing food! Don’t let the cuteness fool you!
