Captivated by the raw beauty of nature
Chinese tourists flock to scenic Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil
By Jimena Esteban in Buenos Aires | China Daily | Updated: 2025-02-03 11:28
In the northeast of Argentina, straddling the border with Brazil, sit the longest series of waterfalls in the world. A magnet for about 1.5 million visitors every year, Iguazu Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and one of the most impressive sights in Latin America.
Over the last few years, Chinese tourists have been increasingly willing to travel to the edges of the rainforest to take in the spectacle of the falls and the forest around them.
Most travel to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina and the biggest tourist landing spot in the country, and use that as the takeoff point for the two-hour flight north to Puerto Iguazu, the city closest to the falls.
Once at Iguazu Falls, they can take in the 275 individual waterfalls along 2.7 kilometers that make up Iguazu.
From Beijing, Buenos Aires is among the farthest national capitals in the world. The journey can take more than 20 hours, depending on the route.
More than 3 million people are expected to visit Buenos Aires this year to take in the many cultural sights, eat the country's famous parrillas (barbecue) and travel to the many tourist attractions throughout the country.
Many of them choose to head south to the expanses of Patagonia and perhaps take an Antarctic cruise, while others head west to the mountains and ski resorts along the Andes mountains. Another option is to stay closer to Buenos Aires in the center of the country and check out the vast expanses and ranches of the Pampas or head east to the Atlantic Ocean beaches.
Over the last few years, many visitors to Argentina have chosen to head north, to the province of Misiones that borders Brazil. The province is home to the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls.
"Chinese visitors are captivated by Argentina, and many express a desire to explore the country further," said Matias Esteras, chief executive of Vivaterra, a travel agency in Argentina that arranges trips and tours.
"They frequently visit not only Iguazu and Buenos Aires but also various areas of Argentine Patagonia, where they are amazed by the landscapes, silence, and moments of peace."
"Iguazu National Park is well-preserved, clean and offers an intense experience of the river, jungle and nature," said Esteras.
Iguazu Falls sit some 1,300 km north of Buenos Aires, with many daily flights that take you to it in a couple of hours. Puerto Iguazu, the city closest to the park, sits in a geographical triangle within Argentina that shares borders with both Paraguay and Brazil.