Upper Trail

The Upper Trail is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences within Iguazú National Park, offering a unique aerial perspective where visitors walk literally above the riverbed before it plunges into the void. This circuit, which stretches for approximately 1,750 metres, is entirely flat and free of stairs, making it fully accessible to people with reduced mobility or families with young children.

The route begins just metres from the Cataratas station on the Tren Ecológico de la Selva. Unlike the Lower Trail, which seeks immersion and direct contact with the spray of the falls, the Upper Trail favours panoramic views and an understanding of the landscape as a whole. Elevated metal walkways wind above the jungle and the water, allowing visitors to observe the biodiversity of the ecosystem before reaching the lookout balconies that jut out over the precipices.

Along the walk, visitors encounter a succession of lookouts with privileged views of landmark waterfalls. The sequence typically begins with Salto Dos Hermanas, a twin drop surrounded by lush vegetation, followed by the Salto Chico and Salto Ramírez. One of the most photographed points is Salto Bossetti, where the force of the falling water generates a constant mist that, in sunlight, often produces permanent rainbows before visitors’ eyes.

Continuing along the route, the path passes views of Salto Adán y Eva and Salto Bernabé Méndez, before reaching Salto Mbiguá, which has a wide balcony from which the full scale of the Iguazú river canyon can be appreciated. The highlight of the trail is Balcón San Martín. From here, the most commanding view on the entire circuit opens up, allowing visitors to take in Salto San Martín — the second largest in the system — and the outline of Isla San Martín at the centre of the river.

With an estimated duration of between 90 and 120 minutes, the Upper Trail is a key element for understanding the geography of the falls. Because it runs in a single direction, the flow of visitors is steady and orderly, making it possible to take in the sound of the water and the immensity of the Misiones horizon with a calm that only this natural balcony over the abyss can offer.