Published on Feb, 2024
My husband (76) can walk only a few steps so I pushed him in his manual wheelchair to both sides of the falls.
Tours were $350 per person for 2 days--after reading the forum, decided to use a taxi.
We took a taxi from the airport offered with the set price of 15000 to town to drop off luggage, then realized the falls were closer than the town, so had the taxi driver take us to the falls, where he facilitated my husband's free entrance (Argentinean law). I should have also been free as his companion but we did not have a certificate of handicappedness, so 2 for 1.
The top circuit is closed. Pushed him around the superior circuit, mostly a grated path, ok for WC, not too much up and down. Views were ok--from the top looking down on different falls. Near the end a Brazilian man offered to push him--it was hot, I was tired--and he pushed him the rest of the way. After lunch, set off for the inferior circuit. Lots of vague signage and going up and down looking for the path-- the kind of thing one would not notice were one not pushing a WC in 90-degree heat-- before finally realizing the trail began down a VERY steep hill which I knew I could never push him back up, so he waited for me in the shaded lunch area. The inferior circuit was an almost flat grated path with better views than the superior. A golf cart for the truly handicapped would have made it accessible.
Paid 35000, ie $30, for transport from the airport to the park, storing luggage in taxi trunk, and then transport to town. seemed ok, so didn't bargain.
Next day our driver picked us up at 8:30--our choice, he suggested 730--took us to the Brazilian side across 2 borders, waited for us 2 1/2 hours, then took us back across borders to a gas station where we were picked up for another trip. Cost 45000. Did not bargain. Handicapped's only advantage, at least with a taxi: is going to the front of the line.
On the Brazilian side, we took the bus- into the park. I got off at the path and my husband took it to the end. The walk to the falls was in the shade of the hill and very pleasant with nice views. Had stairs so impractical with chair.
No real signs but at the elevator, you are near the bus stop. I found my husband and walked back up to the building then DOWN to the elevator. I advise taking the downhill shadier path into the elevator building to avoid a steepish hot path, which I did not know til I did the opposite as NO SPECIFIC SIGNS..
But--HOW GREAT!-they have a panoramic elevator to get close to the falls, which otherwise would be inaccessible. I pushed him to the last platform beside the falls, There was a lower grated path directly in front of the fall, EXTREMELY crowded, think Times Square on Saturday night. I could have probably taken him there but he declined. We returned on the non-panoramic elevator and walked (Up through the sun) to the bus stop.
My only regret is that I later discovered an 8 km hiking trail starting at the visitor center on Argentinian Falls. I would have loved to walk on it, but as my husband had already had to wait for me, sadly impractical.
Cost for 2 days: taxi 80000--about $ 68, plus entrance fees
The experience was truly priceless
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