You may have heard of the “Paraguayan Iguazu Falls.” Well, actually, the famous falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the Natural World, are shared by Argentina and Brazil, but they are commonly referred to as the Monday Falls, or in Spanish, the Saltos del Monday. In this article, we will briefly explain why it’s worth crossing to Paraguay and visiting this natural attraction.
WHAT ARE THE MONDAY FALLS?
The Monday Falls, or Saltos del Monday in Spanish, is a natural complex of nine hectares located in the district of Presidente Franco, Paraguay. After the Itaipú Dam and the binational complexes of the hydroelectric plants, the Monday Falls constitute one of Paraguay’s main tourist attractions. The falls form a remarkable natural spectacle with historical value, as it was one of the stations along the pre-Hispanic path of the Guarani people.
The name “Monday” (pronounced “mon-da-ugh”) originates from the Guarani language and means “robbed river.”
In 2017, the Monday Falls were chosen as the most popular attraction in Paraguay.
WHERE ARE THE MONDAY FALLS LOCATED?
The Monday River Falls are located in the district of Presidente Franco, 10 km from Ciudad del Este, 27 km from Puerto Iguazu, and just 12 km from the town of Foz do Iguaçu.
This marvel of nature stands over 40 meters in height and consists of three main cascading falls with other smaller complementary ones that plunge near the mouth of the Monday River into the Paraná River. Activities include hiking, tree climbing, and zip-lining.
A BIT MORE ABOUT THE MONDAY FALLS
Enclosed by well-preserved native forest, the Monday River Falls are near the border with Brazil and Argentina, 10 km from Ciudad del Este. So it’s a good idea to include this natural attraction when you decide to visit Ciudad del Este. Trails through the vegetation lead visitors to viewpoints and walkways from where they can admire the 40-meter depression of the river. For adventure enthusiasts, the rocky walls favor rappelling, trekking, and mountaineering alongside the rushing waters. The attraction is within the Municipal Park of Monday River Falls, which offers camping space and meals.
An 11-minute walk away is the Monday Adventure Park, which is a remarkable natural spectacle covering an area of 7 hectares. Located in the district of Presidente Franco, Alto Paraná department, this place was a former station along the pre-Hispanic path of the Guarani people, as mentioned earlier. Today, it offers various sports activities to enjoy the surroundings for those who enjoy a challenge.
BOOK A TOUR TO VISIT MONDAY FALLS
We developed a special program to visit the incredible Iguazu falls, both the brazilian and argentinian side, but also included a visit to Paraguay, to stop in Ciudad del Este and include the amazing Monday Falls. So, you can visit the three countries in one trip!
Click on the image below and check out suggested program
Photo: De FF MM – Trabajo propio, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8286621
