24 Feb: Iguazu Falls

Unbelievable quantities of water roar past us, over rocky cliffs and joining the mist and foam filled air.  We are at Iguassu falls.  On the Argentinian side to be more specific.  Here there are 250 waterfalls that join together to make one of the most beautiful natural water displays on earth.  No one could fail to be impressed.

We've taken a day trip from our hostel, Paudimar, on the Brazilian side of the falls.  Three countries come together here where the waterfalls flow:  Brazil; Argentina and nearby Paraguay.  The Argentinian side is the one with most of the waterfalls and walkways and is our first choice. for a visit.

Having left the relative tranquility of our countryside hostel and passed through Brazilian and Argentinian checkpoints, the Iguazu National Park is surprisingly full of people.   There are hundreds of people walking the paths and queueing for the little train that carts others around the park.  We de the touristy thing and line up for the train to Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) on the premises that the name suggests something dramatic and frightening enough to fulfill the boys desires.

From the train, there is a reasonable trek across bridges topping creeks, streams and rivers until we reach the destination: the big set  of falls.   White water can be seen form a distance misting up the air a few meters high.   We could only hear the falls from a 100  meters away or so though.

The Devils Throat viewpoint was placed near the top of the set of high waterfalls and made for an impressive view over the semicircular display of falls.  It was packed with people each anxious to photograph the falls and themselves in front of the falls.  This area was a little stressful in the Take-Your-30-seconds-and-Scram mentality.   Luckily we found most other spots in the park to be far more tranquil.

Something about the waterflow made me think about the fact we'd recently heard about how the Amazon empties more water into the ocean in a day than the Thames does in a year.   It seemed like all that water may be flowing here every few minutes. 

The boys couldn't believe how much walking we were in for.  Obviously, it's at your own pace, but there's so much terrain to cover!!  We must have spent 5 of the 7 hours walking.  Considering this, the boys held up quite well - thankfully, none of the paths are exactly challenging in a Himalayan encounter sort of way.

Unexpectedly, we were then mugged by a pack of coatis - yes, really!!  I put us into that position by walking close to a group of coatis with lots of babies.  As I peered down at an adorable baby, a teenager jumped a couple feet up and onto the white plastic bag I was carrying with bread roll.  Of course I shrieked in surprise and shook the bag around, though it was now just a few shreds of white plastic.  Justin coming to my aid was similarly hijacked and the unopened bag of animal crackers in his hands was grabbed and secreted away into the trees where we then saw a group of coatis gathering round for a right feast.  Is it their fault? - we are pretty gullible and slow!!  I was so angry, but also laughing and wondering if I should report this crime.

Further along our walks we saw monkeys (dusky titi monkes I think?) jumping around in the trees and also an agouti running about the brush.  We saw more jungle animals in one day in the Iguassu park than we did in 2 weeks of remote rainforest jungle.  So bizarre!  Maybe because these animals are more used to people and don't see us as a threat?

The lower walks, called the Superior and Inferior Circuits were my favourite parts.  These walks take you down flights and flights of jungle surrounded stairs to the lower levels of the falls.  From here, you can view  the falls from some amazing angles.  What a perspective, looking upwards as thousands of gallons of water power downward from their heights.   More of the falls are visible from below and the panoramic is just breathtakingly gorgeous.  No trip would be complete without a visit to both the upper and lower end of these falls.


more pics:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105332575943799967078/201202RioVIguassuFalls