Iguazu Falls, Argentina
22-24 July 2011
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We’ve now exchanged clouds of dust for clouds of mist—great billowing clouds of mist rising from the thundering waterfalls. Iguazú Falls is not just a waterfall. It is a whole system of waterfalls on the Iguazú River at an intersection of 3 countries: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The falls are so extensive that they create their own microclimate, which is a semitropical rainforest.
The Sheraton Hotel was a logical choice for a stay here, as it is located within the National Park on the Argentine side of the falls. There are several trails traversing the area which provide for maximum views of many of the cascades. It also allows for breaks during the day with a return to the trails later.
Our first full day started with a train ride to hike “Devil’s Throat”. This hiking trail, as well as the others in the park, is an engineering masterpiece consisting of a series of metal pedestrian bridges over the river. The bridges are punctuated in places by small islands, but by and large, one is walking over rapidly moving water for about a half a mile. As the approach was made to Devil’s Throat, we started noticing mist gently floating on the air in little droplets. At the end of the trail, it’s like a tropical downpour, which arrives in waves from the waterfall. “Devil’s Throat” is a very appropriate name, since anyone would have the feeling that they’ve reached the entrance to the underworld. Thundering, cascading, swirling and rushing water over the brink of the falls is an awe inspiring event to enervate the senses.
After “Devil’s Throat”, we hiked the upper falls area, again, traversing metal bridges to see many other beautiful falls’ sights. As the mist rises, rainbows spontaneously appear, reflecting all the colors of the spectrum. You soon realize that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is the experience that you’re having. Every panoramic view was more beautiful than the last.
As sunset approached, we walked the hotel grounds in search of birds. David saw a couple of toucans in the trees that morning from our balcony. He was determined to go to the source to see if they were there. And, they were there in all their glory! What unfolded was a fun bit of photography trying to capture their beauty. Their bright orange bills shone like beacons as the sun started to set and illuminate the trees.
The second morning we hiked the trail to the lower falls. Again, more gorgeous panoramas presented themselves around each curve of the trail. We also saw the coati mundis that are very plentiful in the park, along with capuchin monkeys that appear in the trees from time to time. We’ve also seen a really pretty yellow and black bird, a plush crested jay.
Well, we’ve caught up with our laundry. All the Pantanal dust is in the past, and we have clean clothes. We brought some laundry detergent, and to avoid the excessive hotel charges for doing laundry, we’ve done it ourselves. We’ve brought a bit of ‘ghetto elegance’ to the hotel, as our laundry flaps in the breeze on the balcony. We’ll never look at another hotel sink again without thinking of dirty clothes!
Now that we have visited Niagara, Victoria and Iguazú Falls, it would not be fair to give a comparison. Each beholds their own beauty, power and magnificent attraction. Here is a website for Iguazú Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/303/gallery/
Tomorrow, we’re off again, this time to Buenos Aires for 6 days. We’ll keep you posted on our adventures there.
Adios,
Renee and Dave
The Falls
The Falls & Little Girl Meeting Coati Mundi 
Toco Toucan & Plush Crested Jay
