Our flight from Buenos Aires arrived in the late morning to the airport outside Puerto Iguazu on the Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls. We opted to take a taxi from the airport to our hotel so that we could drop our stuff off quickly at the hotel and then head to the park to see the waterfalls. Our taxi driver ended up being extremely friendly and offered to chauffeur us around for our entire time in Iguazu.
From the moment we walked out of the airport we were swarmed by colorful butterflies
The waterfalls sit on the tri-country border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Argentina and Brazil both have parks that you can pay to enter and see the falls. The falls themselves are so spectacular that reading about them and even seeing the photos can’t possibly do them justice. The falls are a collection of 275 waterfalls that span a horseshoe shaped gorge almost 2 miles across. After some research we learned that the Argentinean side had a much larger park with trails to walk while the Brazil side had a relatively short path with a variety of vista points along it. We decided to spend our first afternoon exploring the Argentinean side and go the next morning to see the views from Brazil.
Iguazu Park on the Argentinean side
The first stop on our tour in the Argentinean park was Garganta del Diablo (throat of the devil). From the park entrance we took a train up to the path out to the Garganta lookout platform. The path was a collection of metal walkways passing over the top of the river that run for 1 km before arriving at the platform sitting directly over the top of the falls. This small section of the falls is a chasm approximately 500 ft wide with water tumbling over 260 ft to the pools below. The volume and force of the water is so great that the area is perpetually shrouded in a dense mist. Being at the top of the falls was awe-inspiring but because the mist was so intense the views were greatly obstructed.
Traveling the metal walkways to the Garganta del Diablo
The view looking out over the Garganta del Diablo
Some photos from the platform looking over the edge of the Garganta del Diablo
From the Garganta del Diablo we made our way back to the train and headed back to our next hike, the upper circuit. The upper circuit was a half mile series of catwalks, bridges, trails, and lookout platforms. From here we started to get an idea of just how massive Iguazu Falls truly were, though we still were not able to get a complete picture of the falls. On the hike we were able to stand at the top of a half dozen different waterfalls and admire many more from a distance.
Rainbows were not in short supply at the waterfalls, occasionally we even saw double rainbows
Lisa enjoying the view
As the hour began to get late we decided not to rush and try to get through the lower circuit that afternoon, but instead to come back tomorrow afternoon after visiting the Brazilian side in the morning. We headed back to the park entrance where our taxi driver was sitting and waiting to take us back to our hotel. After a refreshing swim at the hotel we had dinner at a great restaurant suggested by our taxi driver. Kevin and his Dad shared a barbecue variety platter that arrived at the table on a small hibachi style grill that was still lit and cooking the food while we ate dinner.
Staying at a classier joint with Kevin’s parents
The next morning our taxi driver picked us up at our hotel to drive us across the border to experience the Brazilian side of the falls. This border crossing was a novelty for us because as we reached the checkpoint the driver pulled over and asked us for our passports. He told us that we could wait in the car while he proceeded to walk in with our passports and take care of the customs process for us. How the border agents can process people’s paperwork without them being present was a mystery to us, but we a few minutes later our driver arrived and we set off to the park.
After our half day on the Argentinean side we felt like we had seen some impressive views but nothing prepared us for what we were about to see. From the Brazilian side you could see the falls from end to end though they were so massive you could appreciate only a small section of falls at one time. The trail on the Brazilian side was only 1.2 km but every two minutes provided us with a new vantage point to admire the spectacular waterfalls. After a couple of hours hopping from viewpoint to viewpoint we headed back to our taxi who transported us back to finish exploring the the Argentinean side of the park.
Our first looks at the waterfalls from the Brazilian side were amazing to say the least
Any one section of Iguazu Falls would be a stunning natural wonder anywhere in the world
A look at the viewing platform on the Brazilian side
Kevin’s Mom at one of the lookout points
Kevin and his Dad showing off their photogenic natures
Another father son shot
Family photo
Some extended family shots
After a brief picnic lunch at the park entrance we made our way to the trail along the lower circuit. This trail did not lead us to the top of many waterfalls but it did give us some different perspectives for the falls we had seen the day before. By far the highlight of our second day on the Argentinean side was a boat ride that took us under the falls. As we made our way to the dock to pick up the boat, we were each given a dry bag for any possessions that we wanted to keep dry. Thankfully Lisa had her waterproof camera so we were able to get some photos to commemorate our trip under the falls. We didn’t think we could have been more wet if we had swam out to the falls. The passengers on the boat were equal parts cheering and laughing as we were drenched by our trips along the edge of two different waterfalls.
One of the other boats coming out of the waterfall as we were about to enter
How we looked before going into the falls
Looking back at the falls after our “shower”
Stopping for a photo along the river after our boat ride, Kevin’s Dad channeling his inner Little Mermaid
Looking back at the falls from the boat dock
A panaroma from waterlevel
Kevin’s Dad enjoying some of our last moments at the falls
Sadly our time with Kevin’s parents came to an end in Iguazu. After a last breakfast together his parents headed for the airport and we began our trek to explore Paraguay.
Our last night in Puerto Iguazu we went to see a show that our taxi driver explained as a water and light dancing show with music, it turns out the light was actually doing the dancing on the water and Kevin’s translation of the driver’s statement should be taken literally
With our faithful taxi driver
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