We are up early, hit the buffet breakfast, which was huge with eggs and bacon and so many pastries and breads it will make your eyes swim (and Dr. Atkins turn over in his grave). Downed a cup of coffee and headed out into town to catch the local bus to the Falls.
It’s hot and humid today, but with threatening clouds. We pack our rain gear and head out to the bus station, found the bus, 5 pesos each (less than $2US) and we were off to the Falls a little after 8am. Bus ride was fun – took about 45 minutes – we fortunately had a seat, lots of others didn’t. Paid our entrance to the Falls (again, cheap, 60 pesos each) and began our hike.
The Park consists of 275 falls along 1.7 miles of the Iguazu River. Some are up to 270 feet high, but most are only 210 (oh boy!). The biggest falls are “The Devil’s Throat” which is a u-shape phenomenon like you’ve never seen! The Argentina park has 3 main trails – the upper, the lower and the Devil’s Throat trail. There is also a little train that can take you to the trail head for all of these trails.
We hiked out to the beginning of the upper and lower circular trails and followed our guide book advice by doing the upper trail first. This trail isn’t very long and it’s flat – no stairs – so anyone can navigate it. It’s all built on a system of metal grates (similar to subway grates) built on pilings throughout the park. Every turn on this trail produced an incredible view of the falls. It is just amazing to walk on top of these huge falls – the river seems so calm and bubbling on one side, then it roars over the “cliff” and becomes this incredible massive life force all it’s own. Really stupendous!
And it keeps getting better! 45 minutes on the upper trail, then we hit the lower trail where you see the falls – and devil’s throat – from below – you’re down at the water level for Salto Rameriz – and you get the full force of the water spilling down, the wind produced from the water and the spray! It is wild. You can even take a boat ride that actually takes you into the water fall – thanks, but, pass! We decided we didn’t want to get wet – and everyone coming off that boat was soaked to the gills.
Once we had finished the two trails, we wanted to have a bite to eat before we hit Devil’s Throat. Too long a story to go into here, but we wandered around for about 45 minutes looking at the “sit down” buffet place, the pizza place, all our options, and settled for a sandwich shop at the train station. Great sandwich (huge) for Ed, good steak for me, beer, wine, yeah, well….and perfect timing! After we sat down the skies opened and the deluge began!
We hung out, finished our food and then decided the heck with hiking, we’re taking the train to Devil’s Throat! So we sat under the shelter of the train station while it rained, watching the coatis (lemurs) try to get food from everyone. These things are everywhere – they are like the US version of squirrels in that respect. People were petting them and letting them eat their food – YICK! Everything you read says don’t tease them and don’t feed them, they bite. Yeah, what don’t you understand about wild? I stamped my feet a lot to get rid of them while waiting for the train.
Cute little narrow gauge train out to the “main attraction” – we made a good decision on that one too because the trail was a muddy mess! We would have been so unhappy if we had hiked it. Once at the train stop, it’s a long walk to the falls, but so worth it. And along the way we saw a toucan! Totally awesome!
At the falls- I can’t even explain it – you are out there at the very edge of the Falls with the water rushing by you and the spray and the wind and the noise. It was incredible. And incredibly wet – really hard to take pix!
Dried off on the way back, waiting for the train. Took it all the way back to the entrance and hopped on the first bus back to town. Great great day and experience!
Next post – dinner – it needs a post all it’s own!
1 comment:
Hey Guys,
We watched Jack Hanna this A.M. and they were at the falls. It was cool to show Ben were you were last week!!!! We are following you on the maps. Take care and have fun.
Love,
All of Us
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