Iguazu Falls from Brazil  Day 1

Date of Entry:  December 6th 2015

Date of Writing:  December 14th 2015, Hostel Park Iguazu.

The Argentinean side is more renown world wide, but this is probably the world’s greatest waterfall and you’d better believe I’m going to see it from every angle I can (Except maybe the costly and all too brief helicopter rides).

I’ve moved hostels by now to a cheaper place right beside the bus station called Hostal Natura where a bed in a spacious but simple 14 bed dorm costs only 100 pesos (not including breakfast)  Their wifi works and it’s comfortable enough with a mostly friendly staff. A decent option, but nothing all that special.   That said it’s right beside the bus station which makes it easy to catch the 8 am bus with Rio Uruguay directly to the Brazilian side of the falls.  Now it’s worth noting this bus stops at both borders which is what I’m looking for, if you’re looking to bypass the Brazilian border (not hard to do)  you can go in a taxi or take the bus to the city of Foz to Iguazu and then catch the 100 or the 120 to the waterfalls for 3-4 Reals.   The bus direct to the falls from Argentina is actually cheaper than the bus to the Argentinean side at 40ARS each way, and takes about an hour depending on border waits.  It’s also worth noting that the last Rio Uruguay service back from the waterfalls is 5 pm Argentinean time.

Once you get to the park it’s a simple matter of paying your entry which costs 56 Reals or just over 15 USD.  They accept most currencies (albeit at bad exchange rates).  it’s worth noting that there is three ATM’s at the entrance, however none worked with my foreign card, the only one with a visa sign on it temporarily out of order.  If you can’t pay in Reals the next best currency is USD.

Once you’ve eI climb down from the bus and head a short distance along the road to the first mirador, which actually shows most of the Argentinean side of the falls more than any of the Brazilian side.  Still the distant view from above is beautiful, and it’s my first day with mostly blue skies.

Eventually I head down to my left following the single trail on the Brazilian side and enjoying the views on the winding road which leads you down through thick jungles closer to the falls.

As you walk further and past the blockade of Isla San Martin on the Argentinean side of the falls a whole other section of waterfalls is revealed to me, running in a straight line for a while before turning into a narrow gorge, blocked by mist, though at the deepest point I know you the Devil’s throat is hiding.  It’s hard to imagine there’s more waterfalls here, but it’s true, so many more in the 2.7 kilometers that makes up the approximate diameter of the two horseshoes.

The rainbows are a new feature for me at the falls, considering it’s my first sunny day and they undoubtedly add to the sense of wonder as you wander through this incredible place.  As you keep descending, closer and closer to the falls the views only get more impressive as you begin to get the feeling you’re a part of the falls.  I’ve always preferred looking up at waterfalls though, it gives you a better sense of the power they hold.  I also catch sight of some beautiful white birds flying alongside the falls.

As I continue along the path the coatis arrive, sometimes it’s hard not to get annoyed with these always hungry and quick to rob you little racoon monkey like creatures, their babies are just too cute to dislike. There’s all kinds of Iguanas around soaking up sun rays near the path as well.

As I get closer and closer to the bottom of the trail my excitement just continues to grow, heart racing as I see the walkway out into the middle of the narrow gorge surrounded by water and another chance to revel in the sprays of Iguazu.

I hurry down the rest of the way, likely to the best photo op of the whole place back from the spray but still just surrounded by waterfalls.  Take a look.

For those that say just seeing the Argentina side is enough, I say look the photos above, almost all of those waterfalls can’t even be seen from there, and it’s not that you should go to Brazil instead of Argentina, in fact Argentina is probably slightly more impressive, it’s just If you make the trip all the way to come to Iguazu, you should plan at bare minimum two days, so you can see both sides.  I continue along quickly, shielding by camera in a double plastic bag and crossing the walk way revelling in the swirling clouds of misty water.

Though the photos might not be as incredible it is my definite highlight of the Brazilian side and I spend at least an hour out there taking pictures for families, couples and single travellers before heading back to the photo viewpoint for a short break and some more photos, it’s just too beautiful not to take them, especially when some Coati’s wander into the bottom corner of my frame.

From here I head past the entrance to the boardwalk up the small restaurant and visitors centre, taking a few more photos only to find my camera suddenly won’t work. It barely got wet, I was careful, but apparently it wasn’t enough. as it flashes in and out of life frustratingly as I board the elevator back up to the main road, managing a few last photos from up above the falls, enjoying one last fabulous view but worried for my camera.

From up above the falls I head upriver towards the restaurants and the bus back.   Since the ATM’s at the entrance didn’t work I have to head back into the Brazilian town of Foz de Iguazu to try to get some Brazilian reals to change inArgentina.  The rate isn’t quite as good as the US dollar but it’ll do well enough.  I hop on the local bus to the urban terminal and then find my way to Brazil Street, having to ask lots of people and walk about 10 blocks to find an ATM that works with foreign cards.

It doesn’t sound lie much but my brief hours in Foz de Iguazu were a strange time and probably the most serious case of culture shock I’ve had since returning to North America from Asia.  See I speak Spanish, but I don’t speak Portuguese, and In the last 15 months I have utterly forgotten what it’s like to travel in a country where you can’t just talk to anyone about anything, and I din’t like the feeling, so now I have to learn Portuguese before returning to Brazil. I also figured out that there’s a lot more English in Brazil than Spanish, which caught me off guard.

At any rate I eventually get my Reals at an HSBC bank to change back in Puerto Iguazu at 33 Brazil street at a rate of .26 meaning for every real I get just under 4 pesos.  Not bad at all, and it lets me hang around in Argentina for longer waiting for Llilians, Nico and Thea who I met with Sara back in Santa Cruz and Samaipata Bolivia in September.

I take a bus towards the falls to get my direct bus back only to find out Brazil runs an hour ahead of Argentina, so the last on may have gone, instead I get of close to the boarder and hire a taxi for 49 reals, to take me to the bus station in Puerto Iguazu.  I should have just waited for the bus but was nervous about getting my stamp out and pretty tired out after an exhausting day.  Either way, Brazilian Iguazu, I will definitely be back.