Iguazu Falls Brazil

Iguazu Falls.

Iguasu Falls.

Iguacu Falls.

No matter which way you spell it, these falls are spectacular. Come on…see for yourself!

The falls (cataratas) mark part of the border between Argentina and Brazil. Since we are staying on the Argentine side we need to find a way to get to the other side.

This taxi (orange one) will take us to the Brazil side. Remember to bring your passport!

Rather glad we were with our cab driver, eh. I am sure it would not have been a problem but it definitely was a lot easier crossing the border with him there to translate for us.

The 45 minute or so drive was very pleasant. Interesting how this part of Brazil looks very much like places in the rural countryside of western Canada. I had thought this would be covered in rain forest! but instead there are farms and wineries and wide open spaces with cattle grazing.

Okay…here we are at the entrance to the Parque Nacional do Igaucu (hmm…they spell it with a “c” instead of a “z” or “s”. Interesting!)  and there is the bus that will take us into the park and the falls.

Maybe as we get into the park we will see rain forest.

Aside: Our park admission fee includes the cost of the round trip bus ride.

(Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

Well…there are a lot of trees, but is this rainforest? Perhaps I have a wrong perception  about what a rainforest is. This looks much too manicured.

The bus drops us off near the Tropical Cataratas Hotel and we are on our own to walk down to the falls.

We really do not have to be able to read the signs…we can hear the dull roar of the falls from here.

Now this is looking more like what I thought rainforest would look like, but…this certainly is not what I expected of the falls.

Being familiar with water falls in the Rocky Mountains of Canada had not prepared me for this. Even Niagara Falls in eastern Canada had not prepared me for this. Iguazu Falls are enormous! and unique!

Let’s keep following the green walkway and find out where it takes us. Supposedly when we come to the end of the trail we will be at another visitor centre and there will be buses to take us back.

But right now that is the farthest thing from my mind.

These falls are like nothing I have ever seen before. They are not just in one place…they are all around us.  And not just on one level….they cascade down and then rest a while and then fall down another level!

Can you see that boat? The one down near the bottom of the photo? (remember you can enlarge the photo by clicking on it.) Think we can go for a ride on that?

The green walkway continues on and on and down and down…and the rumbling of the falls keeps getting louder and louder.

And there is a little friend on the pathway…hope he is friendly!

She is friendly. It is a coti.

Cute creatures. We had never seen cotis before so we were not sure what they might do! There is a mama and her babies looking for crumbs, totally unfazed by the tourists. One even sniffed my hubby’s pant leg!

However, even meeting these previously unknown (to us) animals could not keep us long from the falls.

There still are more falls to come. We know that because the sounds keep getting louder and louder as we continue following the green path.

Sounds and smells of the rainforest. Truly unique!

Most of the falls we have seen so far are across the way on the Argentine side. Only 20% of the falls are on the Brazilian side…and I think we might be approaching that 20%.

There is  the Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo).

And as we get closer and closer to the Devil’s Throat the sound becomes more and more intense.

 

Wow! Is it safe to get this close? 

This is the roar we have been hearing ever since we got off the bus!

Now we can make a quick stop at the souvenir shop…okay maybe a lingering relaxed visit to the souvenir stores…they surprisingly have good quality products.

And there is our bus, as promised!

Think our taxi will be waiting for us when we get back to the park entrance?

(He is waiting patiently and is ready to drive us back into Argentina)

Ready to visit the Argentine side of the falls? Click here.

and/or

Visit more of South America… Click here.

and/or

Visit other countries….click here.

Happy travels!