By the time we got to our hotel room in Puerto Iguazu (still in Argentina) it was late. The grocery stores were closed too so we just called it an early night. Our hotel was cool though with an open courtyard and a pool. Even though it was dark as we were driving here, I could sure get a jungle feel. Our driver talked about the jaguar crossings that are posted. Needless to say, Matt didn’t go out running in that area.
 |
| View from our room |
Our adventure began the next morning. I was pretty excited about this one-Iguazu Falls. Miranda and Matt went here (the Argentine side) on their November 2023 trip so I had seen photos. Of course that’s nothing compared to the real thing. We started our visit in the National Park by riding a train up to the Garganta del Diablo trail area. Here we got to walk out on metal walkways (pasarelas) all the way to the edge of the waterfall. It was incredible!
Next we went to the second area where we walked on trails and walkways by the waterfalls surrounding the big one. Seriously there were waterfalls everywhere! It was stunningly beautiful.
 |
| Cool birds we saw in the trees |
 |
| Coati just hanging out by the trail (similar to a raccoon, can’t see it here, but they have a ringed tail) |
After having lunch at the eatery in the park we headed to our last adventure of the day and what an adventure it was! For sure one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. We rode in a large jeep through a jungle area down to the river’s edge. There we donned life jackets and put our things in a dry sack. Then we got on a speed boat.
The speedboat drove us upriver to the falls area. As we were heading up the rapids the boat made a fast turn and soaked the guy in front of me and me. It was quite surprising, but the cool water felt so good! We stopped when we were fairly close so we could take photos.
 |
| Notice my hair already wet |
It was amazing being so close to the falls and spectacular seeing them from this vantage point. I kind of like the photos with the other people from the boat in them as they give a good feel for what it was like. Then after taking some photos they told us to put our phones in the dry bags because we were going to get closer to the falls.
Matt and Miranda had told me you get close enough to get wet but, oh my glaciers it felt like we went under them. The water came down so much on us that you couldn’t even keep your eyes open. Not a speck of me remained dry. Going under once was so fun, but we all kept shouting again again and we ended up going under five different times!! It was glorious! Just held up my hands like you would on a roller coaster and soaked it all in. I wanted it to be like a ride at an amusement park so I could keep getting back in line and riding it again and again. But alas, we had to go back and get off the boat. As we were going back to the main area in the jeep it began to rain which was not a big deal because I couldn’t have gotten more wet than I already was. It was really a magical day. So thankful Matt brought me back to this beautiful place.
After getting back to our hotel and showering, Matt and I spent time walking around the main area of town. We had dinner at a nice Mexican place.
 |
| What the neighborhood roads look like |
The next morning we packed up all of our things so we could head to the Brazil side of Iguazu. These falls, much like Niagara Falls sit between the borders of Argentina and Brazil. There are different parts of the park in each country. Before heading to the border we stopped at the spot where the rivers meet to create the borders between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil.
We were standing in Argentina but the bridge you see in this photo connected Brazil (right side of photo) to Paraguay (across the river behind Matt). Kind of sad to be that close to Paraguay and not have time to make it over there.
Entering Brazil- country 23 for both of us and a first for both of us. The rest of the trip will now be new for Matt too and not just me. We got to our hotel in Foz do Iguacu several hours before check in time planning to just leave our luggage and head over to the National Park, but the hotel had our room ready for us. Yay! So we got settled in and changed clothes before heading back out to the parks.
First up was the Parque das Aves-a bird sanctuary, it was incredible. So amazing to see so many beautiful birds up close. Most of the enclosures were very large where we were able to walk and spend tine in them. It made the whole experience so immersive. For many of the birds we saw, this is the closest I had ever been to them without cages in my life,
 |
| Turtles just walking around freely in the park |
 |
| Saw several of these spiders with large webs around the jungle trees |
The tucans were crazy to watch. Their beaks seriously looked fake and painted.
The parakeets were SO loud! We were in their enclosure when they got fed so things were pretty crazy.
They tried to keep the whole park looking very much its natural state so it really felt like we were walking along paths that were in the jungle. The vegetation was beautiful with so many strange and different varieties of flowers.
The macaws were for sure my favorite. Such beautiful colors! There were so many of them too.
After finishing up at the bird sanctuary we walked across the street to the National Park entrance for Iguazu Falls. The Brazilian side of the falls is much smaller, but the walkways take you right up to the falls. We took the park bus right up to the top where the big falls are.
It was seriously crazy how close we got to the falls.
If we look a little crazed here it’s because we were so exhilarated by what we were seeing. As we went out on the pasarelas we were so close to the water that we were getting wet. Also it was kind of raining too.
Completely magical!!
 |
| View from the walkway |
 |
| View from the tower |
So thankful we were able to see both sides of the falls. What a beautiful place in the world this is!
We were however exhausted by the time we got back to our hotel. For dinner we just walked to the mall across the street and ate dinner in the food court.
 |
| My body does not like the combo of lots of walking, heat and humidity, oh and bug bites. My feet were seriously in need of some rest. |
 |
| Final sunset in Foz do Iguacu |
Next up Rio de Janeiro!!
We were standing in Argentina but the bridge you see in this photo connected Brazil (right side of photo) to Paraguay (across the river behind Matt). Kind of sad to be that close to Paraguay and not have time to make it over there. 
Entering Brazil- country 23 for both of us and a first for both of us. The rest of the trip will now be new for Matt too and not just me. We got to our hotel in Foz do Iguacu several hours before check in time planning to just leave our luggage and head over to the National Park, but the hotel had our room ready for us. Yay! So we got settled in and changed clothes before heading back out to the parks. 
They tried to keep the whole park looking very much its natural state so it really felt like we were walking along paths that were in the jungle. The vegetation was beautiful with so many strange and different varieties of flowers. 
The macaws were for sure my favorite. Such beautiful colors! There were so many of them too. 
After finishing up at the bird sanctuary we walked across the street to the National Park entrance for Iguazu Falls. The Brazilian side of the falls is much smaller, but the walkways take you right up to the falls. We took the park bus right up to the top where the big falls are. 
It was seriously crazy how close we got to the falls. 
If we look a little crazed here it’s because we were so exhilarated by what we were seeing. As we went out on the pasarelas we were so close to the water that we were getting wet. Also it was kind of raining too. 
Completely magical!!
Comments
Post a Comment