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Iguazu´Falls in Argentina

Where Foz do Iguaçu was panoramic, Iguazu'Falls was up-close and personal!  It is hard to imagine that the two experiences were actually of the same amazing natural wonder!

On the Argentina side of the river, I went to the Parque Nacional Iguazu' early on Sunday morning to see the "Cataratas del Iguazu'".  Here, I got to visit the different pieces of the falls by following trails that led to all levels of the falls. 

The first trail was a train ride to the Estacion Garganta del Diablo (Station to one of the most famous parts of the falls - Garganta del Diablo or The Devil's Throat).  I walked along a steel pathway that went from island to island and over the Rio Iguazu'river that creates the magnificent falls.  At the end of the walkway (approx. 1 mile), I ended up on a platform, up close and personal, right over the Garganta del Diablo falls.  The power was overpowering and the sound deafening, but spectacular.

The next path I took was the Circuito Inferior or Lower Circuit.  This path wove around through the jungle and led me to the base of the falls.  Here you could take a boat over to Isla San Martin to get a different view of the falls or you could take a boat that took you right under the Garganta del Diablo falls.  I took the boat over to the San Martin Island and took in the other views of the falls.  I watched as the boats would skirt the falls and get the passengers all wet - quite the touristy thing to do!  They actually didn't go fully under the falls - just skirted them - for the falls would be too crushing!

Next, I took the Circuito Superior or Upper Circuit trail.  This trail took you to the top of some of the more minor falls.  As the sun changed positions, the falls continually changed - always very enchanting with many rainbows! 

On Monday, I returned to the park to hike the Mancuco Trail which wound through the jungle approximately 3 miles to a lone waterfall and pool where you could swim.  It was a delightful trail with the heat and humidity of the jungle engulfing you as you walked.  I was also greeted by lots of jungle sounds and some jungle wildlife - mainly birds and butterflies.  I did make it to the waterfall.  I was a bit short on time since I needed to catch my bus back to Buenos Aires in the afternoon, so just sat rather than swam in the pool.  Made it back safely and caught by bus just fine!

Some additional information about the falls from Wikipedia: 

Iguazu'Falls consists of about 270 individual water falls along 1.67 miles of the Iguazu'River.  The falls are shared by the Iguazú National Park (Argentina) and Iguaçu National Park (Brazil). These parks were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively.

The name Iguazu comes from the Guarani words y (water) and guasu (big). The legend says that a god pretended to marry a beautiful aborigine named Naipú, who fled with her mortal lover in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.

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