Dearest fellow travelers, I have been to many amazing places and seen many incredible things on this trip, like Uluru and Angkor and Machu Picchu, and while those all awed me, none filled me with joy the way Iguazu Falls did. I walked a lot the two days I visited the falls, but my sorest muscles are in my face, from the non-stop grinning.
GRINNING
The week before I visited, there were such heavy rains that the subsequent flooding at the falls set records. This meant that a couple of the cool walks were closed on the Argentinian side–the bridges over the falls in those areas had been swept away–but there was still plenty to see.
Here, let’s look at a bunch of photos together:
The water levels were the highest they’ve been in decades
Mesmerized
Looking down was a rush
And then there was this
Dozens of rainbows
I got pretty soaked standing in the shadow of this one
Dos Hermanas–the two sisters–at the end of the Lower Trail
Looking down from the Upper Trail
And more wonders
The island in the middle of the falls; it was too dangerous to approach when I visited, because of the water levels
That would be part of the Upper Trail. That section is currently closed.
I went on a boat ride to get up close and personal. This is before we went farther in and got completely, 100% soaked.
There was a lot of mist in the late afternoon, when I went, so the falls didn’t translate as well on camera, but they looked really cool from the boat
River-level view
And now a break, in which I show you pictures of raccoon-like animals that you might think are kind of cute but are actually vicious little food thieves and biters. Coatis are wild animals native to the area, and although the ones outside the tourist areas keep to themselves (as wild animals ought), the ones in the tourist areas have figured out that they can get food a lot more easily by begging and outright taking it from tourists. I had food in my bag, and when the bag was hanging by my side while I took a selfie, a coati pounced on it! I won that fight, but yikes.
They creep up on you
With their little anteater-like faces
And their indignant raccoon-like tails
The Brazil park had this guy running around taking photos with kids, which I think sends a confusing message: Don’t touch or feed them! But also, cuddly friend!
Back to the beautiful, this time on day 2, when I went to the Brazilian side of the falls:
I mean, this is a pretty good introduction to the falls
Good job, Nature
Now you’re just showing off
More grinning
You can walk out in the middle of the falls in the upper level on the Brazilian side
You might get a little damp doing so (people heading out on the ramp looked at me, aghast, as I headed back in–one woman grabbed my arm and said something in concern, and one man laughed out loud at my bedraggled state)
Right in the middle of the action
You can also go up an elevator for a view pretty high up
Which was a cool perspective
The Brazilian side
The Argentinian side
Wow! Lisa! THAT is a LOT of water! I could hear it from your photos! What a spectacular place, and I am so happy that you had two beautiful days, weather-wise, for this trip. Yes – there is something about the life force of water that is so powerful and lovely. Glad you could fill up your soul with these falls – and you got to go to both sides, and be over them on the bridge and in the elevator – fanTAStic! Thanks so very much for sharing this beauty with us.
Irene (in Zurich)
Hearing the water, yes! I heard it before I saw it, and even that was enough to have me practically dancing on the trail.
I am SO glad that you were able to visit the Falls despite all the flooding. And that you fully immersed yourself (yes, almost literally!) in the experience. These are wonderful photos but I bet they can’t really do justice to your memories.
True, the photos are nice, and I took over 600 over the course of 2 days, but they pale in comparison to being there. I loved every moment.
WOW!!!! That is all.
Yep! I said “wow” out loud several times while there.
Oh Lisa! Your photos are just magnificent. I am a friend of Nan Shorey and have been following you around. With another friend, we visited Nan during her Argentina residency and visited the falls. YOur comment about the grin says it all. I would love to go back again and spend more time on both sides. Maureen
Thanks for the kind words, Maureen. I’m glad you’re enjoying the virtual trip. I hope you get to return to Iguazu someday!