Day 31-32, Puerto Iguazu

There is only one reason to come to Puerto Iguazu, to see one of the hundred wonders of the world . . . Iguazu Falls. I spent the whole day walking around the park. The falls are taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide. According to the guide, there are ¨over 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River. Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth.¨

The most popular waterfall(s) is the Garganta del Diablo (Devil´s Throat), which is the culmination of several waterfalls gathering into one are and spraying a mist hundreds of yard´s into the air. The view and the sound (deafening) were unbelievable. I liked less terrifying falls better. My favorite were the valley Argentian Falls, which is a series of smaller waterfalls that are surrouned by beautiful green moss.

After visiting all the falls on the main track, I took a ¨Great Adventure¨that was neither great nor adventurous. It was advertised as a boat ride that gets you close to the falls, that continues into some ëxhilarating¨rapids, and ends with a 4x4 drive through the jungle. What it was, was a boat trip that takes you right under some of the smaller falls, completely drenching you. It then drives to some remote part of the park through the rapids that are created by the boat´s own wake. At that remote dropoff, you are crowded into a big truck that drives you back to the parks entrance while the guide yells out names of the trees as you drive pass.

Not impressed with my jungle tour, I decided to walk on one of the lesser-known jungle paths. It was a bit unnerving walking through the dense forest, knowing from the constant buzzing, chirping, clicking, snapping, and fluttering, that there are hundreds of animals and insects surrounding you. This is especially true after you read the map the ranger hands you when entering the trail, which map warns you about what to do if you get bit by a snake or spider, what to do if you come across a puma or jaguar, and not to feed the monkeys cause they bite! Anyway, I got back in one piece.