A good nights sleep awoken by the dawn at 6.30am, primarily because we forgot to draw one of the curtains behind the bed, but nonetheless refreshed. Quick breakfast, collected by 08:00. Friends Hugh & Maggie made on the previous day were collected at 07.10, so it definitely paid to be staying in the reserve, closer to the action if a longer lie in is desired!
A little more complex getting to the Brazilian side as need to go through the normal immigration controls, so in this instance worth paying for a guided trip. The falls this side were truly spectacular, the photos do them little justice, the power, energy and cacophony of sound is thrilling. Staring into the speed of the water falling is giddying (not sure that’s a real word) and indeed unbalancing.
We spotted some wildlife, a number of Iguanas, even a small crocodile but sadly didn’t sight a Jaguar 🐆 Off to try another restaurant tonight highly recommended La Dama Juana.
Pick up was at 07.45 where we joined 8 others, a smart touring van and a guide. We were their last stop as We are based in the forest. About 20 minutes later, arrived at the Argentina side of the falls. Some confusion followed as 6 of the group were booked on the big adventure – the clue is in the name! Fear of missing out the remaining 4 of us opted to do the same….and by the way it is raining. Hesk buys a fetching MAC and I stand smuggly in my Uniqlo rain resistant jacket – big mistake, huge! We board an open air truck with plenty of very wet seats … I wiped mine with a hankie and one of the guides sniggered! Twenty five minutes later in an open top vehicle gradually making its way via a cut through path in the jungle to the river, the rain resistant jacket, resisted no longer! I was very damp, David however remained reasonably dry.
As a precaution we were all given special dry bags to place our back packs, cameras etc.. another serious clue that left me a little concerned. We boarded the speed boat having donned life jackets. Apparently sitting somewhere in the middle was supposedly the driest spot. Seriously looking back I think they were toying with us. At least it was no longer raining and I didn’t feel quite so wet. Zoomed through the rapids, stopped to view the spectacular falls from below, then told to put phones and cameras in the dry bags. One of the guides questioned my intelligence as to why our shoes weren’t in the dry bag. Too late! They only went right into and under the falls and not one but several different ones…. wasn’t funny at all, water seeped into every area, soggy shorts, knickers worse, water trickling down my front, forget the hair and why did I put mascara on this morning! Seriously think I won the ridiculously most saturated being that disembarked that boat! Moral go with swimmers and flip flops, add a change of clothes to your back pack. At least I had a dry hat which I hid under to disguise the Bridget Jones hair! Stopped for a quick snack and David attracted a new friend from the raccoon family, a Coatis. Drip dry time followed, as we went off on the lower trail to view the falls in a civilised manner! However it took some hours until I was squelch free.
Spotted a Toucan and the odd lizard before getting glances of the falls from another perspective. The best was yet to come.
We moved onto a train that took us to a one kilometre walk along a purpose built walkway that brought us to the TOP of the falls, the devils throat. Seriously impressive.
On a note for a visitor, no need to book a tour – just get a cab [cabs are inexpensive] to the park and take it from there. You do not need a guide. In this instance we paid around £100 (£208 for 2 days both sides) that gave us a ride to the park, a guide that frankly we would have been as well off without and a ride home. We still had to pay for the entrance fee and the big adventure – fun but wet, wet, soaked! What seems worthwhile if you are a birder / twitcher is taking a private guide to one of their secret locations..
PS had an amazing meal at Aqva – highly recommend, can’t book but turn up and queue.
Set off this morning from our hotel in Buenos Aires, just ordered a yellow cab to the domestic airport (AEP) 30 minutes from our hotel, around $350 Pesos(US$5.50). You definitely do not need to organise taxis in advance when booking your trip. Cheaper and more efficient to do so in situ.
We were a little concerned about baggage allowance as everything Online was telling us 15 kilos allowance only and thereafter about £12 a kilo for anything over! We left some things in a bag at the Mine hotel that weren’t needed, to be collected on our return, just in case. David had put in a bid for an upgrade on this sector to Iguazú , which turns out to have saved the day as it came through. If the first leg of your trip is business class then you get 23 kilos each – and this we were told is extended to all our remaining legs even if travelling in economy, as is part of one booking. Something to be very aware of with Aerolineas Argentinas. Good seats and fast check in, so if you can get a cheap upgrade, it’s worth it! Flight was about 1 and a 1/2 hours.
Arrived at Iguazú on time and grabbed a taxi from the airport, couldn’t see any regular cabs so paid a fixed rate of $700 pesos (US$11) for a 25 minute journey, very informative driver who suggested some restaurants to eat at in town. Our hotel La Cantera Jungle Lodge, is exactly that, a series of stand alone rooms/units built in the jungle. Usual mattress inspection showed good clean beds with no additional visitors. After recent experiences in Japan, it pays to check!
Took a guided jungle walk at 17.15 with a lovely guide Nadia from the hotel where she introduced us to the flora and fauna and talked about the incredible bird life with over 500 species of birds locally and over 1000 different butterflies.
We went to one of the recommended restaurants – La Rueda – hmmm ok but nothing outstanding. Ate river fish tonight, sadly not memorable and service rather slow. Off to bed as need to be on a tour of the falls at 07.45!
Argentina Travel Log 2019 