A short flight of 2 hours takes us from Buenos Aires domestic airport to the city of Puerta Iguazú and the opportunity to visit the famous Iguazú falls. The guide books do indicate that you are likely to get wet visiting, they didn’t mention that it also seems to rain a lot here. Several heavy rain showers already this afternoon.
Puerta Iguazú, ‘el punto de Las tres fronteras’: Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, turns out to be a very friendly city. Our apartment was right in the city so everything was walkable. Booking into one of the several fancy hotels would have meant a cab ride everytime you wanted to go anywhere as most were outside of the main city area. The place really comes alive in the evenings, with live music in many of the bars and restaurants. Most of the shops are open until late.
‘Las Caterateras’ – the Iguazú Falls, the reason for being here. Easy to reach from the city bus station where a return ticket cost 6000 pesos. A regular daily service which takes about 30 minutes to reach the national park and drops off at the ticket office by the entrance.
Well, despite the guide books waxing lyrical about these falls, due to various circumstances, one day is perfectly adequate to experience this natural splendour. The ‘Devil’s Throat’, the closest walk is closed until further notice. Meaning the train only goes as far as the first stop and returns to the central station.
If you were thinking of the small boat trip to La Isla San Martín to visit this peaceful little island in the middle of the river – well that has been closed for 5 years.
Your options are: the Upper Trail and/or the Lower trail. Both these are well laid out, the walks are mostly easy. There were parents with strollers, toddlers and elderly making their way round at their own pace.
I arrived around 11.30, there was only a short line at the ticket office 20,000 pesos (locals much less). People moved around well. It was not even as crowded as an art exhibition in London. Loads of toilets and food stations around once inside the park.
Free tickets are issued for the train service that indicates the carriage and departure time allocated, which manages the flow of visitors very well.
What about the falls?
Well, they are definitely worthy of their place as one of the natural wonders of the world. The two trails provide different viewing opportunities but the absence of getting up close leaves the enormity and power of these falls more to the imagination.
Boat rides are possible – at an additional cost which go closer to one of the falls, sufficiently so to ensure the customers return soaking wet whilst experiencing the churning waters closer to the falls.
JohnS – went on a more adventurous ‘jungle’ trek. Although he didn’t encounter the falls on this trek, it was basically a walk along a jungle path, without much to observe beyond the flora and fauna at whatever time of year you happen to be there.
Heading back to Buenos Aires this morning to catch our flight to Santiago de Chile
Leave a Reply