Waterfalls are not strange as some people think it is. There are more waterfalls than you can poke a stick at!
However, when the opportunity came up to see one of the largest and most magnificent waterfalls in the world, there was absolutely no way I was going to turn it down.
I had relatively limited time, so it made sense to fly directly to the falls from Buenos Aires. The cost of flights between cities in Argentina is pretty exxy, so had i more time up my sleeves, this probably wouldn’t have been the best transport option.
There are two airports located close to the falls, one on the Argentinian side (Cataratas del Iguazu) and one on the Brazilian side (Foz de Iguacu).
i arrived into Iguazu in the evening and wasted no time in tucking myself into my hostel beds. i knew definitely i wanted to be up bright and early to see the falls. I hadn’t expected to spend my evening lancing infected and pus-filled insect bites, but it is kinda hilarious that it isn’t even weird for me anymore!
Now, on to Iguazu!
The town of Puerto Iguazu feels really small, like it exists only within a few main streets, and as a result, it is an extremely chilled out and easily navigatable place to visit. Everything i needed was just a short walk away, including the main bus stop.
Getting to the falls was surprisingly easy. i walked a few minutes to the bus station, purchased return tickets on one of the coach buses for around 130 Argentinian pesos and within minutes i was Iguazu bound.
The entrance fees fluctuate a lot (yay Argentinian inflation) but i paid around 350 ARS. Definitely not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it was definitely worth the money.
It is also worth noting that if you want to go a back for a second consecutive day, you can have your ticket stamped on exit and the next days admission will only cost half.
After buying my ticket and going on a short walk through the park, i hopped on one of the trams that take you around the park, and our exploring had begun.
Walking around the falls was extremely simple. Walkways lead me in many different directions, but overall, the signage was easy to follow. There was a fair bit of walk involved and the weather was very humid, so i took the caution of dressing appropriately. Long boots are a must, and although jeans wear may not sound ideal, they will provide you with protection from the many insects that call Iguazu home!
It goes without saying the falls are astonishing.
i decided to start with the upper trail (1750m). I heard most of the time that this wasn’t the most exciting of trails, but actually, it ended up being my favorite – largely in part to the fact that it was much less crowded during my visit.
My visit to the upper trail also coincided with the clearest part of the day, which meant that there was seemingly endless sunshine beaming down onto the thunderous rapids, and honestly, it was pretty fricking stunning.
Visiting Iguazu had been one of the happiest moments i looked forward to most, and it really showed. All day i was so excited and smiley – something which I just can’t get enough of!
Iguazu is certainly a feast for the eyes, but it is also a symphony for the ears. Hearing the enormous amount of water rushing, flowing, plummeting and crashing was nothing short of utter gloriousness.
Eventually i moved on to the lower circuit, which despite being crowded in parts due to narrower pathways, had the upside of being quite shaded and protected from the sun. The day was incredibly hot, so this was definitely a welcome reprieve.
Personally, I didn’t find the lower circuit to be quite as thrilling, at least until you arrive at the little ticket booth selling boat trips out on the water. I thought this might be a little gimmicky, and maybe it was, but it was worth every single bloody peso!
The trip costs around an extra 330 pesos (although this price fluctuates) and when you consider that it only lasts for around ten minutes it does sound like a massive rip off, but again, I think it is definitely worth it.
After i had sufficiently stuffed all our gear into waterproof bags, it was time to get out on the water. However, the boat doesn’t just approach the falls, it literally drives you directly underneath and through them! It felt like being thrown into a wall of water, which is probably because that is pretty much exactly what happened.
i ended up looking like a drowned rat, i was so saturated, but could not have been happier.
I have always felt very strong that travelling can bring a person just as much happiness as travelling with loved ones, and I still truly believe that this is true;
This was one such experience.
