A Date with the Devil

Gary getting soaked
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Our next destination back in Argentina was Puerto Iguazu, in the far north eastern province of Misiones. This is the home of one of natures greatest acheivements - El Cataratus del Iguazu (or ´The Iguazu Falls´ to you and I).

The journey there was long. Following our Uruguayan bus across the border to Colon, we had a two hour wait for an onward connection (2 hours), north to Concordia where we had a 6 hour wait before our third bus of the day, north to Puerto Iguazu. This time a 12 hour night bus, complete with semi-reclining chairs and some of the worst ´airline´ style food I have ever had! This was our first introduction to the tipping that the luggage guys ask for when putting your bags into the bus. They just hold their hand out expectantly. Not happy at paying more (after forking out over 20 pounds each for the journey!) I reluctantly handed over the tip. The thought of our bags not being there at our destination enough to make me part with a peso.

The views were spectacular, all around you was another photograph ready to be taken

Shannyn pearing over
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Upon arrival at 7.30 the next morning we checked into a nice family run residencial, freshened up and headed back to the bus terminal for the 30 minute ride to the Parque Nacional Iguazu. From here there are various walks around the area giving you access to the falls at ground level and up high where the waters fall. There are also jungle walks, where you can spot the many brightly coloured butterflies, the scavenging raccoon-like coatis, and if you´re lucky a macaw or two.

The Iguazu falls are comprised of over 250 individual cascades, dramatically spilling over the Rio Iguazu. This river forms the natural border between Argentina and Brazil. A short bus ride to the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguacu gives you a more panoramic view of the falls but unfortunately we didn´t have time for this, so we settled for the up close option, getting a little wet along the way.

El Garganta del Diablo
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The views were spectacular, all around you was another photograph ready to be taken. While at the bottom you also get to take a boat to a small island in the middle of the river where a fairly steep climb brings you up to yet more fantastic views, this time a light spray covering us as we looked on. The trip to the Argentinian side took us all day and there was still more we could have seen.

Our final section of the day was taking the free train around to the most famous of all the falls here - El Garganta del Diablo (´The Devil´s Throat´). From the train you have a 5 minute walk along various walkways, taking you over several rivers to the most amazing view of all. The sight of three falls converging into one with such force that there´s no sign of anything underneath, just a huge white mist like a void into the ground below. A definate point of no return if you were to fall in. Flocks of birds brave the onslaught of water as they continuously swoop down to their nests, fading out of sight as they do so.

This area is best saved until the end as it is such an awesome sight that anything else would just be an anti-climax. This has to be one of the best things I have ever seen, it has to be seen to fully appreciate it. Anyway I have actually been banned from this subject by Shannyn, as I have bored on about it to anyone that will listen, so that´s all I can say for now.

We moved on to Posadas next, on a relatively quick 5 hour bus, for our onward 4x4 drive to the Esteros del Ibera. There is now a severe lack of English being offered up so we have had to kick in to our Spanglish a little earlier than we´d hoped... but we´re getting there.

Gary

A note from me (Shannyn) I also had to ban Gary from watching the video he took of the ´Devils Throat´as everytime I looked round he was watching it over and over again and he would then tell me how wonderful it was. I must say it was brilliant but there are only so many times you can listen to the same story without falling asleep....