Iguazu Falls - to go or not to go?

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Well Iguazu Falls was not on my initial list of places to go. I mean, ít´s just a waterfall and I´ve seen waterfalls before. It can´t be that good. In the end however, my mind was changed by the constant praise it got from fellow travellers. It really had to be good to get me to leave my beloved Brazilian beaches and so I thought I would give it a go, add it to my itinerary and head there from Brazil. (Iguazu Falls borders Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay). The trip was going to be epic. So epic in fact that it took me 8 buses and a taxi to get from start to finish. Yep I departed the southern beaches of Florianopolis and walked into the hostel in Porto Iguazu 22 hours later and the whole time I was thinking that this had better be good. One of the best overland trips I have taken (not)!

Fortunately my hostel was like a resort so that softened the blow a little. Anyway the next day it was time to view the falls from the Argentinian side and see what all the fuss was about. I got up early to beat the crowds and dubiously headed into the national park. For the first 3 hours I walked amongst the jungle and across the top of the falls. They were pretty and very big but they were only waterfalls. I then went for the view from below and this was better but still, they were only waterfalls. At this stage I was cursing myself and all those who told me I just couldn´t miss out on visiting the place. Bloody hell what a disapointment I thought.

Things then improved a little when I went on the power boat ride. This was better than any fun park water ride. This was real. In a jet boat we entered the bottom of the falls and went right under them getting completely wet and practially blown away. It was a great adrenalin rush hearing the water pound around you and feel the power of its surge. OK so that was cool but still not worth 22 hours travel!

I had one last lookout and walk to do to complete my day at the park. I headed up on a mini train (yep it is completely catered for mass tourism) to the top of the falls and then across the vast lakes of water on long high boardwalks. I could hear the water getting closer and then all of a sudden the lake gave way to a giant crater from which masses of water pounded down into the never never. It was absolutely spectacular. The power and energy was overwhelming. From a very docile looking lake the water became a monster in a matter of meters. This was no ordinary waterfall - this was magical! I had never seen anything like it. The flow of water was mesmerising and it stretched for hundreds of meters in width. It was absolutely MASSIVE and you could walk right up against it and on top to look down. I loved it and stayed starring at it for over an hour. This was obviously what everone had been talking about so I can now agree that yes it is a ´must see´of South America.

Now it´s time though to return to the Brazilan coast for beach, sunshine and partying until the end of February. Life sure is tough!

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