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Published: March 20th 2006
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Walkway
Walkway to the Devil´s Throat Iguaçu Falls lie on the border of Brazil and Argentina so are ideally viewed from both sides. As Argentina is much cheaper I decided best to stay there and a sneaky way to get my visa extended as the dopey woman at Rio airport only gave me 30 days!
Foz do Iguaçu is the Brazilian town and Puerto Iguazu is the Argentinian town.
From Caxambu I was told the only way was via Sao Paolo and as the guide book said 6 buses per day from there I though it would be fine. After a 6 hour ride to Sao Paolo, all the bus lines said no more buses until 5.30pm the next day, or to Puerto Iguazu on 13th March! I had a little strop to no avail and got a bus to Curitiba, kind of on the way. 6 hours later at 5.30am I arrive and luckily find a bus to Foz do Iguaçu at 8am. Get there at 6pm and quickly get 2 buses across the border as I heard they stopped at 7pm. There were so many backpackers on the bus (mostly one pack of Israelis) that the bus driver stopped at both border controls, very
Devils Throat
Devil´s Throat handy as I didn't want to sit there hoping for another bus.
Puerto Iguazu is quite a small town, not too touristy and there was a hostel right next to the bus station for 15pesos a night. Not the greatest place but it had a bar so all fine. Ran immediatelly to a cash machine and then for a large plate of pasta. Brazil is made for Atkins lovers as I was carb deprived living on salad and meat for weeks.
Met some great Brits and Americans in the hostel, the 3 girls left me all of their Brazilian change the next day which was very handy when coming back to Brazil.
At 9am the next day got the local bus to the falls, 30pesos entry. There is a train that takes you to the Devils Throat Fall and takes about 15mins, tightly packed so you are glad to get off. We were slightly nervous of rain but decided it was the mist from the waterfall. So we walked on the large metal walkway over the river for about 15mins. It is all calm and serene until you turn the last corner, suddenly the roar of the waterfall starts
Me and Devils Throat
Me and Devil´s Throat and the mist soaks you. It was amazing! The main section is mesmerising to watch but then makes you dizzy, even so I couldn't stop watching it. It thunders down and you can't see the bottom. Some men are paid to stand on ladders and take photo's of you with your camera which is quite handy. As we were the first off the train and walked fast we had a great view for about 15mins, then the crowds started so we walked back. Just as we were approaching the train station the thunder started and we were glad to be off the metal walkway. Then the skies opened and a huge storn started, it was so heavy people were taking their clothes off the wring them out. We were dry so doing good. I kept thinking people were taking photos but it was the crazy bright lightning and with the thunder clapping seconds later, it was close! Got the train back, with the wet people and bought a poncho. The American I was with had somehow chatted up some lady upgrading her poncho and got his for free! We then started the 2 walks, Lower and Upper, these take you
Lower walk
Smaller sections on the lower walk to the other sections of the waterfall for great photo opportunities. As there was so much rain, there were no rainbows!
After lunch the rain had gone and I had just dried off, so as you do, I went for a boat ride into the waterfall... I was rushed to the front of the queue as there was one space left in the next boat. This meant I forgot there were waterproof bags for things you didn't want soacked... I wore my poncho, but there was no point. He took us under 2 waterfalls and it was like someone kept throwing buckets of water at you. I was completely soacked and had squelching trainers, yuk! Still no rainbows so I got the bus back to the hostel at 5.
That night the Belgian in my room showed me 20 of his photos with rainbows so I was fuming.
Got up early the next day to get the bus back over the boarder to
Foz do Iguaçu. This time the driver just dumped me at the border so I had to wait for another bus next to the foot and mouth walkthrough. 2 hours later I got to the park
Boat Trip
I´m going in... and luckily they had lockers big enough for my back pack. This side has a bus ride to take you to the walkways. The views are quite nice and better photos but wish I had done this side first as it was no way as spectacular as the Argentinian side. The only thing saving the Brazilian side for me was rainbows!!! At last. But it only took me a few hours to do the whole walk.
So got back to get the 3pm bus to Camp Grande, the new twist to my journey. I decided I was relatively close (16hrs away) and it was end of rainy season so a good chance of seeing some animals!!
And the winner is Iguazu! Absolutely spectacular.
My camera cable is checked in at the bus station, so still no photos, I will sort this out soon though!
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