Blogs from Iguaçu National Park, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil, South America - page 3

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South America » Brazil » Paraná » Foz do Iguaçu » Iguaçu National Park September 29th 2011

Nous voilà prêts au départ, dans le terminal de Retiro, à Buenos Aires, nos gros sacs impatients d’être casés dans le bus qui nous amènera au nord-est, en presque 17h de trajet. C’est le soir. Nos esprits sont déjà fortement dirigés sur les quelques images que nous avons vu de ce lieu spectaculaire que nous allons découvrir dans quelques heures. Les chutes d’Iguazú, un endroit qui semble déjà bien prometteur, on s’attend à du lourd, on se réjouit déjà. Nous prenons place dans un bus super élaboré, nous avons pris la plus haute des catégories pour ce trajet, nous avons donc droit à un siège inclinable à quasiment 180°, une TV personnelle avec une dizaine de films ou musique ou autre proposés, des petits rideaux pour faire séparation entre les sièges et les repas avec champagne ... read more
Bienvenue dans le bus de luxe, à destination d'Iguazú
De nombreux toucans dans la région d'Iguazú
Río Iguazú, en amont des chutes


After much debate, we decided to opt for the helicopter ride over a boat ride in the falls. So, $180 lighter, we enjoyed spectacular views over the falls for 10 minutes. Holly being a little nervous chose to go in the front seat so had the benefits of a see-through floor. Got some great photos - some are attached to the previous blog entry. In the afternoon, we popped over to Paraguay (as you do) with our hostel friend Tom for a bit of a mooch at the supposedly low cost electronics, but mainly for the stamp in the passport - carried in our pants to avoid pickpocketing. Rather hot, we arrived back at our hostel for a few card games before heading out to a per kilo restaurant, much better for the waistline than all ... read more


It is impossible to write about the wonders of the Iguazu Falls. It was definitely one of the highlights of tour trip in South America. From our first glimpse of the thundering magnificence of the falls we were on a total high! After settling into our hotel in Foz de Iguacu, the closest city to the falls in Brazil, we walked to the bus station and almost immediately caught a bus out to the national park which is 20 klms from the city. Once we arrived at the Visitor’s Centre we wasted no time on catching the transit bus to the ‘Path of the Falls’ bus stop. Our first view of the falls took our breath away. We had seen many photographs but they really don’t give you the full scale of the falls.. And the ... read more
Waterfalls everywhere!
The power of the falls was almost unbelievable
The sky was full of mist and rainbows


As with Rio, this blog begins with a flight and its conclusion. The scenery changed fantastically after leaving the beaches and the favelas of Rio. I was above pure green forest. As the plane came to land, I caught a glimpse of a huge field of mist rising between a break in the trees. This was my first indication of the sheer size of the falls. Over the past few years I have definitely been far more traveller than anything else, other than perhaps a bum. As a consequence it may seem strange that I virtually never watch any travel programs. It's a simple principle of hoping that I will reach every place that I want one day and wanting to retain the surprises of the places that these places may hold. The falls are one ... read more
Coati!
Further view on approach
Butterfly


30th April. When Isabelle told us that she was intending to travel in Central and South America for 6 months I had the idea that Pam, Phil and I would travel out to see her. My experience of long distance travel over the last few years has been the ferry to Guernsey, so Central or South America seemed a long way to go! We first of all thought we might go to Trinidad but that didn’t fit with Isabelle’s timetable so in the end we decided on Rio de Janeiro. Mark and Christopher had also told us about Iguacu Falls and both said that if we ever got the chance to go and see them then we must do it. Rio seemed near enough to Iguacu (well at least the falls are in the same country) ... read more
Botanical Gardens
Botanical Gardens
Rocinho


We took a taxi over the border to Brazil today. The photos say it all.... read more
First Sight of the Falls
David
Rainbow 1


We had a morning flight taking us from Rio to Iguacu and everything was pretty straightforward. We got a taxi to the airport and we had landed by lunchtime. We hopped in a taxi to get us to the hotel, which was situated into the national park. That meant we had to buy our entrance tickets before getting to the hotel. We only realised this when the driver told us so and dropped us off at the ticket office. He explained we had to get off, buy the ticket, cross to the other side and that he would pick us back up at the other end. We all looked at each other dubiously... It meant leaving him with all our bags while we went through the pedestrian entrance and I think we all wondered whether or ... read more
Iguacu falls
Iguacu falls
Iguacu falls


Salto, north Uraguay. That's where Juan Manuel dropped us off to wait for our bus to one of the biggest waterfalls on the planet. Iguazu. And Salto was where we had to say our goodbyes to a man who had made us laugh and been patient and improved our horse riding skills and just generally been an excellent host. I think all of us will miss Juan Manuel and will try to make our way back at some point in the future. And none of us were looking forward to the bus ride we had coming up. As much as we were all excited about the falls, none of us really wanted to have to sit through the overnight bus ride that we had to take to get there. At least in the mean time whilst ... read more
Appraching the Falls
Rainbow at the falls
All the activity


Fear is contagious. An early morning saw us enjoying a wonderful breakfast before heading to the bus station and jumping on the bus to the falls. We knew that there wasn’t as much to see on the Brazilian side as there is on the Argentinean, so we went with fairly mild expectations. After the 45 minute bus trip to the falls we paid our entrance and jumped onto a park bus which took us to the start of the paths that take you from one viewing platform to the next. Once again it is a spectacular sight. The major difference is that you get a panoramic view of all of the falls. So we wandered around the path and took various photos and enjoyed getting wet and after a couple of hours it was time for ... read more
Iquazu Falls
The coaties are coming
That's the spot


We had to checkout by 10am so that seemed as good a time as any to jump onto a bus to Brazil. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the border, at the first stop we quickly jumped off the bus and had our passports stamped as we exited Argentina for the last time. Then it was back onto the bus for another 2 minutes before getting off and going through Brazilian customs. A straightforward process, but one for which our bus did not wait around for. So after getting our stamps we went to the bus stop and waited for around 45 minutes for the next bus. From there it was another 15 minutes to the city. What a difference a day makes. In the morning were we staying in what is best described ... read more




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