"Poor Niagara!" -- Eleanor Roosevelt

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Geo: -25.6836, -54.4757

Upon seeing Iguazu Falls for the first time, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt supposedly exclaimed, "Poor Niagara!"

Iguazu (EE-gwa--SOO) is often compared to Victoria Falls in Southern Africa. Iguazu is the widest, at 1.25 miles. Mist rises 100-500 ft. from Iguazu's Devil's Throat. The Falls offer spectacular vistas and sturdy walkways. At one point you are surrounded by 260 degrees of waterfalls.

Iguazu Falls ("big waters"😉 are located where the Iguazu River tumbles over the edge of the Paraná Plateau. The number of waterfalls fluctuates from 150 to 300, depending on the water level. Some 400,000 gallons drop per second ... on a normal day. Millions per second was the rate 9 weeks ago when there were record-setting rains.

The Falls are located in a humid subtropical climate with abundant precipitation and high temperatures year-round. We lucked out; it was only in the high 80's today.

For travelers coming to Iguazu:
1. Early arrival is best -- easier to maneuver and there are fewer people in your photos.
2. Bring clothes that wick. Nothing is going to dry overnight, so you will have to pack wet clothes if you are departing the next day. Lots of folks wore their swimsuits and cover ups for the afternoon adventure.
3. Tauck pays for a tour of the upper falls (300 yards, flat/no stairs, spectacular views, 75 minutes) and the lower circuit, where the falls are above you, there is more mist and more communing with the falls, but there are 100+ steep steps. 60 minutes. The paths, which are metal platforms, are quite slick. One in our crowd slipped. Caution is a high priority.

Lunch was our choice since it wasn't in the itinerary. Back at the Sheraton Iguazu where we were staying, or to a BBQ place near where we would depart for the afternoon boat ride adventure. We chose BBQ for variety. It was tasty but it was $US30. Kinda hefty for lunch.

Optional (more than half our group opted-in) is a boat ride to the Falls in the afternoon.

1. $US55 or 520 pesos per person.
2. Involves a jeep ride which they over promote; there's a little tour guide patter, first in Spanish and then in English. But essentially it is a ride from the ticket office down to the river where you load.
3. There are probably 100 concrete steps down, with no handrail, and the stair height varies.
4. You wait for the next boat (looks like a Colorado River raft but it's a power boat, which I would think offers little or no chance of falling out or turning over). The wait is very buggy -- not really mosquitoes (guides claim there is no malaria or yellow fever here) but some annoying gnats, flies, bees, etc.).
5. We received life preservers and green protection bags for our belongings, then loaded the boat (maybe for 60?) and off we went.
6. After 3-4 miles, the falls come into view. Oooh. Ahhh. Lots of photo opportunities with the falls behind before they have you put your cameras, cell phones, shoes, in the big bag they give you to protect your belongings. The boat heads into the falls at full speed and you get absolutely soaked. I mean drowned. I put on a $1 poncho from the Dollar Store so I wasn't quite as wet as some, but don't be under the illusion you'll stay dry. We were soaked from head to toe. We went into the falls three times before we headed back -- the third time we were absolutely pummeled.. Some brought towels to dry their feet before they put their shoes back on but that's a joke.
7. Here's the tricky part. You are now soaking wet and you have to climb back to the top. First along a rather appealing stone walk, along the water's edge (again, no handrails) and then up 100+ stairs of metal grating which are very slick from the mist. You reach the commercial area where they sell food and drink, and still have another 300 yards up a very steep hill. I am not in fit shape, so I stopped once on the way up the stairs, and once on the way up the slope to catch my breath. It is NOT for the faint of heart. I would discourage those with heart problems, knee/hip issues, etc. Definitely NOT for those with a cane.

When the trip was over, as I mentioned, we were all soaked to the bone. The problem is there is more water tomorrow. And our clothes from today won't be dry to wear again or to pack. Luckily, I always bring an extra plastic bag for dirty clothes, so we are using that to transport our wet items to Rio, in the hope they will finally dry out there.

There was some down time after the boat ride. Some bought the video done by the boat ride vendor. Some went to the pool. Some rested. Some did the spa. My blog was calling me, and so was the shower.

Just before dinner, I headed out with my camera with hopes of picking up photos of some of the fauna here. I got photos of a coati. A few special birds. I included a photo here of a Toucan, hoping to get a sharper one tomorrow morning. Gabby Bloom got a good one of two monkeys on the balcony of a room.

Dinner was a choice of a tasty buffet or from the menu. Everyone I talked to was delighted with their meals. Early to bed -- bag pull is at 6:30 am. Off to Brazil we go!

Fun day.

About the hotel. There are very few hotels right near the falls -- sort of like the US National Park Service. The Sheraton, I am told, is the best of the lot. It might be 3-star. The food is quite good. The service levels are superb. The building is showing its age. Some of the towels are frayed. There was no hot water at 4 pm when I got ready to shower. Pros and cons. Best available.

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Comments

[Lauren]

Sounds like a spectacularly fun day! and so beautiful!