Iguazú Falls

I am a big fan of Wong Kar-Wai, the Cannes Award winning director of the movie "Happy Together", who recently started making US movies ("My Blueberry Nights"). "Happy Together" was a love story set in Argentina. The main storyline tells of a pair of lovers who were going to Iguazu Falls for a holiday, but got lost while driving there. They then fell out, got back together and finally decided to split. One of the lover ended up going to the Falls alone, while the other moved to the former's flat, and cried over a lamp which depicts the Falls. The former stood in front of the Falls, looked up and said that he was unhappy, because "he always believed that the Falls belong to couples". A touching and beautfiul moment...

Today was the day where I had to somehow burn off a couple of week’s worth of eating superb South American steak that had been washed down with too many bottles of Malbec. In a vain attempt to successfully produce a couple days worth of exercise, I patiently waited for the local El Practico bus bound for Iguazu Cataratas, or Iguazu Falls, alongside two fellow gringos I had only just met by the side of the road. After boarding the barely roadworthy yellow loaf tin, I received some welcoming looks from the Puerto Iguazu locals, suggesting their acceptance of a tight arse traveler risking the local’s run-down, clapped out, cracked windscreen Tonka Toy instead of the fully air-conditioned/westernized gringo buses. I think they realized that this mochilero (backpacker) was not prepared to endure the hardship of a horde of cochlear damaging sixty-something retirees, and was willing to hedge his bets on surviving this form of South American kamikaze public transport. The bus driver sipped his mate, a local marijuana-looking tea through a perforated steel straw for the twenty minute journey until he successfully dodged the numerous gringos at the Parque Nacional Iguazu entrance. I had noticed the car park was overpopulated by a large number of the before mentioned gringo buses, indicating that the falls were an Argentinean cash cow in this time of economic hardship, a somewhat different bovine to the enormous slabs of Pampas-grown protein that were taking my intestines an entire week to digest. After parting with thirty devalued Argentinean pesos (about fourteen Australian dollars) for the privilege, I made a mental note of the puma and jaguar warnings and hobbled off for the Circuito Superior walk. My mobility had been slightly hampered since the day I lost my ankle down a footpath pothole trying to avoid the ubiquitous piles of Buenos Aires dog shit a few days earlier. However, I was relieved to discover that the Argentine National Park Service had wisely invested in well constructed concrete and steel walkways that were an engineering feat almost as spectacular as the high security, waist high thorn bush fencing I had encountered at Victoria Falls in falling-apart-at-the-seams Zimbabwe some two years earlier. The Superior track weaved in amongst the lush jungle, sometimes placing itself directly above the thunderous roar of the falls. I was often welcomed by the soft, misty spray churned up by the cascade after it had crashed seventy metres below. The panorama of intermingled jungle and water was sometimes interrupted by large groups of chattering pre-pubescent Argentine schoolies. They took great pleasure in talking to me, probably so they could laugh at my attempt of speaking in a non-gringo language. They would ask ‘¿De donde es señor?’ – translated into ‘Where are you from mister?’ ‘Soy Australiano’, I replied in some rather butchered, but somehow comprehensible Spanish. This was the correct answer as their heads nodded in approval. After successfully competing with an iguana for my lunch, I headed off on the Gringo Train to the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). After convincing myself the steel walkway would not wash away like the wooden one running parallel to it, the Throat was erupting the proverbial amount of whale spurt-like spray into the humid atmosphere. It was accompanied by a sonic booming soundtrack that was the sole evidence the Spanish possessed to prove to Columbus that this really was the end of the world. Wishing I had invested in three sets of power station grade ear plugs, I limped back to the Gringo Train to finish the day with the Circuito Inferior walk, of which there is nothing inferior about it. Where the Superior walk made me look down and across the falls, the Inferior Walk placed me directly in front of them. At one particular fall, named the Salto Bossetti, there was an empty platform devoid of gringos for once. Foolishly, I decided to venture out to find out why, and within a second, Bossetti had blasted my body with its elephant trunk water thrust, almost knocking me over flat whilst the other knowledgeable gringos had a cheap laugh at my expense. I was completely drenched from shirt to skin to bone, a worthy entrant for any dodgy masculine infused wet T-shirt competition in any stale beer-smelling pub back in Brisbane - the power of Iguazu Falls had won again, laughing at the silly Australian fool who tried to take them on and easily lost. At that moment in time, even though my skin had been completely exfoliated by the high pressured jet blasts, there was nothing, absolutely nothing in the world at this moment in time better than this. Here are some things you probably did not know about Iguazu falls: Rock doctors reckon the falls were created by a volcanic eruption that occurred about one hundred million years ago. Iguazu Falls are wider than both Niagara and Victoria Falls. A lot of water in anyone’s language. There are about two hundred and seventy five individual water falls at Iguazu however this number decreases in the wet season when it pisses down from a great height and the falls merge together. The falls were captured in the ninety eight six flick ‘The Mission’ with Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons – a story based on real events about Jesuit missionaries who vainly try to protect a South American Indian tribe from slave-hungry Portuguese colonials. How to get to Iguazu Falls for a great couple of days hiking: Two airlines fly to South America from Australia – Lan Chile to Santiago and Aerolineas Argentinas to Buenos Aires, both via Auckland. Within Argentina, you can fly to Puerto Iguazu from Buenos Aires with a number of domestic carriers, but it might be an idea to book early because the airlines cannot afford to run that many planes since the economic crisis of early two thousand and two - hence they are quite chockas. Otherwise, book yourself a business class seat (coche cama) in an overnight bus from Buenos Aires which takes around sixteen to twenty hours. Bus travel is excellent in Argentina and the ridiculously cheap price usually includes meals and even a game of bingo. If you win the bingo game, you win a fine bottle of red from the Mendoza wine region (seriously). When you finally get to Puerto Iguazu, set aside at least two days to explore the falls by foot – the Brazilian side offers the best panoramic view, while the Argentine side provides a much closer look. Expect to become soaking wet.

Alcides D'Obrigni, a French traveler whos books are among the most read books about South American History during the Spanish colony, wrote about this incredible place in 16th Century describing it as a God's eternal orgasm. The beauty of this falls is not easy to describe, since each step you take on front brings a different and more beautifull site to your eyes. The smell of humidity, the feeling of the waterdrops blown by the wind, the sound of the birds and especially the sound of the falling water, reminds you constantly of the powers of nature upon everyone of us, human beings.

Iguazu Falls, the most amazing experience I've had so far with nature. I've already visited Niagara Falls, and I found Iguazu Falls even better. You'll have to be prepared to experience a tropical weather. You'll start your adventure each day in the morning and discover what these falls involve, magic, peace. The waterfalls are so majestic that one can even feel God's presence, or some superior force that could create so amazing place. You'll need at least three days to visit the falls from both sides: Argentina and Brasil, and one more day to enjoy the many attractions that are nearby.

Quite possibly the most beautiful place on Earth I have ever seen. The falls are greater in water flow volume than Niagra, but is is several falls rather than on big one. The mist from the falls formed multiple rainbows all at different angles. I'll never forget it.

beautiful, with well thought out walking routes and brilliant boat tours; the speed boat ride under the falls, and the silent paddle boat at the top are both not to be missed - - also don't miss the "devil's throat"; too amazing to describe, too awesome to miss!

The Waterfalls of Iguazu on the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay are the most beautiful I ever saw. Nothing similar like the amusement park style of Niagara that became very ugly because of the ugly hotels and casino's around it.

Precioso, a la par que impresionante. En lancha, en helicóptero, a pie... quizá demasiado preparado para el turista, pero si no fuese así, ¿cómo podría haber visto tan de cerca unas cataratas?

The Argentinian side is more impressive for close up views and getting wet. The walkways are spectacular. Make sure you have a way to keep your camera dry though!

It was very nice there and it was beautiful to look at! It was also really fun when we took the boats out to the falls and where nearly beneath one! :)

Simply amazing! Definitely have to see both Argentina side for an upclose view and then Brazil side. The views are breath taking.

The falls from the Argentina's side look far better than from the Brazilian side... just hire a taxi and cross the boarder... Its worth the money!

It's increible this falls, you've never seen something like that, you are in the midle of natur

one of the most incredible falls of the world, situated in the amazonas, is a great travel

Very impressive waterfalls, and 1'000 times more interesting than the Niagara Falls.

in the middle of the jungle or under a waterfall...just beautifull!

Very impressive. Argentinian site is better than the brasilian.

I'm looking to visit the falls here someday. Spectacular.

Simply amazing waterfalls. I recommend this to ANY traveller!

simply the most beautiful naturalistic place i have ever seen

best in the world, especially the Argentinian side

Definitly go there. It's the most amazing sight ever.

one of the most fantastic places in the world!

The most beautiful waterfall ever!!!

Absolutely amazing. I strongly recommen

the best falls on the world!

Great place to visit!!