The next morning we flew out to Puerto Iguazú. This town is on the border with Brazil and Paraguay and is also home to the Iguazú Falls. We arrived to a lot of humidity and the temperature in the mid-80’s. This time we were staying at the Rincon Escondido B&B. Pablo, our B&B host, met us and gave us some tips on the town and how to visit the falls.
We went to the cambio recommended by Pablo to exchange money as we knew we needed more pesos for the buses there. Got something to eat and ended up walking out to the Hito Tres Fronteras (three borders landmark). This is the recommended spot for sunset and you can look across the river and see Brazil and look across the other river to Paraguay.
After a great breakfast, we headed to the bus terminal to get the bus to the Iguazú National Park. It is home to some massive waterfalls. Its total width is said to be about 2,700 meters (8,858 feet). It was easy to get the bus ticket and cost us 7,500 pesos each way per person. The bus makes other stops along the way until it brings you to the park entrance. We didn’t need to worry about getting tickets as we had gotten an annual park pass for Argentina. We knew we were going to be visiting a number of the national parks in Argentina and thought the pass just made sense for us.
The park is quite big and I had printed out a map beforehand. This proved to be quite helpful as we were going through trying to get from place to place. So, I would suggest taking a picture of the park map when you enter as a reference.
We got there at about 9 and we had tickets for the Gran Aventura boat ride for 11:30. So, we needed to be watchful of our time. We did the Interior Circuit Trail. We would have had time for the superior trail, but we weren’t sure at the time. Doing the Devil’s Throat trail with the train really would have been a gamble to make it back in time for the boat ride.
The Gran Adventura is a speed boat ride that takes you under the falls. It was a blast! Warning, you will get wet. Will said he probably swallowed his day’s water allotment when we went through the rapids and a wall of water got us really good.
Came back grabbed some lunch and then made our way over to pick up our tickets for the train. The train is included with your park ticket, but you do have to get a ticket which gives you a time and a coach to board.
The Coatis’ are menace up where the train stops. they climbed into the train cars immediately upon stopping.
We walked out to the Devil’s Throat. It’s crazy being almost right over the falls.
We took the train back and as it was getting late and we were tired so we called it a day.
That night we had a nice dinner at La Toscana. It’s an Italian returning that is pretty close to our B&B.
The next day, we were headed to the Brazilian side of the falls. We dropped off our laundry right by the bus station and purchased tickets from Easy Bus to take us to the Brazil side. We purchased our tickets from Easy Bus. There’s at least 2 or 3 companies that have bus service to the Brazil Side, but we chose Easy Bus. I had read about the process to cross the border, but it was still confusing until you’ve done it. You show your bus ticket to the driver and confirm that you are going to the cataracts (the falls). He hands you back your ticket. You need the ticket once on the Brazilian side. We got to the Argentine border and everyone must exit the bus. You go through immigration and come out and get back on the same bus. They drive you over to Brazil and stop at a bus stop where another Easy Bus is waiting to take you to the falls. Give that driver your bus ticket and he takes you to the park entrance. So, there was no immigration stop on the Brazil side. We were told if we were only going to the falls and back that evening you don’t need to do anything in Brazil. The process is repeated on the way back. Not sure how it works with the other bus companies but this was our experience with Easy Bus. For the Parque do Iguaçu on the Brazil side they had numerous kiosks where it made buying a park ticket very easy. After buying your ticket you wait in line to board the park bus. Then you take the bus to the Devil’s Throat stop.
The trail Is about 1.5km long and has walkways going along side the river with views of the falls. It kept drizzling off and on and by the time I got almost to the end of the Devil’s Throat walkway it was crazy. With the mist from the falls, the wind, and the rain I got soaked again.
They have a really nice buffet restaurant down a little further from where the Devil’s trail ends. So we walked down there got lunch and waited in line for the bus back to the entrance. Because of the weather we really didn’t feel like stopping at any of the other stops and hike through the rain forest. I heard that there is also a nice bird park there as well. But we just decided to get back.
Our laundry was ready and we walked on back to the B&B. The rain picked up even more as the night went on so we didn’t even venture back out to grab dinner. Pablo had put our breakfast to go in the fridge in the room as we were leaving early the next morning. We had him call us a taxi the next morning and we were flying out again.
That is awesome! Sounds like another great adventure. 🙂