Ilha Grande to The Iguazu Falls...

Back at Rio Bus Station, it was time to trundle our way down the length of Brazil,to the Iguazu Falls.


After a slight struggle at the ticket office, involving a long time spent by the ticket seller with his head in his hands, and resulting in us having to spend another night in Rio, we were eventually booked on a delightful 22 hour bus the following day


Luckily, thanks to two extremely generous Americans we met on Ilha Grande, we were saved a night on the bus station floor, and instead went to stay in luxury at their Grandpa's house in Petropolis, a suburb high up in the rainforest clad hills surrounding Rio. We spent the evening swimming in the freshwater pool, despite the rain and cloud that seemed to never leave the town, and eating Guacamole and pizza in preparation for our epic bus journey the following day.


After a particularly mad taxi ride the next morning, and a much too early bus back to Rio, we eventually boarded our home for the next day or so and, as is the case for me on any kind of moving vehicle, promptly fell asleep.



A day later, and with very stiff necks and in need of a large cup of tea (unforunately very difficult to find in Brazil...) we arrived in Foz do Iguazu. Having dropped our bags at the hostel, we headed straight to the Brazilian side of the waterfall. 


Ushered on to the waiting bus, we were led down winding concrete walkways through the banks of the river, catching glimpses and taking photos of the amazing fall along the way. Dodging the rather overfriendly Quatis, who we were assured had rabies, and snapping an armadillo we spied digging in the bushes, we eventually reached the grand finale, a view of the Garganta do Diablo, or the Devil's throat. 


The sheer volume of water that crashed down in to the river below was mindblowing. As was the amount of tourists that were all eager to get their perfect photo in front of the famous plume of white water. But impressive it was nonetheless, and we left excited to witness the amazing falls from a more Argentian angle.

So, the next day, we hopped on another bus (my travelling narcolepsy just holding out long enough to see the border between the three countries), said goodbye to Brazil and hopped over to Argentina. Second ever passport stamp later, we headed in to the National park for our next glimpse of Iguazu.


The Argentinian side of the falls was definitely more impressive. Far from being carried with the crowd along the concrete paths of the Brazillian side, we were free to wander down tree lined walkways, spotting beautiful bright blue and yellow birds, more armadillos and a lot more of the cheeky, packed-lunch pinching Quatis along the way. We caught a boat to the island at the centre of the river, gave our thighs a good work out as we climbed the hundreds of steps through the jungle to get a good look at the dozens of smaller, but equaly beautiful turrets of crashing white water, the strategically placed openings in the foliage providing perfect photo opportunities and whetting our appetite for the main event, the view from the top of the Garganta de Diablo.


Walking along bridges suspended above the river, spotting turtles and desperately searching for a glimpse of a Cayman or a monkey (unsuprisingly these never appeared...) we eventually wound our way to the mindblowing cascade of water that makes the Iguasu Falls one of the undisputed natural Wonders of the World. The view was spectacular. Despite the water levels apparently being low (the reason we couldn't do the boat trip that we were so desperate to do!) the water crashed off the rocks, disappearing into a cloud of white as it hit the bottom with the sound of pure thunder. 


The falls were definitely the highlight of my trip so far, the scenery on the Argentinian side was beautiful and it really felt as though we were witnessing something, although on a well trodden path, that was truly impressive.These were definitely waterfalls that, despite what TLC told me in the 90s, I was most certainly glad that I had chased halfway around the world...