The Mighty Iguazú Falls

Iguazú! Mighty, watery beast of the jungle!

Iguazú comes from the Guarani words y (meaning water) and ûazú (meaning big). We visited the falls over two days in May, and it was a mind-blowing amount of Big Water.

The falls straddle the border between Brazil and Argentina, with the Garganta del Diablo or Devil’s Throat Falls marking the boundary. Two thirds of the falls, er, fall on the Argentina side, but there is much to recommend on both sides.

The Brazil Side

We were staying in Puerto Iguazú in Argentina, but getting to Brazil is fairly straightforward these days as there is now a direct bus. Although the actual entrance is very close to the town, it still takes a good hour or so because of the border checkpoints in both countries.

The Brazil side is all about the overview. Walking along the cliffside, you get a sense of the size of the place and the sheer number of different and interesting ways that water can tumble over rock.

That’s not to say that you don’t get up close and personal – there are plenty of chances for a soaking available. These are well worth taking advantage of if only for that full sensory experience, but you really do need something seriously waterproof. It may only look like a fine mist but there’s a lot of it.

The Brazil side features a nice section where you can stand right by the side of one of the wider, but relatively shorter drops (i.e. less than 64 metres). It was the first moment where we felt the indiscriminate fury of nature. So often she appears benign, but at times like these you can’t help imagining how easily she could rip even the strongest of us apart and not even notice.

Looking up at the site of a mighty great river becoming a victim of gravity with all the power of a rampaging horde of charging elephants you can’t help but appreciate the moment – you peer over the edge into the infinite abyss that will one day consume us all.

Thankfully, if it all gets too much you can nip into the gift shop a couple of metres behind you and buy yourself a coffee and a souvenir picture frame.

The Argentine Side

We made a special(ish) effort to get up early as we’d heard that it can get a lot more crowded on the blue side. We’re glad we did – we hit the upper and lower walks first and we rarely encountered anyone else. The meandering paths that snake through the jungle are a lot more intimate than the cliff-edged walks of the green side.

Every turn reveals a new fall, or a new perspective on an old one. There are some really tranquil spots where the shorter falls land in some beautiful, green-fringed pools that make you want to defy the no swimming signs and get your feet wet.

But we would recommend the Brazilian side first for another reason: The glimpse into the void offered by Brazil’s viewing platforms becomes a full face-off with the darkness when you stare into the Garganta del Diablo on the Argentine side.

The walk to this incredible chasm begins simply enough. Wandering across the long metal expanses that span these vast rivers of seemingly tranquil waters, albeit with a current, you’re only dimly aware of a slight murmur in the distance.

As you get closer, this murmur increases into an agitated guttural growl and you begin to question the construction of the now seemingly flimsy steel gangplanks that stand between you and pretty much certain death.

The volume reaches a ferocious roar just at the moment you turn a corner to see an abandoned walkway, a collapsed and eroding victim in a watery grave. Surely they wouldn’t let tourists go near something so dangerous without being absolutely certain of its safety, right? Right?

But any anxieties dissipate upon seeing the mighty cascade. It is a moment of pure wonder as the viewing platform takes you right to the edge. Over the precipice, the eerie whiteout of doom confronts you accompanied by the thrashing bawl of millions of tons of water meeting rock at high speed. It’s thrilling, seeing something so dramatic and exciting so close – feeling the moisture rise up from the deep hole – and all without the safety net of a convenient coffee shop!

You ask yourself: ‘What would it be like, really?’ Riding the force of these falls for a few seconds could very much be the ultimate thrill with the ultimate price.

These silly thoughts are abandoned but the watery draw remains and it’s hard to stop staring, soaking up the full power of the planet you’ve been lucky enough to be placed upon.

The Night Walks

If you’re fortunate enough to be visiting around full moon time, then we would also recommend signing up to the lunar walk. Returning to the park at around 9pm, you’re taken on the train direct to The Throat, then guided along those rickety paths with nothing more than the light of the moon to guide you.

Seeing them bathed in that particular brand of light that only the moon is capable of gives the danger a less wild-eyed, adrenaline-fuelled look and a more ponderous, melancholic air.

You know, as much as is possible when it’s roaring like a airline engine at takeoff.

Thankfully, before the toe-gazing got too much, we were taken back along the tracks to the main dining area where the park had laid on Mojitoes for all to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Argentina’s independence. Fabulous lunar experience AND lots of free booze! Awesome!