Iguazu Falls

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For our first weekend in Paraguay we went to Iguazu Falls. A lot of people talk about how incredible it is and you see some amazing pictures, but neither the stories nor the pictures do it justice. It was absolutely amazing. The power, size, and beauty of the falls might surpass any place we have visited.

We were supposed to go to the agricultural school, Centro Educativo Mbaracayu on Friday, but when that fell through we planned our trip to Iguazu. Our fellow pasante (intern) Peter Wong from Singapore came with us. Peter and I were so grateful to be with Rachel as our Spanish is really bad. Without her we more than likely would’ve ended up in Columbia on accident and been abducted by drug lords. With her, we successfully caught a bus to the terminal in Asuncion, and we caught our midnight bus to Ciudad del Este (a sketchy place). We then took a bus from Ciudad del Este to Puerto Iguazu, Argentina. We passed through Brazil Foz de Iguazu (you have to get to Argentina), but we intentionally found a bus that didn’t stop there so we could be waived through customs.
Brazil allows basically everyone to come into their country for a day to go to the falls except Americans. Apparently the U.S. government is strict in charging $130 and a lengthy process for Brazilians coming to America so they reciprocate the favor. Fortunately we weren’t stopped on the way in or out so we weren’t fined, detained in jail, or anything. It seems to me the Brazilian talks a big talk about visas but doesn’t really enforce it. However, we didn’t want to test it too much so we only visited the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls called Las Cataratas. Argentina gave us no problems going through immigration to and from with just our passports.

We made it to the bus terminal in Puerta Iguazu, Argentina about 10 AM. Our hotel was right next to the terminal which was awesome because we didn’t have to take a bus or taxi there. We checked in, brushed our teeth, and then caught a bus to Iguazu Falls. Everything about the place was beautiful. Even without the falls the area is full of lush jungle, butterflies, rainbows, and funny little animals (raccoons of Argentina).

We took the small train from the national park entrance (las Cataratas are in a national park) to la Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s Throat). You get soaking wet from the mist of the incredibly powerful waterfall that you are right next to. The photos of la Garganta del Diablo don’t even come close to capturing the experience of feeling, smelling, hearing, and seeing the power of this incredible waterfall.

After la Garganta del Diablo we took the upper and lower paths that weaved through jungle and gave incredible views of the waterfalls. The huge falls seem to go on forever. The weather was perfect and we had an awesome time.

In the late afternoon we went back to the hotel showered and napped before we went to an amazing Argentine restaurant with a parrilla. My steak was incredible and Rachel’s chicken was good too. Peter was with us at the waterfalls and met up with us for dinner. We enjoyed his company and all the things he taught us about Singapore and England where he is about to start his final year of law school at University College of London (UCL).

The next day we took the same long bus route back to Asuncion. However, the trip seemed to take an eternity as the bus was stopping all the time. It stopped a lot on the way there, but it was the middle of the night so we slept the whole way (the long-haul buses are surprisingly comfy with plush seats that recline; the normal colectivos, buses, are anything buy comfortable).

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