Stevo and lel’s adventures

We started te day with a wee run around the lower falls nature walkways.  This is  definately worth doing if you get the chance as you pretty much get the place to yourself!  The walks open at 8pm and we arrived a little before (skipping over a cerrodo sign).  As it’s still so quiet there is much more wildlife about we got some great shots, especially some of the colourful birds. We finished off the morning with a dip in the pool in front of the falls and a lateish breakfrast of fresh fruit, herbal mati (tea), ham, cheese and bread.

As mentioned before we’d booked a jungle and rapid tour for this afternoon. We clambered aboard a rickty old customised open top tour truck and were navigated through the bumpy jungle pathways. Igauzu is sub tropical meaning that the temperatures vary throughout the year (they stay the same in tropical). We heard about the rare Heart of Palm which grows atop the palm tree and as soon as harvested, the tree will die. It takes 15 years to grow. What a waste… We saw and heard about the myriad vegitaions (sooo much babmboo – all differing shapes and sizes!). Then we pulled up  for our rapids and falls tour on the piranah river! Yay!

The river is really the best way to view the falls. You get a spectacular view of Salto San Martin and Salto Bernabe Mendez both from a distance and up very close. You also get totally, utterly soaked which is great!!  We navigated the rapids on an inflatable speed boat type contraption, very exciting and a wee bit scary!  Then headed right up into (alomost under!) the falls to experience the powerful spay on or skins – amazing!

We spent the late late afternoon marvelling at the Garganta Del Diablo.  From the park you take a gorgeous little old  train along the upper Iguazu to the falls (the Tren Ecologico de la Selva). We then made our way across a series of walkways sitting atop the river and offering spectacular views of the water which at this place is flat and tranquil fringed by lush green vegitation.  The series of falls called Diablo are incredibly beautiful and the sheer power the generate takes your breath away. The water crashes and tumbles fericiously and the silvery spray rises high into the air. The rainbows intersecting the falls made it all the more lovely, bright colourful arches against the bright white spray. This is completely unmissable. Everyone should see this.   Words, certainly not mine cant do it justice.

We didn’t return on the wee train, opting instead for a river tour home on a wee small boat where we heard and saw aligators, turtles and toucans as the sun set on the river…very calming and magical.     

On our last morning, Lesley enjoyed a well earned rest after a full day’s touring of the falls and night time drinks.  Stevo decided to go for a pre-breakfast jog again, jumping over the Cerrado (closed) signs.  The early morning is the best time to see the falls before the tourists arrive and scare off all the animals.  Stevo saw hundreds of wild parrots of the yellow, blue and green variety, toucans with their large beaks flying overhead singing as they flew and turkey vultures close up.  It was too early for the Coatis, they get up when the tourists arrive with their food.  You are not meant to feed them and we learned why later!!

A final few things worth mentioning about igauzu :

The Coatis – the wee cute snuffly things. In the last day I stole a little croissant to feed them. Big mistake. Huge!The ymorphed from playful little parcels of fur into deranged food seeking lunatic monsters. Teams of them clambouring for the small morsel I had long since given away! At one point we had to turn tail and run at which point they began to run after us and jump up (which was really quite scary). We escaped but lesson learned. Later we saw a bunch of them chasing one who had grabbed someones plastic bag, as they headed into the bushes the sounds of a hugh fight erupted. Not so cute afterall then.

The beers. Quilmez. Best enjoyed away from the Sheraton where they are a third of the price in the shade…

The monkeys – all different  sizes, very cute and quite friendly, the are obviously well used to tourists and the inevitable food they bring. They dont, however appreciate camera flashes!      

The hydropool in the sheraton, well worth  a visit, the jets are very powerfull and soothe away all of the days aches and pains.  The setting is tranquil and relaxed, dim lights, soft music, freshly laundered robes to laze in. There are jets for every area, upper back, lower, feet, neck, head….               

The helicopter flight over the falls which we had booked but incredibly sadly never got to experience. After a long wait we were told not today  :o( Looks like a good excuse to go back to me ..!  ;o)   

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