Here we are, we are in the radius of the must-see: one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world: Iguazu
High tourist place at the crossroads of 2 countries, Argentina and Brazil, here, Ratatatatatataaa, Ladies and Gentlemen, the famous Iguazú Falls, or Iguaçu or Iguassu! From guarani: i (water) and kuasu (big), very eloquent.
Yes it is beautiful all this furious water in the middle of the tropical forest, on the border between Argentina and Brazil, it is a marvel registered in the world heritage by the UNESCO!
On the Argentinian side you can walk on paths marked out like a museum. You will meet thieving coatis, and you will be amazed at the sight of a caiman, a tortoise, a fluorescent coloured bird. This tropical forest crossing is worthy of a large public garden. There are restaurants like in amusement parks, just follow the signs and you will end up getting as close as possible to the falls.
At this level of the visit, you can’t see anything anymore. The Iguazu falls is 6 million litres of water at the second jetty at 82m high distributed in 275 cascades. This fury creates a deafening thunder and a dense fog of humidity. It only takes a few minutes to get wet from head to toe.
We take pictures from far away (because otherwise it gets wet) and we despair of the professional photographers who forbid a part of the footbridge reserved for tourists who want to immortalize this moment for a fee
On the platform set up for the visitors it’s a race for souvenir photos, everyone jostles down to pose in the magnificent scenery of the falls. Those who do selfies are relegated to a tiny corner and the others call on professional photographers who reign supreme on 2 benches supposedly available for the contemplative public. But no, they are there to take group photos. So the photographers spend their time chasing away visitors who dare to put a buttock on them without paying for the photo.
No regrets though, because nobody wants to stay under the shower, in the fog for very long, even in an enchanting landscape.
There is however a beautiful thing to observe in the Iguazu Falls: the birds
The furious falls are inhabited by hundreds, what can I say about the thousands of grey headed Martinets who fly permanently in the falls because it is there that they make their nest! They cross the screen of water and find shelter there from the big bad predators. It’s a prodigious spectacle and it’s worth getting a little wet.
So, are the Iuguazu Falls, classified as one of the 7 wonders of the world (Nature), worth a visit?
Well yes, these falls are majestic, it’s a beautiful spectacle, no regrets, really. The mass tourism side leaves no chance for adventurous exploration, it is probably the only thing that can disappoint. It’s not like on TV in aerial view, at the very bottom, it’s full of people in selfie mode, of souvenir huts. Already on the car park crowded with specially chartered buses, a modern ticket office welcomes the traveller, arrow signs bloom on the edge of the paths…it is not here that you will meet Indiana Jones, but it is beautiful, no doubt about it.
