Arrechea Waterfall, Iguazu

This small waterfall and pool was the site of the main Iguazu falls thousands of years ago - they've since receded along the main riverbed due to erosion.

Macuco Trail

After a long, sweaty, sticky stroll through the jungle, we were rewarded with a dip in this pool, the only place you can swim in Iguazu Park. As we had no bathing gear, we just swam in our dresses.

Wildlife

There's rich wildlife here, more than 430 species of birds (saw toucans with huge orange cartoon beaks), 70 species of mammals (eg pumas, tapirs, capuchin and howler monkeys) and friendly coati with their spriped tails. We took a long walk through the jungle and saw electric blue butterflies the size of our hand and an alarmingly large lizard. The spiders were big, too, and as we walked along we sometimes collided with their webs and had to fight to get them off. If someone had seen us from a distance they'd have thought we were having some strange fit! One monster spider (with segmented limbs ie forearm, upper arm and deltoid) was devouring a poor flapping butterfly. Younger sis wanted to catapult a stone at it like Denis the Menace and break the web but older sis squeezed her arm restrainingly and said, "the spiders have a right to be here, too, and they're an important part of the ecosystem"....and we moved gently on.

Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat)

This is the park's centrepiece and is indescribably beautiful, an impressive mixture of noise, views and energy.





There's so much water here at the moment after excessive rainfall that we couldn't see anywhere near the bottom for spray and mist.

Moving Water

Circuito Inferior

A series of steep stairs and walkways with superb views took us down to the water's edge and up close to one section of the falls. The sounds were thunderous and we got drenched but didn't care in our quick-drying, polyester dresses!

Circuito Superior

This trail took us along the westernmost line of the falls allowing us to see them from above.

Anita at Iguazu Falls

The Falls in Action

Iguazu Falls

If ever there were an interplanetary beauty contest (a sort of Miss Universe for Locations), Earth's entry would be Iguazu. Nowhere encapsulates the magic and abundance of this world in such style: huge irridescent butterflies, billions of gallons of tumbling water, thunder, cool mist enshrouding vivid colours of ancient rocks and forest. Gigantic dragon flies hover in the spray, huge condors soar overhead, bright toucans fly acoss billowing white cumulus in a blue blue sky, the whole scene encircled by shiny bright rainbows. Our lives are without doubt richer for having seen this magnificent place.

Arriving at Iguazu Falls

With no washbag or clean clothes, Anita's body odour was face-crumpling, her one outfit minging in the heat and humidity. So the Guide, unable to carry on without nose pegs, marched us into a shop and we bought these 2 polyester dresses for a tenner which we wore the whole time - even went swimming in them at the Falls - they turned out to be just the ticket because they dried in seconds. Fortunately our luggage was at Iguazu airport when we checked in to leave two days later.

Hito Tres Fronteras (3 Borders Landmark)

You can see 3 countries and the Iguazu River from this point. Young kids were hawking orchid plants and little rolls of the local chipita bread made from mandioc root (very tasty).

We're standing in Argentina with impressive views over the rivers and neighbouring Brazil on the right and Paraguay on the left.