The Magic of Iguazu

 The magic started as we flew into Iquazu from Buenos Aires. The landscape started to change from fields to almost solid green. The next thing we knew, we saw a river with what looked like steam coming out of it and a large building that looked like a truncated pyramid sticking out of the greenery nearby. That was our hotel and the Iquazu Falls. Our driver picked us up at the airport and took us through miles of jungle. Then suddenly, up pops our hotel. It was like somebody cued the the music from Jurassic Park. The signs warning against Pumas and Jaguars just added to the feeling. Well, there goes my hopes for taking a run on the paths.

As we entered the lobby, this is the view.

We were able to get our room before check-in time and went upstairs to get cleaned up.

Then we went downstairs for lunch

 

That steam you see in the background is the falls.

After lunch we took the hike down down to the falls.  Iquazu isn't just one waterfall, it's many falls. And as we hiked along, the falls just kept getting bigger and bigger.

 And bigger.Then we came across this one. Can you see the rainbow in the mist? Then finally we came around the corner to see the main falls.  

 You take this entire hike (a little over a mile) on a concrete or metal gridded elevated pathway. This is the park's effort to minimize the impact of all the visitors on the environment.

Near the middle of the path is a walkway that takes you almost into the falls.

I can attest that if you go to the end of the parkway, you WILL get wet.  Tomorrow's going to be exciting. They have a jet boat that takes you right up to the base of the falls.