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The Silver Curtains of Iguazu - Florencia Îlvarez
In the far northeast of our country, Mother Nature presents us with a unique work of art.
It is not good enough to return once or twice to Iguazu Falls. Even on an extremely hot day in February, it is a unique experience to immerse yourself in the exuberant jungle, open-mouthed admiring the majestic falls that drop almost 80 meters. They are considered one of the natural wonders of the world, and in 1984 the area of Iguazu was declared a world natural reserve site by UNESCO. Its height, width, and beauty surpass that of Niagara and Victoria Falls, and the Zambezi River in Africa.
The first people to give it its name were the indigenous Guarani who populated the area and named the falls "Iguazu which means "Grand Waters. Much later, they were discovered by the Spanish conquistadores who were trying to find a passage from Peru to the Rio de Plata region. Alvear Nunez Cabeza de Vaca baptized them as "Salto de Santa Maria.
Since its renovation in 2001, the Iguazu National Park (created in 1934) offers all the services that easily makes the trip a solid 10! In the middle of all the attractions, there is an ecological train that runs on a type of "gas that does not damage the ecosystem. It travels around the Falls at a low speed allowing you to drink in the majestic beauty of the falls and spot exotic animals that live in the area. It has three full service stations and each is the starting point for different excursions around the park.
The paths, very well maintained and safe, allow the access of three pathways: the Inferior (lowest), the Superior (highest), and the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat). The first goes through the heart of Iguazu with paths that take you beneath the falls allowing close contact with its natural beauty. On this pathway, the scenery is painted green with ferns, orchids, palms, and other giant trees crawling with a variety of plant and wildlife. There are more than 2000 species that cling to the fauna: 450 of those are reptiles and 80 are mammals. The sounds of the jungle, the scents, and the mist awaken all the senses throughout the journey until travelers arrive at the port inviting them on a journey to San Martin Island where there they can enjoy a sandy beach and shade. Travelers also have the option to board a high-speed catamaran that takes them nearby the gigantic cascading Falls that roar ferociously like a lion. Some advice: Take an extra pair of clothes. (Tourists have been known to get soaked from head to toe).
The Superior pathway is over 700 meters in length and takes short breaks because it offers an almost complete aerial view with six different overlooks. The green vegetation contrasts with the multi- colored terrain. The crystal waters and infinite ray of colors illuminate the butterflies. The birds' songs mix with the tourists who speak English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and over a thousand dialects of Spanish. For those who save the best for last, the journey ends at the Garganta del Diablo, the true icing on the cake. It continues dodging small islands on the Iguazu River through the jungle until it reaches a point that is 150 meters long and 80 meters in height. In front of this Fall, one is far from city life, from the smog, the noise of cars and even farther from all of their worries. There is just a enough light rain that hits our faces which lets us know that we are not dreaming and are truly enjoying this natural spectacle.
For adventure travelers, the Sendero Verde is the best option, but they also have their choice of ecological safaris, biking, trips on catamarans, rafting, or visiting the Iguazu Tourist Center to read about the biodiversity of the jungle and the culture of the region. The Brazilian side also has its own wonders and it is well worth it to cross the border and take a panoramic shot of the entire Falls. There are also elevators that allow for a different view of Iguazu.
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Buenos Aires Blogs
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