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The weather has been kind to us today as we achieved a near perfectly timed ‘Wet and Wild’ experience at Iguazu Falls. A light breakfast at Los Tangueros was followed by 8:30am taxi with Daniel to the National Park. Pickup was scheduled for 2pm. At the entrance, we had our tickets from yesterday endorsed, allowing us half price entry (130 pesos). We proceeded, via the Sendera Verde (nice path through the forest for 600m) to the Lower Trail, via the Dos Hermanos and Chico waterfalls, to the Iguazu Jungle booth, where we booked the 10:50 ‘Nautical Experience’, a 12 minute speedboat ride on the lower Iguazu River, taking lucky passengers under 2 waterfalls. Paid our 270 pesos each and spent more time enjoying the spray and mist at the Salto Bossetti & Salto Adán y Eva. It began to drizzle as we made our way down to the boat dock opposite Isla San Martin (still closed pending reconstruction work after the floods in 2014).
Fortunately, the rain cleared and the sun came out as we inserted our belongings in dry bags, donned lifejackets and boarded the speedboat. I kept only the Aldi GoPro (operated by Stephen), and the Lumix waterproof cameras out for use. Our first destination was up the Lower Iguazu, toward the Garganta del Diablo. Not going in there of course. Instead cruised up to Salto Tres Mosqueteros, and got a minor spray from it, then backed off. Another boat cruised right up to the fall and got drenched. Our expedition though, allowed the current to fling us back toward the launch point, then in toward Salto San Martin. It was before this cruise began that one of the two operators (now fully zipped up in waterproofs) suggested that cameras be put away. The boat made two passes at the waterfall, each time being thrown back by the force of the current, but ensuring that the promised soaking was delivered by cascades of water from the falls. The dousing was greeted by passengers with yells and squeals of delight and excitement. Soon it was over, or so I believed, but more was to come. Instead of heading back to the dock, the engines were revved to the maximum, and the boat flung back up river, to the Salto Tres Mosqueteros, this time right under the falls. This particular soaking provided torrents of waterfall, in case there was any portion of one’s self not soaked to the skin. So exhilarated (and dripping), it was time to disembark, finding that the drybags had indeed done the job, and kept belongings, including sandals, dry. This did not last for long, since ones wet trousers dripped onto them as one made ones way back up to the Lower Trail. The emerging sunshine though, made for yet more photo opportunities involving falling water. And it did help dry off our clothes (though a trip to the toilets to wring the water out of them was a big help too).
We decided to make a trip back to the Garganta del Diablo for one last look and spray in the now bright sunshine. A serendipitous train was waiting when Stephen and Clare arrived at the station. We were lucky enough to see a mating butterfly frenzy, and a small iguana, pink tongue poking in and out just by the entrance to the catwalk. We hightailed it up this trail, stopping to see more Plush Crested Jays, which, like the Coati, have discovered that tourists bring food. The birds would alight on a proffered hand to grab bread. Under the catwalk, catfish could be seen, swimming advisedly upstream. At the Devil’s Throat outlook, there was more spray, stronger wind and more sunshine than we’d seen yesterday. The spectacle of the tumbling waters remained mesmerising. Soon we were back on the train, which fortuitously went all the way back to the Park Entrance, leaving time to partake of one last ‘Freddo’ ice cream for lunch,
Daniel collected us at the 2:30pm, after a text reschedule. Dark clouds were looming and threatening, providing S & C the torrential downpour swim they’d hoped for yesterday. I swam before the storm, and read more on the Kindle. After a Skype with Minuk, pre-dinner drinks were taken. This time we sampled a bottle of Torrontes, a classic Argentinian white, reminiscent of Gewurztraminer. There was also the remains of last night’s Cab Sav to finish. We had the remainder of the Torrontes with ceviche, served with chopped peppers, parsley and lettuce for dinner. Desert was tiramisu which was very yummy. Settled the bill with Marie and went off to our beds, ready for a big travel day tomorrow.
Fortunately, the rain cleared and the sun came out as we inserted our belongings in dry bags, donned lifejackets and boarded the speedboat. I kept only the Aldi GoPro (operated by Stephen), and the Lumix waterproof cameras out for use. Our first destination was up the Lower Iguazu, toward the Garganta del Diablo. Not going in there of course. Instead cruised up to Salto Tres Mosqueteros, and got a minor spray from it, then backed off. Another boat cruised right up to the fall and got drenched. Our expedition though, allowed the current to fling us back toward the launch point, then in toward Salto San Martin. It was before this cruise began that one of the two operators (now fully zipped up in waterproofs) suggested that cameras be put away. The boat made two passes at the waterfall, each time being thrown back by the force of the current, but ensuring that the promised soaking was delivered by cascades of water from the falls. The dousing was greeted by passengers with yells and squeals of delight and excitement. Soon it was over, or so I believed, but more was to come. Instead of heading back to the dock, the engines were revved to the maximum, and the boat flung back up river, to the Salto Tres Mosqueteros, this time right under the falls. This particular soaking provided torrents of waterfall, in case there was any portion of one’s self not soaked to the skin. So exhilarated (and dripping), it was time to disembark, finding that the drybags had indeed done the job, and kept belongings, including sandals, dry. This did not last for long, since ones wet trousers dripped onto them as one made ones way back up to the Lower Trail. The emerging sunshine though, made for yet more photo opportunities involving falling water. And it did help dry off our clothes (though a trip to the toilets to wring the water out of them was a big help too).
We decided to make a trip back to the Garganta del Diablo for one last look and spray in the now bright sunshine. A serendipitous train was waiting when Stephen and Clare arrived at the station. We were lucky enough to see a mating butterfly frenzy, and a small iguana, pink tongue poking in and out just by the entrance to the catwalk. We hightailed it up this trail, stopping to see more Plush Crested Jays, which, like the Coati, have discovered that tourists bring food. The birds would alight on a proffered hand to grab bread. Under the catwalk, catfish could be seen, swimming advisedly upstream. At the Devil’s Throat outlook, there was more spray, stronger wind and more sunshine than we’d seen yesterday. The spectacle of the tumbling waters remained mesmerising. Soon we were back on the train, which fortuitously went all the way back to the Park Entrance, leaving time to partake of one last ‘Freddo’ ice cream for lunch,
Daniel collected us at the 2:30pm, after a text reschedule. Dark clouds were looming and threatening, providing S & C the torrential downpour swim they’d hoped for yesterday. I swam before the storm, and read more on the Kindle. After a Skype with Minuk, pre-dinner drinks were taken. This time we sampled a bottle of Torrontes, a classic Argentinian white, reminiscent of Gewurztraminer. There was also the remains of last night’s Cab Sav to finish. We had the remainder of the Torrontes with ceviche, served with chopped peppers, parsley and lettuce for dinner. Desert was tiramisu which was very yummy. Settled the bill with Marie and went off to our beds, ready for a big travel day tomorrow.
Apart from the waterfalls, there are surprisingly many wildlife viewing opportunities in the national park. And this is despite the large crowds.