April 18th, 2023

My South American journey continues with a flight from Buenos Aires to Iguazu, Argentina. I’ve finished an amazing tour with G Adventures and am now travelling on my own. The previous post can be found here: ARGENTINA! Bariloche, an Estancia and on to Buenos Aires

The currency here is hard to comprehend as there are are different rates. The blue rate gives you a LOT more pesos for your dollar. You can get that by exchanging cash (large USD are best) or using VISA or MC. The credit card rates aren’t quite as good but still better than the official rate. The original transaction will be at the official rate and then they will give you a refund. Yes, it’s strange but it does work. The point of this is that it is MUCH cheaper to buy internal flights for Argentina IN Argentina. You may be able to do it outside the country if you use a VPN. Regardless, you need to buy the flight IN PESOS.
Note that cash can be hard to get in Iguazu so change whatever money you might need in Buenos Aires. I didn’t realise my hostel wouldn’t take card so I was scrambling to get cash. I ended up using my MC at an ATM to get pesos, hoping to get the refund. _{(NOTE! I did NOT get the refund on a cash withdrawal so don’t make this mistake)}

Lesson on currency finished.

Iguazú National Park (Argentina)

I arrived in Iguazu around 7 pm. There I found the 4 tourists desk (https://www.ftt.tur.ar/product/transfer-out/) and got a ride direct to my hostel for a LOT less than a taxi. It’s more than the public bus but much more convenient. Upon arrival at The Host, hostel, I quickly learned that it was not my kind of hostel. It was rated 9.4 on booking.com with over 500 reviews so I didn’t look too much further. Lesson learned. It’s a party hostel. Oh well. Earplugs are my friends. The people were really nice and helpful so I enjoyed it anyway. Later I learned their sneaky way to keep their ratings up. Ask me if you want to know.

The “pool” is about 4’X8′.

The next morning I finally got some cash but had to use an ATM. There you get the official rate so it’s expensive. Then I found the bus station and caught the public bus to the Iguazú National Park Because I had messed around getting money it was after 10 before I left and was quite busy by the time I got there. I can imagine in high season you’d want to get there early to beat the crowds. I walked the superior trail, the inferior (lower) trail and, rather than wait for the train I walked to the Devil’s gorge trail. The park closes at 6 so by 5 they’re working on getting people out already.

Back in town I purchased a bus ticket for the Brazil side for the next day and tried using trip advisor to find some place to eat. I think that’s pretty useless these days since post covid so many places have just stopped operating or changed hands. So I just picked a place and ordered a steak. It was good. You can’t go wrong with steak in Argentina. I’m getting used to eating dinner alone in restaurants and quite enjoy it.

Parque das Aves

This went a lot easier than I expected. I caught the 9 am bus which took us to the border. We got off the bus, had our passports checked and got back on . Once in Brazil I got dropped off at the Parque das Aves which is a bird sanctuary and well worth a visit.

Then I walked across the street to the National park https://www.parquedasaves.com.br/ and bought my ticket to see the falls. The tickets are timed and you enter when your group is called. Then you board a bus that takes you into the park. I got off at the second last stop, the water front trail. There’s a hiking trail before that which is about 9 km long but you pay extra for it.

Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

There’s not as much to see on this side as Brazil has about 20% of the falls but the views are amazing as you see a lot of the Argentina side. At Devil’s throat you can see it from below and above. Either place you get soaked from the spray.
After having a snack and just enjoying the ambiance for a while before heading back. Later I found out there’s a trail that goes past the hotel that would have been nice.

Iguazú Falls

The next day I went back to the Argentina side. If you bring your ticket back they’ll let you in the second time for 1/2 price. I wanted to do the boat ride which I’d heard was better on this side. I’m not sure it’s any different. It starts with a 20-30 minute drive in a truck through the jungle with a guide who spoke the whole way in Spanish so I don’t know what he was saying. At the river entrance we climbed down a lot of stairs and were given life jackets and a dry bag. The boat ride itself was about 30 minutes long. It takes you upriver and under two sets of falls a couple of times. It was fun and I got soaked in spite of the poncho I was wearing.
Back up the steps and on the truck with a woman this time who translated some of what she said into English. Nice!

I walked all the trails again because I was there anyway and I love a good waterfall. Iguazu is taller than Niagara and wider than Victoria Falls so yeah, it’s pretty impressive!

I checked out that night since the folks at the Host don’t get up early and I had to leave around 7:30 am. I had arranged for the 4 tourists transfer to pick me up for the flight back to Buenos Aires and on to my next adventure. URUGUAY!