Iguazu Falls - Argentina and Brazil

Farewell Buenos Aires and another internal flight, this time north into the rain forest and two nights staying in the only hotel in the Iguazu National Park. By fluke, I was perfectly seated in the bus when we arrived for the view through the lobby across the valley to the Iguazu Falls themselves. Holy crap..... this trip would be worth it for that view alone. The largest waterfall complex in the world, higher than Niagara, wider than Victoria, with a continual thunder of falling water, viewable from multiple walkways through the trees, surrounded by exactly the tropical birds and wildlife you might expect.

The hotel is built to embrace the view, even the infinity swimming pool placed perfectly to see the falls. The security notices are possibly unique: balcony doors and windows must be locked at all times to prevent raids by the local capuchin monkeys who have learnt to open doors and fridges in search of food and soda.

What you can't see are the hundreds of tourists filling the walkways over the water to the lip of the Devil's Throat where the largest part of the Iguazu River thunders down. Regardless it's an incredible sight and sound.

I've managed the heat and humidity reasonably well so far, but today I realised this is no place for a Scottish redhead and retired to shade for the afternoon. Only to be disturbed by a great deal of happy chattering on the balcony, followed by a small monkey's head appearing round the curtain. The balcony door was shut but not locked. It is now....🐒

We left Argentina straight after breakfast to take the (long) road route round to the opposite side of the Falls.  The Iguazu Falls mark the border between Argentina and Brazil (and almost Paraguay also).  I think about few of us wondered if there was much point going to look at the other side.  Oh hell yes. The Argentinian paths take you next to and above the waterfalls, the Brazilian paths take you below, as in getting wet below.  

We've temporarily lost one of our group, who was feeling distinctly unwell at lunch, refused any of our coercing to eat, drink or cool down, then became sufficiently unwell to leave the airport in an ambulance to the nearest hospital where he's on a drip overnight to recover from sunstroke.  Hopefully he'll catch up with us tomorrow, the Iguazu guide thinks he'll be on the next available flight.  A reminder that sometimes it's okay to step off and have a siesta, even in one of the most spectacular locations you'll ever see.