After a long day of flying, we arrived in Iguazu (on the border of Brazil). We actually stayed on the Brazil side at Hotel das Cataratas.
Our room.
The pool. Jud and Blake took a quick dip one day.
We climbed up to the top of the observation tower and this was our first view of the Iguazu Falls. There are 275 falls along the two miles on the Iguazu river. They are taller than Nigara Falls and twice as wide and also longer than the African Victoria Falls. Iguazu Falls were formed as a result of a volcanic eruption which left a large crack in the earth. The river runs down the border of Argentina and Brazil so 1/3 of the falls are on the Brazil side and 2/3 on the Argentina side.
We then headed across the street to get a closer look. Our hotel is located in a national park which closes at 6pm so hotel guests basically have the park to themselves. We are in Brazil looking over to the falls on the Argentinian side.
Note: All the upcoming pictures of the falls just don't show the massive size, sound, spray and beauty that we experienced. They only capture a small piece of God's creation that we witnessed.
The next day we headed for a full day of experiencing the falls. It started with a hike/walk on top of the falls on the Argentina side. We immediately were greeted by these raccoon/opossum like animals called coatis. They were not shy and are very common in the area. Our guide told us that some people have them as pets like a cat.
The Argentinian government has built miles of walkways over the falls. It was such an amazing way to see them. Here is a view looking over a bridge on the top of one of the falls.
It was not foggy, that's the spray from the falls. It was also hot, muggy rain forest weather.
Look a the observation deck on the other side.
Amazing!
This is really the only day that we saw wildlife.
A huge catfish below us.
Crocodile.
Here we are at Devil's Throat, the most impressive part of the falls. We don't have many pictures here since it was so wet. It was so loud we could hardly talk to each other.
On a whim we stopped to do a helicopter ride over the falls. Since I get super motion sick and didn't take a Dramamine prior, I decided not to go. My dad was nice to wait with me as I was a little worried if the helicopter went down and I was the only one in the family left (he also gets motion sick). It was Jud, Evan and Blake's first time to ride in a helicopter. Jud got to sit up front.
It was a quick ride that circled the falls twice. The view as they were heading to the falls. You can see our hotel just to the left of the falls.
Devil's Gorge.
Devil's Gorge is on the left. If you look at the top of Devil's Gorge, you can see the bridge and observation deck we had just been on.
They said it was an amazing experience to view the falls from above.
We then headed back to the Brazil side. Here is Jud in two countries at the same time.
Once back in Brazil, we went on a speed boat ride to experience the falls from the water. We even went under part of the falls. I was quite scared at the time (took my mind off of being seasick), but looking back it was super fun.
We attempted to stay dry, but that was not possible. Drenched to the bone. Jud and I on the jeep ride back after the boat ride.
What an amazing trip of a lifetime!!! Thanks mom and dad for awesome family trips and taking us to places we wouldn't be able to see without you!
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