Iguazu Falls - a true natural wonder
From the plane as we descended to land into Cataratas airport we could see Paraguay and Brazil. Acres of thick lush jungle awaited us. Arriving at night and heading to our accomodation on the banks of Lago Uruguai by car our headlights caught roadsigns warning that pumas might be crossing the road up ahead, this really felt like an adventure.
We had travelled 2 hours north of Buenos Aires by plane to visit Iguazu National Park, one of the new 7 Natural Wonders of the world. On the border between Brazil and Argentina sits the largest broken waterfall in the world, a total of 275 cascades of water from the Iguazu River falling with force and speed. This is a location we anticipate visiting a number of times during our time in Argentina as it's likely visiting friends and family will want to see this wonderous sight. So this was our first exploration to see how accessible the falls are for children. We were not disappointed!
We booked to stay for 3 nights arriving on Thursday evening and woke up to a stunning view across Lago Uruguai. We had booked tickets to enter the park at 9am online so we piled into the car and drove the 30 minute journey into the park. Immediately we were greeted by a jungle environment and a steady background noise of chirruping birds. Once inside the park the entry area is very safe for children as there are no cars and the space is open so little legs can run with abandon.
We had a bit of breakfast in the restaurant as we took our bearings. To get to the falls there are a number of walking routes and the Ecological train which takes you up to within 2220m of The Devil´s Throat Balcony, one of the main view points. We had brought our baby carrier (for our 10 month old) and a walking backpack which our three year old and baby can fit in (but not at the same time!).
Initially we decided to try walking the Superior Route which would take us to different look out points at the top of the falls. We set off from the very start of the trail and enjoyed a 20 - 30 minute walk through a jungle environment. There's lots to look at including many different plants, bugs and if you're lucky brightly coloured birds and even monkeys! We were hoping the Superior Route would be manageable for our 3 year old to walk but we definitely underestimated how long the trail is. Luckily the first part of the trail takes you to the Cataratas train stop - here you can board the train and travel up to the water falls by train. We decided to do this as we planned to be back in the park the next day and wanted to ensure it was an enjoyable experience for all involved, without tiring out little legs too much!
The train took us up to the start of the Devil's Throat walk. This walkway crosses the most incredible water way, a wide fast moving river with over hanging trees in parts, there's so much for little ones of all ages to take in. By this point both children were in carriers and were very content taking in the scenery. It wasn't long before we were greeted by a convoy of giant ant-eaters who thrilled passers-by by climbing up a tree and onto the walk way railings. These animals look cute and cuddly but signs around the park warn they have a sharp bite and claws so best to keep little hands well way!
On reaching the falls there really are no words to do justice to the vista. My over-riding thought was 'where does the water go!'. The force of the water kicks up mist and spray so it appears that water is tumbling into an endless abyss. We really took our time to take in the magnificent sight which seems to go on and on. The sound was not as loud as I anticipated and somehow being surrounded by constant running water was melodic and soothing. The official website advises that 'Discovering the Park at every step means experiencing intense emotions' and I really agree, there was a deep feeling of awe on seeing the falls for the first time.
We were very pleased we planned to visit the following day as we could see how accessible the trails were. Many people had buggys and we felt this would be a great way for both children to explore the park comfortably and enable us to spend more time on foot. On our visit on the second day we completed the Superior Walk on foot with a buggy and a baby carrier. On this trail there was lots to see, roosts of butterflies, turtles, jazzy looking birds and, to the keen eye, camouflaged lizards. The walk took us about 2 hours, we took our time and soaked in the views from different vantage points. On both days we had glorious weather, clear sunny skies with a gentle breeze. We were even treated to a rainbow within the falls, a sign that we must return as it felt like there was so much more to explore!
