Day 5, April 13, 2012:
Parque Nacional Iguazú Argentina:
is the official site of
the national park on the Argentine side.
The routine to get into
the Iguazu national park on the Argentine side is pretty complicated. We can see where our base and entry to Argentine town are...marked by red arrows...
We took a local bus from
the bus station near our hotel in Foz do Iguacu to Brazilian
border, a short ride for us as we were staying very close to the
border not in centro as most tourists.
Got
exit stamp on passport, then took an Argentine bus to the Argentine
border 2 km away... this is through no man's land. Got an entry stamp
on our passport.
Now we needed Argentine pesos as entry fee to the
national park needs to be paid in only cash in local currency. So we
lined up at the Cambio conveniently nearby and got pesos for 2 entry
tickets. The good part is that we could use the same ticket 2 days in
a row once we buy it at the Park and have it stamped on exit!
Then
another bus ride to ARG Puerto Iguazu bus terminal,
Puerto Iguazú Bus Station:
It is located downtown, 20 minutes from Iguazú Falls and 8 minutes from Tancredo Neves International Bridge, joining Argentina and Brazil. This is the place of arrival and departure of tourist from any part of the country, where buses with daily services to Iguazú Falls at the Brazilian side, and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.
There is a public passenger transport from the
city of Puerto Iguazú to Iguazú National Park every 15 minutes,
whose itinerary begins at Hito de las Tres Fronteras, passing by
Puerto Iguazú bus station, and buses arrive at Cataratas Area in 20
minutes.
The bus service is provided by the company Río Uruguay
and people can identify it by the sign reading "Cataratas".
In honor of Juan Jose Lanusse, the second Governor of the province of Misiones, he was responsible for first bringing tourists to the Iguazu Falls and the San Ignacio ruins via river. He also founded the villages of Apostoles and Azara located in the same province....
A butterfly took the ride with us to island San Martin...
The beach was rocky--full of pebbles. Still had a nice soak in the lower Iguazu river...had our lunch...
It was a hot afternoon and the milk from the carton came in handy with our sandwiches.
The 650 m trail located on the island begins with a 172 step staircase.
The third and last parts of the Circuit, which lead back to Dos Hermanas Square, have stairs and go through the Lower Iguazú shore where Alvar Núñez, Elenita, and Lanusse steep waterfalls can be enjoyed.
It is characterized by having its trails set on top of
the waterfalls edge, which allows a vertical view from the top,
something really electrifying. After Mbiguá Waterfall lookout, the
gangway crosses the Superior Iguazú River to reach the edge of the
second largest fall of this beautiful system: the San Martin
Waterfall. This balcony has the best and widest panoramic view of the
whole Park: we can see the Hotel Das Cataratas and the elevators on
the Brazilian side, and the Sheraton Hotel, the Old Water Tank Tower,
the balconies of Upper and Lower trails, the San Martin island and
the gangway to Devil's Throat on the Argentinian side. To exit this
circuit, the gangway runs snaking back through islets in the Upper
Iguazú delta, to finally reach Cataratas Station.
We
bought the bus tickets to the Park at the counter at the bus
terminal, got into the bus with the board "Cataratas" amd
off we went to the Parque Nacional Iguzu.
Parque Nacional Iguzu:
We went to the visitor
center and as said bought entry tickets with the cash we had
exchanged. On the Argentine
side—8am—6pm (100 AR$ pp, second day is for half price if you get
your ticket stamped before leaving on the first day.
Fees are in Argentinean
currency and can only be paid in cash and with this currency. Credit
and debit card payment is available inside the National Park, except
for the entrance and parking tickets. The Park operating hours go
from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. • ID or passport is required at the ticket
office when buying the entrance ticket. The place of residence on the
ID or passport will determine the category of visitor and the fee.
The park has different
boardwalks and an eco train taking us to the stations from where we
can access the boardwalks
Rainforest Train/Ecotrain:
It starts at Central
Train Station, very close to the services and shop areas, and where
the access to Macuco Trail is located ((We covered this the next day)). From there, trains depart
every 15 or 20 minutes, depending on demand. Here's a pic of the train from the official site...
Cataratas Train Station
is the intermediate stop, where the access to the Upper and Lower
Circuits is located and visitors can board the boat to San Martín
Island. (We were able to cover only up to this part on the 1st day)
The train ends at the Devil’s Throat (Garganto Diablo) Train Station, where the
1,100 meters long (1,203 yards) footbridge begins and leads across
the Upper Iguazú River to the lookout from which this wonderful waterfall can be seen. (We covered this the next day)
We
boarded the train from the entrance and got down at the 1st station
to start the trail Circuito Inferior--1700 meters of trail
with very rewarding views
Lower Circuit (Circuito Inferior):
• Length: 1,700 meters
long (1,859 yards) • Accessibility: medium • Difficulty: access
without stairs up to Bosetti Waterfall and Iguazú canyon lookout.
• Estimated time of visit: an hour and 45 minutes • Access to this trail is allowed until 05pm • Restrooms and Bar: at Dos Hermanas Square, just at the Circuit entrance.
• Estimated time of visit: an hour and 45 minutes • Access to this trail is allowed until 05pm • Restrooms and Bar: at Dos Hermanas Square, just at the Circuit entrance.
Footbridges
go into the forest foliage to where Dos Hermanas, Chico and Ramírez
Waterfalls falling waters break and to the end of this part of the
Circuit, where we can enjoy the lower portions of the great water
wall of Bosetti Waterfall.
Metal wiremesh floors to
see the waters rushing below.
There are good sign boards
in most places--this one showing Circuito Inferior, Isla San Martin,
which are our 1st 2 stops...
Lower trail starts
here...2 arrows, 2 views.
Story behind the name:
Born in Spain. Alvar Nunez
Cabeza de Vaca, was the first European to see Iguassu Falls in the
period 1541-1542. After wandering almost naked among the natives
of North America for 10 years, Cabeza de Vaca returned to Spain in
1537 and was rewarded with an appointment as governor of Rio de la
Plata (an area that forms Paraguay).
In 1541-42, Cabeza
de Vaca led an expedition through the South of present-day Brazil to
Asuncion, the capital of Rio de la Plata. On the way he explored
marvelous Iguassu Falls.
He took office as governor
of the province in 1542, but was ousted two years later as the result
of a revolt.Sent to Spain under arrest in 1554, he was later banished
to Africa. In 1556, he obtained a pardon and a pension.
This gives views of the
falls from above..."Chico Alferez Waterfall" The name was given to it for its small size in comparison to the larger falls that neighbor it...
In honor of Juan Jose Lanusse, the second Governor of the province of Misiones, he was responsible for first bringing tourists to the Iguazu Falls and the San Ignacio ruins via river. He also founded the villages of Apostoles and Azara located in the same province....
Salto
Ramírez...Manuel Antonio Ramírez: poet and journalist who wrote
about the river, and died young just 35 years old.
Salto Bosetti ...Carlos
Bosetti, naturalist pioneer and great explorer of the Misiones
jungle.
Salto
Mbiguá...Mbiguá Waterfall, named for a bird similar to a duck that
makes its home in the islands of the Upper Iguazu River.
SAN MARTIN ISLAND:
On
the way out of Bosetti Waterfall 20 meters away, there is an access
to the quay from where we can board a boat to San Martín Island.
The
Circuit goes on along the border of the Iguazú River opposite to the
island, and we can marvel at its beaches and cliffs. The second part
of the Lower Circuit ends at the lookout on top of where this branch
of river meets the Iguazú canyon, and the impressive Devil's Throat
and its typical mist can be seen at the far.
For those looking for
adventure in the heart of the Falls with views of the San Martín
waterfall and of “The Window” – or to cross the lower Iguazú
river – this trail is a challenge of physical strength.
The beach was rocky--full of pebbles. Still had a nice soak in the lower Iguazu river...had our lunch...
It was a hot afternoon and the milk from the carton came in handy with our sandwiches.
The 650 m trail located on the island begins with a 172 step staircase.
Happy after the long trek....such a rewarding view....
Salto San Martin -- In
honor of General José de San Martín, father of patriotism and
liberator of the Republics of Chile and Peru, to whom he gave their
independence.
San Martín is regarded as
a national hero of Argentina and Peru, and, together with Bolíva,
one of the liberators of Spanish South America.,, Founder of the
Cavalry Regiment, hero of the fight for American independence.
The third and last parts of the Circuit, which lead back to Dos Hermanas Square, have stairs and go through the Lower Iguazú shore where Alvar Núñez, Elenita, and Lanusse steep waterfalls can be enjoyed.
This is Salto dos Hermanas--The Two Sisters Falls, in honor of Maria and Teresa, daughters of the second Governor of Misiones - Juan Jose Lanusse
We
took the speed boat ride on ARG side as well, it was exhilarating...
Filled
up our drinking water from this tiny little falls...
At
the Circuito Superior: this is an easier trek after our 2
treks...Circuito Inferior and San Martin trails
Upper Circuit (Circuito Superior):
• Length: 1.750 meters
long (1913 yards) • Accessibility: high • Difficulty:
none, without stairs> • Estimated time of visit: two
hours. • Access to this trail is allowed until 05:00pm. •
Restroom and bar: 50 meters away from the exit of the Circuit, at
Cataratas Train Station.
It begins two hundred meters from The
Rainforest Train Cataratas Station and along its way we can enjoy a
panoramic view of the semicircular chain that begins at Dos Hermanas
Waterfalls, going through Chico, Ramírez, Bosetti, Adán y Eva, and
Bernabé Méndez Waterfalls, ending at Mbiguá Waterfall lookout as a
first stop.
This is Salto
Adan y Eva...Named
after the first inhabitants of the Garden of Eden.
Both
the countries should be complimented for preserving such a green
natural environment thru out
We
see the greenery and the falls everywhere--no commercial buildings
We
see so many different facets of the same falls--the trail has been
expertly designed
As
darkness descends, and the park staff hustle us out, we headed for the
entrance to catch our bus to Puerto Iguacu, ARG bus terminal. We
got our tickets stamped when we left the park, so we paid only half entry fee
next day.
We did the whole routine of passport stamping and boarding different buses. We requested the Brazil bus driver to drop us where we can get a local bus to our Hotel. The bus was going to Centro. He dropped us some where far away. We thankfully got a taxi to our hotel. We were mighty pleased we were able to converse in Brazilian Portuguese and reach our hotel safe
The whole experience of the day, the several waterfall views and speedboat ride had been AWESOME. We were so thrilled!
Another lovely day at the falls is reported in the next post:
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2017/01/brazilargentina-trip-report-day-6.html
Another lovely day at the falls is reported in the next post:
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2017/01/brazilargentina-trip-report-day-6.html
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