Molhados - Cataratas do Iguaçu

The awesome site of the Garganta do Diabo hit me when I stepped into the Sheraton hotel lobby on the Argentina side. After 3 nights in Brazilian hotels, one would see the difference in an American hotel. Our room, although not facing the falls, was large and comfortable, and the bathroom a good size and clean. And it has a balcony! Facing the jungle, the view was peaceful and calming. We finally have CNN and ESPN where we could catch the Olympics, although in Spanish. The lobby was large and ceiling to floor window offering a direct view of the major fall. All the Argentinian walking circuits were steps away from the hotel. Before landing, we got a good aerial view of the falls from the plane, and I saw what looked like a huge cloud which turned out to be the spray from the Garganta. The whole area looked like a hole was punched in the middle of the jungle. Soon as we landed in Foz do Iguaçu, we went in to the park to do the Brazil side. The view of the Argentinian falls started small but as we walked along the path, we gradually got closer views of the falls. Finally a catwalk all the way out to the rio Iguaçu Inferior, below the salto Floriano and in front of the Garganta do Diabo, where its sprays soaked us throughly. The force and sound were tremendous, a reminder of the powerful nature that diminishes us, the humans, and reminded us that although we thought our intelligence conquered the universe, our minute existence was nothing compared to the wonder and force of nature. We took the Macuco Safari boat out to the catarats and for 150 reais each we got a thorough shower that drenched us completely, including our paper money, passport, underwear and everything that was on us although I thought I covered myself totally in waterproof garment. So we arrived at the Sheraton 'molhados' but with a thrill of a lifetime.

Hippo with salto Floriano on the Brazil side

Walkway out to the front of Garganta do Diabo

Video of Argentina falls from the Brazil side [4.7M]

Video of Salto Rivadavia [3.7M]

Video of Salto Floriano [4.6M]