Today visited the (Argentinian side of the) Iguazu Falls. The idea was to be the first tourist of the day to reach the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), the most impressive of the multiple falls in the Iguazú National Park. To achieve that we woke up at 6, took the 7 o'clock bus (10 ARS round-trip pp) to the park, waited there for 30 minutes until the gate was opened (8am) and tickets were started to be sold (85 ARS pp for foreigners). Then took the first miniature train to the Garganta. From the train's end station it is a 15 minute walk over the river to the fall. Some speed-walking was necessary to beat the trainful of people (the train was packed as many people had shown up for the opening of the park). Unfortunately three people where already there, on the final platform over the Garganta. Had they run faster than the train? Had they sneaked into the park before the opening time? Where they staying at the Sheraton (which is in the park)? We didn't ask...
Then visited the series of falls, viewable from multiple platforms above and under the falls. All the tourists had arrived by then, walking around was therefore slowed down and it was impossible to take photos with just the falls on them.
The falls are impressive (although maybe not as much as the Victoria Falls), the highlight of the day however was a group of coatis who were stealing food from people at the restaurant area. Coatis are incredibly cute animals, so people have been feeding them (although this is violating the park's rules) making them brave and thus turning them into pests (although still cute).
Finished the day in the park (closing time 5pm) with a walk on the Macuco trail to the Arrechea falls. As this trail is longer (3km one way) and less interesting (it goes through the forest full of spiders and butterflies but no waterfalls), it is also less touristic. Below the Arrechea falls is a natural pool which offered a refreshing swim.
Tomorrow will cross the border to Brazil, visit the Itaipu power plant and then go on to the Pantanal, hopefully with an overnight bus.
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