Iguazu

The pictures you see in guidebooks make it seem like Iguazu is this amazing must-see waterfall, but really its like a thousand must-see waterfalls smashed together into one spectacular valley shared by two countries. The Brazilian side is supposed to be the prettier side, as you get a vantage point that allows you to see everything at once; but since the Brazilian visa for Americans is $100, I can´t say for certain if that is true. What I can say is that the Argentinian side is an incredible example of sheer power-- you walk out along the river on a catwalk that ends above `gargantua del diablo´ or the devil´s throat, which is comparable to Niagra, only bigger and probably louder. Spray from the falls shoots hundreds of feet up in the air to cover you and your camera and everything around you; all you can do is choke back laughter at the colossal magnitude of whats going on below.

You can also take boat ride, which I did, that takes you through the second largest of the waterfalls. It´s like being slapped by the wet hand of a giant, and it´s incredible. It also makes a nice break from the heat, which takes its toll on these long park walks.

--Doug