Kind of a lame title, but hey, I have to try to be creative sometimes. 😛

From Peru, my next stop was Rio de Janeiro where I was supposed to meet up with a friend— Zika Virus be damned. I’m not female, and i had no intentions of getting anyone pregnant anytime soon so screw all the sensationalist media coverage and health advisories. The most I could get was a mild flu like illness anyway. I would have to be the unluckiest person on Earth if I get afflicted with Guillaine Barre Syndrome.

Rio is a long way from Lima. I was thinking of traveling by land, but it would take eons before I reach Rio. From the western coast to the eastern coast, that would be like traveling from Los Angeles to New York by land. Upon checking for flights, i noticed that a number of them had a layover at Foz do Iguaçu. Why does that sound familiar? I then did a quick google search.

Oh yeah. that’s one of the cities bordering Iguazu Falls. I’ve heard about the falls because it’s one of the New Seven Wonders of the World… a list that seemed quite pointless to me. For one, beauty is subjective. What could be most beautiful and wonderful for one person may be underwhelming to others. And there’s so much beauty in this world, how can one possibly just choose seven? But hey, these lists exist, mainly for driving awareness to certain tourist attractions i guess. If the falls are included in the list, they have to be mildly spectacular at the very least.

So i decided to take a quick stop at Foz do Iguaçu– Just for two days before heading to Rio. I was thinking of staying for an extra day just so i could cross the border and see the falls from the Argentinian side, but since the panoramic views are on the Brazilian side and I was not really in the mood for trekking, i didn’t bother. There are a couple of cheap hostels in the area– there aren’t much options, i guess it’s not really a place that’s popular with budget backpackers. But the place I stayed at (Bambu Hostel)  was really great. A bit too quiet for my taste, but it’s one of the nicest hostels I’ve stayed in.

The flight arrived at night so I just decided to check out the falls in the morning. It was pretty cold, and according to several Brazilians I’ve spoken to, the town is an anomaly. The rest of Brazil does not get that cold—ever. lol. So remember to pack a couple of sweaters when you’re planning to go here. Good thing I came from Peru, I was well prepared.

It’s easy to reach the falls from the town center. Lots of buses go on a loop from the town center, to the airport, and also to the falls. Tickets to the national park aren’t exactly cheap at 58 Reals,but how often do you get to see a natural wonder? There are other activities you can do inside the park, like a short trek or a boat ride. You have to add a couple of Reals on top of the entrance fee if you wan’t to do those. I was traveling on a budget, so i decided that seeing the falls is enough.

And man. Was it ever worth it. What a sight.Pictures do not do it justice.

It’s impossible not to be overwhelmed. it’s the widest waterfall in the world after all —albeit interrupted. Victoria Falls is the widest uninterrupted waterfall. Still, the scale of the entire falls is majestic. It deserves its place on that seven wonders list, no doubt about it. It takes about an hour to walk from the start of the trail until the end, and you’d be making a lot of stops because the view is so amazing. Walk a couple of feet further and the view would change a bit and you can’t help but take a couple more pictures. Toward the end you have the option of going near the so called Devil’s Throat. If you did not bring a raincoat, there are disposable ones for sale for 10-15 Reals. You’re going to need them, it’s impossible not to get wet!

An added attraction would be these critters called Quatis (or Coatis). there are so many of them in the park, they are somewhat seen as pests. They are mostly harmless as long as you don’t bother them. One has to be careful though cause they are known to bite! And if you have food, you better keep them hidden. One lady just put her bag down for a second to take a picture, and suddenly an army of Quatis appeared and ran off with her bag. Apparently there were cookies inside and I guess the Quatis were able to smell em!

Foz do Iguaçu is definitely one of the places one should visit in Brazil, if only to see the falls. After seeing it up close, A lot of the waterfalls that you will see in the future would be underwhelming. And yes, that includes the famous Niagara Falls, which is smaller in both size and scale. Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon Forest are not the only must see places in Brazil. There are many more beautiful places to be seen in this huge and beautiful country.