Our next stop.. Iguazú/Iguaçu Falls! - Part #1It was a little tricky to find award availability to travel from BA to IF. The only two airlines that fly this route are Aerolineas and LAN, both of them a lot if you are not an Argentinian, so award is the way to go. With LAN it only cost 7,500 avios points to fly from BA to IF, the problem is that the airports in the route (AEP and IGR) do not show up on the website, so PUTPAC is needed here. Many agents do not know how to search for LAN availability, especially when the airports do not show on the website, if that's the case just HUCA, i had to do it twice. Once you do get someone that is able to book it for you, mention to them that you are unable to book it on the site, and ask them to waive the calling fee, had no problem with that.
The domestic airport in Buenos Aires is a mess, there were two huge lines, one for LAN and one for AA. All flights checking in at the same time, and there were many of them. Good thing we came early, as we waited on line for over an hour just to check in, and hand over our luggage. Security and the rest is all a breeze after that, no lines, and a kinda modern'ish terminal at airside. Between security and the gates there is a large store, that you walk through to reach the gates. It had a huge selection of anything you would think to find in an airport DF store, with great prices too. They also had a great selection of kosher - pas yisroel - beigel's snacks at very reasonable prices. Free and fast WiFi is also found throughout the airport.
Our flight boarding was on-time, we took a quick shuttle bus to the plane, and boarded via airstairs. Travel time was quick at about an hour and a half. LAN gives out complimentary snack boxes with some cookies and nuts (not kosher) and soft drinks. Announcements on this flight as well as all the other flights, we made in the country language as well as English.
Iguazu airport is small and very easy to navigate, luggage came quickly and we were out about 15 minutes after we landed. There were shuttle buses outside the airport that leave after every flight, and stop off at any place you want to go to in downtown Puerto Iguazu. A one-way ticket to town is 40 pesos per person or 70 for roundtrip.
We arrived at our hotel
Residential Guarani at a little before 5pm. The rate for a three bed room was 350 pesos a night. The hotel is located right in the center of town, just a block away from the bus station, taxis and grocery stores. If you won't be staying at the Sheraton, this is a great budget alternative. Room was very clean, had good air conditioner, and was spacious. The hotel also provides free WiFi and free breakfast every morning, including coffee, tea, fruits etc.
By the time we arrived, it was too late to go to the falls, as they close at 5-6pm every day. So we went for a walk around town, which is very small and walkable. In the corner of town, there is the
Three Frontiers Landmark. From this place you could see all three bordering countries (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay) from the same spot. The largest city is located on the Paraguay side, and you could see some tall buildings in the distance. We passed by a number of boat companies offering cheap rides across the river into Paraguay, though you do need another visa to visit there. At the obelisk there were lots of people waiting to take a picture with it and the three countries in the back, so we skipped that. We took a taxi from there, back to our place for 25 pesos. Very nice driver, who also ended up taking us across the border to Brazil and falls there.
Almost no kosher products in Iguazu, so if you want anything other than water and fruits, you do gotta bring it from the city you are coming from. We brought with us lots of crackers, cookies, wafers and more.
We got up early the next day at 5am, to maximize our day on the Argentina side of the falls. We davened, ate breakfast, and we were on our way about an hour later. The
Bus Station is only one block from our hotel, and they have buses that go to the falls every 20 minutes for 70 pesos roundtrip. Buses are operated by the company Rio Uruguay and are very clean and air conditioned. Inside the small bus station there was a Mezuzah at one of the ticket windows, there is an Israeli girls who works there with her mother, and says they are the only Jews in town
- was very excited to see other Jews there.
The park was opening just as we came there, a little before 8am. We weren't the only early ones, there were many tour groups there already waiting to go in, still was emptier than a few hours later.
Iguazu Falls Park has a
Train the runs through it, with three stops, one at the entrance, the next at central station, where many trails start from, and the third and final stop is at Garganta del Diablo. We decided to go to the last stop first, as many people save it for the end, so early in the day its a lot more empty. From the train stop you walk on a trail that is built over the water, by many bridges connected, truly a sight to see for itself. The 'hike' is about half hour long, until you reach the grand
Garganta del Diablo. At the end of the trail you are literally standing right on top of the falls, the mist spray is really powerful and you will get soaked. We stuck around there for a while taking in the grand views, nothing that a picture can possibly describe.
We then took the train back down to the Central station. From there you are in walking distance to the upper and lower trails, the green trail and the Sheraton hotel. In middle of the walk to the lower trail entrance we passed by a lighthouse that was closed for renovations. The
Lower Trail is the longest of the trails, takes a good 2-3 hours to walk and take in the views without rushing. You will get great views of the large and famous waterfalls, along with some really nice small independent waterfalls. Though the real highlight of this trail, starts almost at the end of the main level, where a long concrete staircase takes you down all the way to the bottom. The views here are fabulous, you are hugging the mountain rock on one side and the water and falls on the other. This is a must visit place, and most tourists don't come here, as it's not officially labeled as part of the trail itself.
After that we went to the Sheraton, just to relax up a bit. We sat there for about 20 minutes, in the lounge area and then headed off for the
Upper Trail. The upper trail was really nice, but couldn't come close to our first two trails in the morning, you get great views from here, but you couldn't really get close up with it. Still you should make a point to go to this trail too, as every trails has something unique to it.
Our final trail of the day was the
Green Trail. This trail is the only one that will not pass by any waterfalls, instead giving you a really scenic way to get back from central station to the entrance without the train. We met many of the famous Iguazu Raccoon's on this trail. Beware these cute little rodents are not shy at all, and if the see or smell the slightest hint of food, they will go and make and jump for it. The trail is short just under a half hour and you are back to the entrance area of the park.
If you have extra time after walking all the trails, there is a nice visitor center near the entrance of the park. They have information there about the many different wildlife and fauna that can be found within the area. Along with a nice video presentation with English subtitles about the history of Iguazu.
And here is something for all kosher travelers out there. Near the entrance of the park there is a
Freddo ice-cream and sorbet shop, with lots of kosher flavors. The parve sorbet here is the you will ever have, exploding with delicious fruit flavors and a smooth and creamy texture. I got a cup with three scoops (53 pesos) - passion fruit, mango and strawberry and would recommend all of them. They will let you try little nibbles of the flavor before you order it, the also have a great lemon and raspberry flavor. Was a real treat to find this up in Iguazu. - 10/10.
Crossing the border and the Brazil side of the falls to be continued..
Pictures for this part of the TR, top two posts here -
http://yaalilitripreports.blogspot.com.br/.
