The Many-Mouthed Monster

Jaw-dropping! Eye-popping! Ear-piercing! Heart-stopping! Mind-bending!
Unless these physical attributes literally materialize in you (in which case you’re probably not reading this), you’ll likely be gushing out adjectives such as these the first time you see the mighty Iguazú Falls.

I’m sure you’ve seen many waterfalls in your life. Maybe you’ve even seen pictures of Iguazú and tried to imagine how it would feel to stand in front of it. But trust us, nothing prepares you for that immensity. Iguazú is a waterfall on steroids. Seeing it for the first time can truly be an emotional ordeal. So, don’t worry – it’s not you. How else is a human supposed to react when coming face to face with the almighty?

Up close, Iguazú falls looks different from separate vantage points due to the many varied and diverse number of sizes and shapes in the huge width that it covers. The water gushing out of the waterfall is enough to fill up six Olympic-sized swimming pools, every second. Unlike the Niagara, here they will take you right under the falls if you’re brave enough to opt for a boat ride. You can even reach the falls much closer, as seen in this image of our three daughters posing for a heart-thumping shot almost within an arm’s reach of the Iguazú.

Poor Niagara!

Even the former first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, upon seeing the true enormity of the falls up close had purportedly exclaimed, “Poor Niagara!” Indeed, you can multiply the Niagara Falls in both its height and width a few times, but you’d still fall short of the volume of water that spews out of Iguazú. A many-mouthed monster, the waters of Iguazú (also spelled Iguaçu) emerge out of 275 separate falls! Even though you can’t see the entire falls from any vantage point, you can make out the cascading mist as far as your eyes can see.

Iguazú Falls borders three countries: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay. On the Brazilian side, the easiest way to visit is by flying down to the town of Foz do Iguaçu. Once there, head straight over to the falls. And don’t forget to take the boat ride that takes you right to the base of this nature’s incredible wonder. While it’s true that the Argentinian side takes you closer to the action, and gets you drenched in the process, the Brazilian side is known for giving you the best panoramic views of the falls. If you plan on getting the entire falls within your picture frame, don’t forget that ultrawide lens.

The boat ride was the highlight of our visit to the Iguazú Falls. Unlike in the case of Niagara Falls, this boat will in fact take you right inside the pouring waters of the falls. Even though the water was quite rough, and the pilot resorted to a number of cool antics, safety was never an issue, and we didn’t feel at risk.

Tourists can get extremely close to the waterfalls, and with absolutely chaotic waters rushing all around you, you can be forgiven if you feel like the floods of Genesis is upon you. Iguazú is one of the greatest spectacles on the planet, and these can give you two distinct feelings depending whether you see it from the Brazilian or the Argentinian side. The first gives you better panoramic views of the waterfalls, while the second takes you right up to it.

A Package Deal

A visit to Iguazú is in fact a buy-one-get-one-free deal, where along with the grandeur of the waterfalls itself, you get to see a rainforest teeming with quite several unique flora and fauna. The two animals you won’t miss seeing here are the pesky coatis and the clever capuchins. There are even jaguars and crocodiles in the region although it would be difficult to see those due to the constant wave of visitors. But you should take the time to explore the wildlife here, so ideally plan on three days to spend here. The extra time will also give you a buffer in case torrential rain washes off a day from your meticulous travel plans. Such rainfall is a common theme that ties the gifts of nature tightly together.

The fast-flowing waters of Iguazú is a sight to behold. You’d need the highest shutter speed to freeze those water droplets. Where possible, I use sixteen-thousandths of a second. Of course, for this you’d need the light to cooperate. In my case it did, and I got some of the best abstract images, with those beads frozen in time and space.

Live and Get Wet

Unless you’re the type who absolutely hates getting soaked, something that’ll stay indelible in your memory for the rest of your life is the boat ride to the base of the waterfalls. And yes, take care of those electronics before you get on the boat: they will take you right inside those falls (it’s safe, so don’t worry). One great thing about Iguazú is that there are so many waterfalls around: some gigantic and powerful, while others small and graceful, and you’ll get to see them all up close. The appropriately named Devil’s Throat is the largest one of these, a true monster.

SLOTH IN A CLOTH

During our boat trip from Manaus deep inside the Amazon, we came across a father-and-son team with an anaconda and a sloth, both wrapped in cloths. They were simply showing them around to curious souls, whoever took the time to stop and cuddle these animals. We couldn't know however whether the baby sloth was in distress or relieved to find a safe refuge with the boy after its habitat destruction.

On a boat ride from Manaus we met a boy and his father on the Rio Negro river who carried a baby sloth and an anaconda with them. They were in their own boat catering to passing tourists who could cuddle the animals for a small price. Many species of sloths are endangered due to deforestation and habitat destruction, but it wasn’t clear if this belonged to a threatened species. For those who want to make a difference and save these animals, World Wildlife Federation (WWF) actually has a program to adopt a sloth by funding its conservation and welfare.

THE AMAZONIAN FAMILY

We met this high-spirited little girl in a remote village in the Amazon rainforest. At the time the picture was taken, she was busy playing with her younger brother. The only access to her home was by navigating in a canoe on the Amazon, a few hours' journey from the town of Manaus.

We met this little girl and her brother playing outside their home in a remote village deep inside the Amazon rainforest. The only way to reach them was by an hour’s boat ride. The nearest and only school in the region was a further hour’s boat ride away. Their home was situated on stilts presumably due to the constant waterlogging in the region. The family led a very simple life with their domesticated animals and at least part of their income came from the infrequent tourist visits such as us.

FLIGHTLESS WONDERS

The rhea is a species of flightless bird native to South America most closely related to the ostrich (in Africa) and the emu (in Australia). Although listed as near threatened, they seemed to be quite prolific in the wetlands of Pantanal, in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil.

Two wild rheas walk in the open grasslands of Pantanal in the Mato Grosso state of Brazil. Like the ostriches of Africa and the emus of Australia, with whom they are genetically related, the rheas are flightless birds that live in South America. They are a familiar sight here in the Transpantaneira, where you can see many of the animals Brazil is known for. While the Amazon rainforest is where most tourists flock to, your best bet at seeing some of Brazil’s wildlife is here in these marshlands.

THE LONG HIKE

The hike up in the summer sun was too much for the rest of the younger members of the family, so only the solo photographer limped along, and was rewarded with this view after an arduous trek.

The stunning view of the crystal-clear Bridal Veil waterfall dropping from a high cliff deep inside a large canyon can be experienced in a little-known national park of Brazil, called Chapada dos Guimarães. The diversity of the landscape is also surreal. The place is a short drive from Cuiabá and is mostly visited by locals trying to get away from the soaring temperatures of Mato Grosso. For outside visitors, it is a good idea to carry a hat and sunscreen since the place can get extremely hot.