We have been in Argentina 6 days now and there is no overt evidence of the Coronavirus pandemic. A few, not many, people wore masks in the domestic airport as we departed BA for Iguazu. Iguazu is located about 800 miles north of BA in a tiny finger sliver of Argentina bordering Brazil and Paraguay. The shallow, wide Iguazu River feeds into the Parana River as it flows from east central Brazil. It falls over the basalt plateau to some 200 feet below across a width of 1.8 miles. The resulting falls are stupendous. On this day, however, due to a rain drought in Brazil there is a reduction in volume of about 50% of average (ave 62,000 cu ft/sec whereas Niagara Falls averages 85,000 cu ft/sec). Nevertheless, the falls and surrounding jungle are amazing.
We hiked all day with our guide Valmor. This National Park is beautifully maintained with miles of metal catwalks and bridges allowing close access to many of the falls, from above and below. It was very hot, 97deg, and humid but a lot of our hiking was in the shade of the jungle. Later in the afternoon we visited Devil’s Throat, the largest of the cascades with Brazil directly beyond. The mist was cool but the crowds were more dense. Luckily there was a tram that took us within 0.75 miles and back to the entrance as the humidity became uncomfortable.
We spent an entire day hiking and photographing the scenery and then relaxed poolside at our hotel/spa Lio Suites located near the park and also close to the rustic homes of the indigenous Guarani Indian tribe. Dinner has become ‘routine’: red meat and red wine. Mmmmmmm.
Now we are getting alerts that Argentina may start quarantining US arrivals. Even Tom Hanks has the virus! We start our official tour with Odysseys Unlimited back in BA. Hopefully everything goes as planned and the rest of our group joins us. Either that, or Greg and I may become Argentinian citizens. Ciao for now!
My new reality 