Countries always exaggerate their attractions by comparing them to other well-known places: wider than the Grand Canyon, higher than Niagara Falls, and so on. Most fall far short of their billing - but not Iguassu. They are spectacular as much for their forest setting as for their size; 275 cataracts, some 80 meters high, spanning three kilometers. During high water, like today, the flow is something like 200,000 cubic feet per second (imagine 200,000 NBA basketballs passing by each second) of red-brown water contrasted against the green foliage and cerulean sky.
Brown-faced capuchin
The park, a World Heritage Site and new natural wonder of the world, has miles of steel-mesh "boardwalks" providing vistas from above and below the cataracts. It is expensive, the sun is relentless and tour groups can make things congested but Iguassu is not to be missed. Despite the wild setting there were few birds, plenty of hungry racoon-like agoutis and some brown-faced capuchin monkeys.
