one of the biggest waterfalls in the world . It is on the Iguazu River , which originates in the mountains of Brazil and flows to join the Parana River in Argentina and eventually enters the Atlantic Ocean at Buenos Aires . Iguazu Falls is the number one tourist attraction in both Brazil and Argentina , as the falls bisect the two countries . It is apparent that both countries compete to provide the most exhilarating experience , with walkways that take you out to the very edge of the falls , or nearly right under falls . We were fortunate enough to spend time on both sides .
On the Brazilian side , we enjoyed a short stay at the Hotel Das Cataratas
Iguassu Falls , an Orient Express hotel with a traditional Portuguese-colonial feel overlooking Iguazu Falls . It had to be one of the most luxurious , beautiful , most fantastically-located hotels I ’ ve ever stayed in . Upon our arrival at sunset , I ran down to the viewing platform for the falls and captured some beautiful shots of the falls at sunset . Even the birds loved the place , and many were nesting on the grounds and visited the massive central courtyard gardens . The rooms were perfectly appointed with an entire wall of built in , dark wood cabinets .
Our visit to the falls began in the early morning by walking out our hotel door
Iguazu Falls At Sunset
right down to the falls about 1.5 hours before the park opened , which allowed us nearly private access to the falls . We viewed the great dusky-swifts , which cling to the walls of the falls , where they nest and raise young . They do this to avoid predation from the many falcons that swoop to and fro , hunting them .
The butterflies were especially thick near Iguazu Falls , where the water and mist and thick surrounding forests ( protected by large national parks ) provide lots of habitat . During one day of hiking , we ate lunch near a lake where over 100 butterflies of over 20 species were fluttering at all times . Giant blue morpho ’ s glimmered and shone
Gray Headed Tody Fly Catcher Caterpillar
Butterfly
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