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A Road Trip in the Sensational Jasper National Park

Posted on August 24, 2020

Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small percentage of every purchase at no cost to you.

Jasper National Park is so beautiful just like Banff National Park. The Rocky Mountains have by far been the best views I’ve seen in Canada. Unfortunately, we only spent one day in Jasper as I was unwell and needed a cheaper doctor. We spent the day travelling up to Maligne Lake and back. I would definitely like to spend more time in Jasper National Park next visit.

To gain access to all national parks in Canada; you need a pass. Day tickets are around CAN$10 or you can purchase a year pass for around CAN$70. If you are visiting many national parks the years’ pass is more costive effective.

The Icefields Parkway Drive Through Jasper National Park

Icefields Parkway is the main highway through Jasper National Park. The Icefields Parkway runs for 230km from Lake Louise to the Town of Jasper. Driving it in both directions is a must. The views are breath-taking and some of the best you will ever see. Both directions are unreal.

Bow Glacier Falls Hike, Bow Lake

I was so excited to do this hike. We set off on this hike thinking it was 2km to the Bow Glacier Falls. The trail is in fact 8.7 km there and back. The trail is so pretty as it runs alongside Bow Lake. The hike takes you along the side of the river. Next, at a small clearing, the hike continues along the river bed. If you end up going up and through trees, you’ve missed the exit to the river bed. It is perfect weather not too hot or too cold for a change. A constant temperature so you weren’t always laying up and delaying. A refreshing change.

Me standing on the shore of Bow Lake in Jasper National Park — Bow Lake

I hike in flip-flops most of the time unless I know it’s going to be a long one. I find it comfier than trainers or hiking boots. We were on the hike for maybe an hour and a half then the worst thing happened. Unfortunately, flip-flops can be easy to break and yes that happened to me on this hike. Okay! Not quite the worst thing but it did put a stop to the hike. I tried to go on but it was all stones. Stones are my weak point and I cannot walk on them. So, we missed out on the Bow Glacier Falls. I felt gutted. If only I wore my trainers. Oh well, hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Viewing the Breath-taking Colour of Peyto Lake

The bright blue Peyto Lake in Jasper National Park — The Beautiful Peyto Lake

By the time we arrived at this lake, it was packed with tourists. However, that didn’t mean we could miss it as it is a must-see. It is a short 2.9 km hike to the viewing platform. This platform overlooks Peyto Lake. One word. Wow! The colour of Peyto Lake was incredible. You couldn’t even imagine it to be this good. I was still shocked even though I had seen many pictures of the lake. It is the rock flour that gives this glacier-fed lake its vibrant-blue colour. The colour simply pops and it will leave you speechless. Nothing compares to seeing this lake with your own eyes.

A Stop by Mistaya Canyon

Mistaya Canyon Jasper National Park — Mistaya Canyon

Mistaya Canyon was an early morning stop. After parking the car on a highway pullout, it is about a 5- 10 minute walk. The canyon is clearly signposted, so getting lost is impossible. As you walk along you can hear the river roaring past. After a short downhill walk, you reach the bridge. That is when all of a sudden the impressive slot canyon is insight. This canyon is truly a beautiful, natural wonder of nature.

The Hike Along Parker Ridge

Parker's Ridge Jasper National Park — The Valley on the Parker Ridge Hike

Parker Ridge hike was a simple 5km and after 2km you are hiking along the ridge. It wasn’t too strenuous. But I was ill so there was plenty of stopping along the way. The path zig-zags up the mountain before hiking along the steep ridge. It takes a small effort to climb the steep section at the start but after that, it’s all flat. However, you are then rewarded with great views of the Saskatchewan Glacier.

Athabasca Glacier and The Columbia Icefields

As the highway continues North you reach The Columbia Icefields section. The Columbia Icefields are the largest in North America covering around 325km squared and an average elevation of 3000m.

Crowfoot Glacier on Crowfoot Mountain

Crowfoot Glacier Jasper National Park — The Melting Crowfoot Glacier

The Crowfoot Glacier is visible from a lookout point on the side of the Icefields Parkway Highway. It is a glacier on the North-Eastern side of Crowfoot Mountain, overlooking Bow Lake. Simply put it’s shaped like a crow’s foot hence the name. However, it is melting therefore when we saw the crow’s foot, it had already lost a claw. The glacier water flows into the remarkable Bow River. This river runs from Bow Lake all the way to Calgary. Craving a remarkable flow of water through the valley.

Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

Maligne Lake is 22km long and the second largest lake in the Canadian Rockies. The colour of the azure blue is unbelievable. Also, it looks very inviting for a swim but don’t be fooled, it is way too cold for that. Maligne Lake has an elevation of 1,670 metres above sea level.

Lake Maligne Jasper National Park — Lake Maligne in Summertime

Here we took the boat trip on offer at Maligne Lake. We were extremely lucky as we didn’t book in advance. I would highly recommend the boat ride as well as booking in advance. The boat ride isn’t the only option to explore Spirit Island, you can also rent kayaks. However, I was too ill to do any more exercise. The Hike up Parker’s Ridge was enough for me.

Our tour guide was new to the job but this didn’t hinder the experience. She was awesome and provided us with all the facts as we travelled up to Spirit Island. The Canadians gifted our Queen (Great Britain) a mountain range for her birthday one year. The Queen Elizabeth Mountain Range sits on the shoreline of Maligne Lake. This mountain range as it’s shaped like a ‘J’ making it different from the standard linear-shaped ranges. Very unusual.

Travelling Back Down the Icefield Parkway Highway

So, we missed some stops on the way up. Yet, planned to hit them on the way back down. The joys of travelling the road both ways. I highly recommend doing the drive in both directions. You get very different views but all equally as beautiful and breathtaking. You can stop at the highlights in any order you would like. The joys of road tripping.

Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park

Athabasca Falls sits at 23 metres, not the tallest waterfall within Jasper National Park. However, it is the most powerful due to the sheer volume of water that flows from the Athabasca River. Another mind-blowing canyon falls. Yet if you visit in the evening can witness an incredible alpenglow on the mountainous backdrop.

Sunwapta Falls, Jasper National Park

A short walk from the car, two waterfalls flow into the River Sunwapta. We didn’t do any of the hikes on offer as time was pressing on. The falls were great to view due to the gorgeous mountain backdrop and descend into a limestone gauze.

From the highway, you can see Kerkeslin Lick Goats. All you do is slow the car down and witness the mountain goat licking the salty minerals left behind. These are about 15 minutes North of Sunwapta Falls.

Tangle Creek Falls

This is a little waterfall on the side of the Icefields Parkway. Delicate multi-tiered waterfall on a cliff face. You can view it straight from your car as it is on the side of the road. Yet, it was nice to get out and stretch my legs. I had already done so much driving and had plenty more to do.

Big Bend Viewpoint

You can’t miss it, it is quite literally a big bend when you come back South from Jasper. We pulled in here to enjoy the view but I noticed that my car felt cold. I lifted the bonnet of the car to find that the oil cap had come off. However, it didn’t dampen my spirits because the view was incredible.

At this point, there is no cell phone service. Therefore, we kept going until we got to the motel at Saskatchewan Crossing. It all worked out in the end. We called BCAA and got a tow truck instead of risking the car. It was a welcome relief not to drive the last 200 km to Canmore. We made it safely to Canmore where we went straight to sleep.

Summary of Jasper National Park

Overall, the national park didn’t disappoint in any way. It was amazing just like Banff National Park. It was all breathtaking and I love nature so I felt right at home exploring the trails. I wish we had more time to really explore Jasper on longer hikes but I needed rest and a doctor. Jasper National Park is worth the visit even if you only have a day like us.

Beautiful Banff National Park – What is There to See?

Posted on August 17, 2020

Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small percentage of every purchase at no cost to you.

The Canadian Rockies is the most famous landmark in Canada. Also, they are what most people come to Canada to see. I can understand why. This was simply nature, at its best. Personally, I love nature and there was just so much to see here in Banff National Park. Again, we are road tripping so, therefore, visiting places at our own pace. I highly recommend hiring a car as it is the easiest way to see everything.

Highway 1A – A Scenic Drive Through Banff National Park

There is the quick and main highway 1 that runs through Banff National Park. However, the best option for tourists is to take the more scenic Highway 1A. Highway 1A is also known as Bow Valley Parkway. The chances are higher to spot bears and wildlife. Remember to stay far away as possible and do not feed wild animals.

Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park — Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka – A Glacier Fed Lake in Banff National Park

Arriving at Lake Minnewanka early in the morning was very pleasant. The sound of nature ringing out rather than the hustle and bustle of the tourists. Lake Minnewanka is a short 5 km drive from the town of Banff. This lake is impressive in size as it stretches over 21 km. Signs signalled that there was a bear active in the area. This meant that you are advised to travel in a group of 4. Unfortunately, we were a pair, therefore, no early morning hike for us. Plus, we left the bear spray in the van (again).

Lower Falls At Johnstone Canyon — Lower Falls

Johnstone Canyon and The Ink Pots – A Banff National Park Hike

To beat the tourists, it is best to go to all places early morning. Banff National Park is the reason why people come to Canada. Therefore, you can only imagine how busy this place gets. Our early morning hike to Johnstone Canyon only had a couple of other people. This meant no queue for the Instagram shot.

Hole View of Johnstone Falls, Banff National Park — The Hole Viewpoint

Ink Pots at Johnstone Falls, Banff National Park — The Ink Pots at Johnstone Canyon

1.2 km to the lower falls and an extra 1.2 upper falls. This is where most people turn around and go back. We didn’t we continued further to get to the ink pots. The ink pots are a further 10.8 km from the trailhead. The ink pots are the water source for the falls. They are vibrant blue in colour, round in shape, and dotted all over the field. These are pretty and worth the extra trek. It had been raining the day before therefore after the paved trail it did become muddy and slippery in places. Be careful! We managed not to fall!! Result.

The Cory Pass – A 13 km Hike in Banff National Park

This hike was definitely my favourite for many reasons. It was 13km but very hard work. This is no easy hike especially for us as we aren’t experts. Although, we had more stamina than when we did the Grouse Grind. Yet, if this was our first hike of the trip… I wouldn’t have made it. Grouse Grind was easy compared to this.

The saying is the harder the work, the greater the rewards. This was no different. We hiked hard. The reward was what I think are the best views within Banff National Park. This trail starts at the Fireside Picnic area off Highway 1A.

The starting point of the hike

The total elevation for this hike was 1075 metres. The trail quickly gained 450 metres. This section was without a doubt the steepest. There were splendid views over the Bow River and Township of Banff. Wildflowers were surrounding the trail as it started to flatten, however, it was still up and down a bit.

After this section, we reached the rocky path which took us uphill again. This was the start of the second hardest section of the hike. It looked like the trail ended at a bottom of a rock. Yet, the only way was over, we had to scale the rock. We climbed over safely and started to hike along the rocky path.

The View From the Cory Pass Hike — The View A Little Way Up on The Cory Pass

Taking in the 360 views

We took regular stops not just because we needed them; because you just have to take the time to appreciate the view. There were spectacular views in every direction and the landscape changed so much in a short amount of time. You will not be disappointed. Nature is such a joy and Canada has so much of it.

Reaching the top of the Mountain

Top of The Cory Pass Hike, Banff National Park — The Hard Work Paid Off As We Reached The Top

At the top 2350 metres above sea level, it was cold and windy. Patches of snow left the resemblance of Winter. A gentle reminder of how cold Canadian Winter can be. The sense of accomplishment was through the roof, never would I have thought I would hike a steep mountain. A quick lunch break because the wind was strong and cold. Then, we headed around the back of the mountain on stone cairns which slipped from under us as we trod carefully. This was home to some Mountain Sheep. They have hooves designed to walk on these, we had runners on.

The Cory Pass, Banff National Park — The Hike Around The Back of The Mountain Range

Next, was a forest path and with the trees lining either side the views soon disappeared. We tried to pick up our pace as it looked like rain could fall any minute. Therefore, before we knew it, we were back at the fork where we turned left in the morning. This meant 1km to go till we were back at the car park.

The Last Surprise on the Cory Pass

This hike had already delivered so much but it had one last surprise for me. As I looked along the trail there it was a big brown fluffy behind. The only place I had seen this before was Grouse Mountain. I turned back to my friend to tell her and grab the bear spray. A WILD GRIZZLY.

Mountain Goat Hiding from The Grizzly Bear — We Didn’t Get a Snap of The Grizzly Bear so
Here’s a Mountain Sheep

In that thirty seconds, the Grizzly Bear made its way off the trail and up slightly. And all you could see was his head in amongst flowers. He was happy. He had a food source. And lucky for us hadn’t noticed us. This was unbelievable and topped off the hike perfectly. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. The adrenaline rush from completing a difficult hike and seeing an incredible Grizzly in its natural habit was mind-blowing. A must-hike in Banff National Park.

Lake Morriane – A Favourite

We visited Lake Morrianne in the evening expecting the crowds to be less. However, that was not the case. We managed to get a car parking space but only just. Luckily, someone was left as we arrived. A stroll along the shoreline to find the perfect dinner spot. Yes, dinner was glamorous tonight: ham rolls by the magnificent lake.

Lake Morriane, Banff National Park — Dinner at Lake Morriane

Lake Louise – Lake Anges to Big Beehive to Plain of 6 Glacier Hike

Sunrise Over Lake Louise, Banff National Park — What A Start To The Day A Beautiful Sunrise With Alpine-Glow

This day started with a magnificent sunrise over the most popular lake here in Banff, that’s right… Lake Louise. With snow still capping the Mountain Peaks that pink alpine glow was present as the sun rose. A treat to start the 20 km hike with. Firstly, we stopped by Lake Anges and the Teahouse. The teahouse served a good breakfast. Although it was very busy we were able to get seated straight away due to being one of the first there. So, it wasn’t long before we set off again.

Big Beehive Lookout

We slowly made our way up to the big beehive lookout. The route up was switchbacks that were steep! We made it in one piece, just with a lot of breaks. It was worth it; the wow factor was definitely here as I overlooked the incredible Lake Louise. The vibrant blue colour of this lake speaks for itself. A must-see.

Plain of 6 Glaciers

We made our way back down. It was downhill all the way. This was the moment the hike got tougher. Tougher because my sore legs had to carry me the rest of the way. Too many hikes in a short amount of time were affecting my body. I had to hobble down as my knee was too painful when doing the bending motion. This wasn’t the best situation but it wasn’t going to end my hike. Even though I had this small issue, I continued to the plain of six glaciers. This was relatively flat but still a further 4 km (roughly) there and back. Again, just like everything in Banff National Park the views were outstanding. Also, the sound of the ice breaking off the glaciers was ringing deep into the valley.

The Shoreline of Lake Louise

We could finally start to relax we were on the home straight. A nice stroll along Lake Louise shoreline. Sheltered in places away from the burning rays of the sun. The excitement and sense of accomplishment ran through us. I never thought I would ever hike over 20 km in one day but I did. I think I have found a new hobby… hiking. I am a fan; the hikes may be tough but the reward melts away all the moments that you think you can’t make it. Again, another must-hike in Banff National Park.

Summary of Banff National Park

Well, I am amazed and in awe, by all, I witnessed during my road trip through Banff National Park. I understand why the Canadian Rockies are the number one tourist attraction for people from all across the world. If the Canadian Rockies aren’t on the bucket list, add them, and you will be left speechless over and over again.

Working a Whistler Ski-Season – Best Resort in the World

Posted on August 10, 2020

Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small percentage of every purchase at no cost to you.

I left my heart in Whistler, British Colombia (BC). There is no doubt in my mind about it. Whistler made such an amazing, long-lasting impression on me. I miss living there. It felt like home. You get sucked into the lifestyle and the surroundings which make it impossible to leave it completely behind. I know this feeling was impacted hugely by the friends I made on my incredible journey working a Whistler ski season.

Whistler is known as a small town, a two-hour drive North of Vancouver. It is home to two Mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb), side by side giving you plenty of terrains to explore.

What Whistler Ski-Season Jobs are the best to do?

Working during a Whistler ski season is fun but hard work. If it is your first season and first time away from home then I would recommend a Mountain job. I got a job before I even arrived. I applied on indeed.com and then had an interview over the phone. The only downside to this was I didn’t get staff accommodation. However, it didn’t cost me anything.

The majority of people come through a working holiday program. These companies help you get the visa and then find you a job, for a fee, of course. This option can mean that you will be offered staff accommodation. Everyone I met who used companies had staff accommodation.

A Job on Whistler Mountain…

First Day in working a whistler ski-season — Working a Mountain Job in Whistler

These jobs aren’t the most glamorous by far but I feel the perks on offer outweigh this. As a first-timer, you get cheap accommodation, a season pass, and three free ski or snowboard lessons. Also, every department has other perks. Additionally, the company can move you to different departments if you end up injured. Therefore, you aren’t out of work. Result.

Is a Second Job Worth It?

I had a second job like most people in Whistler. My Mountain pay just covered my expenses as I was renting privately. A second job is worth it unless you’re a server. Servers make good tips. Working two jobs over 4 days helped me to save money for Summer. I still had my full three days off. Second jobs are easy to come by and employers are very accommodating as the majority of resort workers do this.

How to Rent Privately in Whistler?

I would say, the housing crisis is the only downside to working a Whistler ski season. Unfortunately, there are too many workers, and not enough rooms. Therefore, it drives up rent prices to extreme levels. Landlords can be bad too. You do have to be very vigilant when room hunting. The main two ways to find a room are on Facebook (Whistlers Housing Crisis) and Craigslist.

Nordic in Working a Whistler Ski-season — Snow Day

I had to find a room to rent. I must have viewed around 10 places. The majority of the rooms are shared. One house I viewed had room for up to 24 people. People do feel pressured to take the first thing that comes along. However, if something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to say no. Follow your gut feeling.

To be able to find a room the only option is to post an ad on Facebook and Craigslist. This is your chance to show how you can be the best housemate. Yet, don’t forget to include what you are after as well. Also, people post rooms that are available on these sites. So, message as many as you can. The reply rate is low because the person posting will receive hundreds of messages. Therefore, make yours stand out from the crowd.

Also, some landlords don’t post their rooms due to the volume of responses. Therefore, some landlords reach out directly to an advert. This was the case for my room. I got a single private room for $900 which was a steal.

There are scams out there…

When I put my ad up on Craigslist, I did get some very interesting e-mails in return as well as many scams. You will have to shift through some pointless offers from some men (if you’re female) and scams. The scams are pretty obvious and the ones that I came across all had the same storyline. The owner is out of town and can Fed Ex the keys if you deposit money. Be aware of extra-long e-mails. Never hand over any money without seeing a place in person. That is the best advice I can give on that.

What Other Winter Activities Are On Offer?

There are other activities besides skiing and snowboarding. I know people who didn’t ski or snowboard but still enjoyed working a Whistler ski season. I personally got caught up snowboarding on my 3 days off from work, therefore, I didn’t do the other activities. You could say I got a little bit obsessed. The only other activity besides partying I did was tubing.

Me snowboarding on a beginner slope on Blackcomb Mountain — Learning to Snowboard

Other winter activities include but are not limited to: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling. However, they all cost money which is something that you won’t have a lot of. If you party hard or save for a summer like I was.

The Culture in a Ski Town

The culture of a ski season is partying hard and consuming whatever you fancy to enjoy your night. Clubbing is available at places like Moe Joe’s and Tommy’s. Each establishment has its own special night of the week, for example, Moe Joe’s on a Sunday. Sunday night is the Mountain staff’s night out, it even has the nickname ‘Church Night’.

I have done many nights at clubs during my late teens and early twenties. Therefore, I did keep the nights at the clubs to a minimum. Après was the place for me. Beers after a good day out on the slopes equals a win-win in my eyes. Again, Whistler had different events on different days. Tuesdays were Swedish After-Ski… by far my favourite.

The Community Feel within a Ski-Season

Sunrise In Whistler up the Mountain — A Regular Morning Sunrise at Work in Whistler

Let’s face it. You don’t do the ski season for the money. It is all about the experience. I made good friends during my time in Whistler plus I learnt to snowboard. I feel this experience is a rite of passage. Also, being in your early 20’s you will find it more enjoyable. Other resort workers are very good at helping each other out.

The community has a Facebook page called Whistler Winter. This is a good source for any questions or queries that you may have. There are enough long-term locals willing to help out newbies. Also, a buy and sell page, which is good for picking up clothes and equipment at cheap prices.

My Overall Thoughts about a Ski-Season

I had an incredible experience in Whistler and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I learnt a new sport which I will continue. Furthermore, I managed to jump the small and mediums jumps (all in my first season). In addition, I lived away from home for the first time. This was scary but the majority of people you meet are doing the same. So, before you know it, you have a family made up of friends from all over the world.

My advice is to jump into a Ski-Season and go and have the most entertaining experience possible.

The Best National Park in Colombia – The Beautiful Tayrona

Posted on August 4, 2020

Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small percentage of every purchase at no cost to you.

Tayrona National Park is this beautiful haven sitting on the Caribbean coastline. It is covered with luxurious, tropical forests, secret trails, and some of the best beaches in Colombia. This little bit of paradise isn’t the cheapest place to visit and yes as tourism grows in Colombia this is one spot to put on your list.

Day One – Tayrona National Park: Hiking to Camp Cabo

Walking along the horse track at Tayrona National Park — The Walk to Camp Cabo

As we started our adventure into the forest a bus is on offer to take you roughly 3km. You could choose to walk this but there isn’t much to look at. Also, there will still be a lot of hiking from the bus stop point anyway. The trails aren’t marked but were well-trodden in places. As we set off the temperature began to rise, and the humidity did too. Luckily most of this walk was under the canopy of the trees.

We walked as far as ‘Camp Cabo’, this is the beach Google shows you when searching for Tayrona. Somehow as we left the first camp to continue the hike, we ended up walking the horse track. It looked to be the only route. If you met us, you would know we always mess it up a little. There was less to look at but was much cooler.

Arriving at Camp Cabo…

Our arrival at Camp Cabo was breathtaking, we may have been hot and sweaty but the view was incredible. A pretty horseshoe bay with golden sand and blue waters gently lapping with a mountain backdrop covered in tropical trees. Now, I can see why this is the poster image of Tayrona National Park.

We booked our spot for the night, we chose the more expensive hammocks to sleep in. These were the ones up on the rocks that give you the view I just described. Now it was time to kick back and enjoy the beautiful weather and crystal-clear water. An afternoon at the beach, my favourite place.

Me relaxing in a hammock which was our bed for the night at Camp Cabo — Comfy Hammock Until The Rude Awakening

Feeling nice and relaxed we got into the hammocks and soon drifted off to sleep. What felt like as soon as my eyes shut; there was a thunderstorm. The rain lashed down and before I could get out of the hammock I was soaked. However, the storm was amazing to watch over the sea. The rumbles of thunder were deafening and the lightning was so bright it lit up the whole bay. As it passed over, the coldness of being soaked swept over my body. Sleep that night went a miss.

Day 2: Hiking Back to the Entrance

We packed extra light for this trip so we didn’t have to carry much so changing clothes wasn’t an option. Cold and damp from the magnificent tropical thunderstorm we set off. This time along the hiker’s path, not the horse track. We stopped off at ‘La Pisicina’ a cute little swimming beach. Swimming beaches are rare to find as the sea here has powerful currents that make entering the water too dangerous. An early morning swim is what we needed. The sun rose in the sky and we were soon warm again.

Me standing on a stone by the sea water at the beach at Tayrona National Park — The Beach Walk

This walk was much quicker than the horse track we accidentally took up to Camp Cabo. The walk was in the sun and along the beach. So much more to look at. However, us being… well us. Somehow again messed up and yep you guessed it… ended up on the horse track. We technically did the whole normal walk. Just some on the way there and some on the way back. The horse track was so muddy this time so we had to go barefoot. Fli–flops just kept getting stuck.

Summary of Tayrona National Park

This haven on the Caribbean coast is worth the visit but I would suggest more time to explore the area. As there are different trails throughout the park. All in all a nice, pleasant trip. I really enjoyed myself even getting woken by the storm. I would definitely go again. We packed in food with us to help keep the costs down. Unfortunately, compared to Iguazu or other attractions Tayrona isn’t cheap. It was easy to get to by the local bus from Santa Marta. Like all popular tourist attractions, early arrival is a must because only a certain amount of people get in per day. You don’t want to be disappointed. It’s worth it.

The Stunning Iguazu Falls – Which Side is the Best?

Posted on July 22, 2020

Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links meaning I earn a small percentage of every purchase at no cost to you.

Iguazu Falls. There is a debate among travellers as to which side to visit. Which side is the best? This question is answered with very mixed responses. Argentina some say. Brazil the others pop up with. We toyed with which side to go to. Argentina’s side had more to offer. Brazil is more landscape. The responses seemed all down to personal preference. With all opinions in mind, we had our decision.

We managed to easily access both sides by public transport but for those who would like a tour, there are many available with a much more comfortable bus ride!!

A Day at the Argentina Side of Iguazu Falls

Water rushing over the devils throat of Iguazu Falls — The Power Surge of The Devil Throat

Arriving early by bus and getting tickets at the gate was easy. However, crowds do quickly form hence the early start. I was excited, who doesn’t love a good waterfall? I love nature. If you have read any of my other blogs you will know being outdoors is where I like to be.

The weather was on our side today. Bonus. We opted to take the train all the way to the top as most people start at the first stop. The top of the waterfall is known as the devil’s throat and once in view, you understand why. This powerful surge of water fell in tremendous volume over the ledge at an impressive speed. All I could do was look on in awe.

The Easy to Follow Walkways

The metal boardwalk with a tree canopy at Iguazu Falls — The Walkways on The Argentina Side

There is a network of walkways taking you to different viewpoints throughout the park. Easy walks. Nothing too crazy. Well, the views are, that’s for sure. You are surrounded by spectacular views no matter which way you look. I can see why people say this side is best for them. Whilst maneuvering the walkways, we reached the upper part which came with views of many smaller waterfalls. The lower part took you right next to a smaller waterfall. Don’t be fooled by the word smaller they still raged and the spray hit you as you approached the end.

Summary of the Argentina Side of Iguazu Falls

The crowds were getting busier as the day went on. Nature is amazing and this is simply a masterpiece. I feel that you get a good feel for this waterfall because there are different perspectives throughout the park. I can see why people pick this as their favourite, it’s a really good day out. You get to see and hear the falls as well as spot wildlife.

A Day Trip to The Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls

Me over-looking the Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian side — Enjoying the Brazilian Side

Yes, we chose both sides due to varying opinions. Also, we are only going to visit it once in our lifetime. Missing out wasn’t an option. I prefer ticking off the bucket list first before going back to places. This wasn’t as well put together as the Argentinian side. There was less walking and not so much wildlife. This doesn’t mean that the Brazilian side can’t stand up and make a name for itself because it does. This site offers something that you don’t get from the Argentina side. The panoramic view. Yes. All of the waterfalls in one eyeshot. Here, you see how big and expansive these waterfalls really are. As well as the amount of land that they cover and the size of the river that they flow into.

A full rainbow over the falls on the Brazilian side with trees as the backdrop — Perfection

Also, there is a little walking platform out to the devil’s throat. However, on this side of the Iguazu Falls, you get drenched from the fast-paced water pouring over. The shine from the sun and moisture from the water made for a beautiful rainbow. Perfect.

Summary of the Two Sides of Iguazu Waterfall

Overall, all the opinions we gathered were valid. The Argentina side had more on offer but the Brazil side had more panoramic. I, personally cannot pick between the two sides. My breath was taken away by both; due to both offering different perspectives of what is truly one magnificent waterfall. It is in the top three to see in the world and it’s very easy to see why. Whichever side you choose you will be speechless. If I did it all over again, I would still choose both.