The Day We Escaped Santo André Brazil for Iguazu Falls

I will begin to share more here about my time in South America. Many were solo trips and some of the most memorable periods of travel in my life. Amazing people, incredible food, and places that almost do not seem real until you stand in front of them.

One of those places was Iguazu Falls.

At the time, I was in Santo André with a group from the US on a work assignment. There was political unrest happening in parts of Brazil during our trip - Not to mention recently an employee was shot during a carjacking - and company security had made it very clear that certain places were completely off limits. Rio was specifically banned, and we were “strongly encouraged” to stay at the hotel during the weekends.

Not technically banned from leaving the hotel…

That wording mattered.

One evening I quietly asked a coworker, “What do you think about making a day trip to Iguazu Falls?”

Without hesitation he answered, “Absolutely.”

And just like that, the plan was made.

Slipping Away Before Sunrise

The next morning started around 4:00 AM.

We quietly slipped out before security could start asking questions, grabbed a taxi, and headed to the airport while most of the city was still asleep.

A few hours later we landed in Foz do Iguaçu, grabbed another taxi, and headed straight for Iguaçu National Park.

The anticipation built the entire drive.

Then suddenly, there it was.

The First View of Iguazu Falls

Pictures do not prepare you for Iguazu Falls.

Not even close.

The scale is overwhelming. Hundreds of waterfalls spread across nearly two miles of jungle-covered cliffs. The roar hits you before you fully see it. Mist rises everywhere. The air itself feels alive.

It is one of the largest waterfall systems in the world, straddling both Brazil and Argentina, and honestly makes many famous waterfalls look small in comparison.

If the scenery looks familiar, there is a reason. Iguazu Falls appeared in the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull during the dramatic jungle sequences. Hollywood loves locations that look larger than life, and Iguazu absolutely delivers.

But standing there in person is different from any movie shot.

Hiking Straight Into the Spray

We hiked the Brazilian side, following the walkways that slowly reveal wider and wider views of the falls. Every turn somehow looked even more unreal than the last.

Eventually we made our way down toward the bottom near the spray.

And then, because sometimes travel decisions are made in about three seconds, we jumped in.

Completely soaked. Completely worth it.

The water thundered around us while tourists stood nearby taking photos and laughing at the two idiots fully embracing the experience. It remains one of the most refreshing moments I have ever had while traveling.

Then came the long hike back out.

By this point we were exhausted, soaked, hungry, and still somehow energized by the entire adventure.

“Why Not Go to Argentina Too?”

Most people would have called it a successful day and headed back to the airport.

Not us. We looked at each other and basically said, “Well… we are already here.”

So, we waved down another taxi and in my broken Spanish asked the driver if he would take us across the border to the Argentinian side of the falls to Iguazú National Park.

The driver looked unsure. He shrugged, and said “OK.”

Perfect.

A while later he dropped us at the entrance to the Argentina side and drove away.

It was only then we realized something important. We had absolutely no plan for getting back to Brazil.

This was before rideshare apps existed. No Uber. No easy way to call for transportation. No real backup plan. I assured my travel buddy we would “figure it out.”

Which, to be fair, is how a surprising number of travel adventures work.

A Backup Plan Presented Itself

After exploring the Argentinian side — which offers a completely different perspective of the falls and puts you even closer to the massive cascades — we finally headed toward the road outside the park.

At that point I was mentally preparing to hitchhike back across an international border and somehow make it to the airport in time for our flight.

Not ideal.

But just as we reached the road, a taxi appeared pulling right up to the curb and dropping off a family.

We flagged him down immediately.

Thankfully, he agreed to take us all the way back to the airport in Brazil.

Crisis avoided.

The Greatest Hamburger and Back to The Hotel

After what felt like the longest day imaginable, we finally arrived back at the airport in Foz do Iguaçu.

Completely exhausted.

Still damp.

And starving.

I do not remember the name of the airport restaurant, but I still remember that hamburger. Maybe it was because we had been hiking all day. Maybe because we had spent the entire day operating on adrenaline and bad decisions.

But to this day, it remains one of the best hamburgers I have ever eaten.

We boarded our flight back to São Paulo, grabbed a taxi to the hotel in Santo André. We did not really speak of it, just nodded, went off to our rooms, and collapsed into bed.

The next morning we joined our coworkers for breakfast like nothing had happened.

We checked in with security.

Smiled politely.

And said absolutely nothing about spending the previous day exploring one of the natural wonders of the world.

Some trips stay with you because of luxury.

Others because of the scenery.

And some stay with you because for one single day, you chased adventure and ended up with a great story.

(And sorry Mike W - the story it out there now)