What if one night you saw a rose and woke up with it in your hand? Sometimes, our dreams unfold right before our very eyes and with the fulfillment of our wishes, our lives are changed forever. Imagine a massive curtain of raging water dramatically plunging into an abyss surrounded by lush forests, with the reverberating screams of monkeys and exotic birds complementing the ambient sounds of nature. Under a clear sky, this cloud of steam rises above and reaches a point where a deafening boom silences everything. The noise is the rampaging water as it drops straight down from the semi-circular amphitheater of basaltic lava. It is here where the enormous column of water is fragmented into 275 waterfalls, foaming with white spray that rises to reveal the verdant green backdrop of the jungle.

Iguazu Falls extends over 2,700 meters and has twice the height and four times the width of the Niagara Falls. Iguazu Falls consist of over 275 cascading walls of water spanning a three-kilometer edge, the most prominent of which is the horseshoe- shaped Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) at the far end of the stretch. A 2,080-meter catwalk allows the visitor to enjoy the unique landscape before arriving at the imposing Devil’s Throat, the most impressive cascade of the falls. I asked our gracious guide, why did they not call it Angel’s Breath instead? An impressive geological fault embellished by myriad waterfalls, the Cataratas de Iguazu is considered a wonder of the world. 

A visit to the Jesuit Missions’ ancient ruins is also a must. These 17th- and 18th-century missions were founded to convert the Guaraní indigenous people to Christianity. As an added treat, Iguazu also boasts a lush rainforest with an extensive range of flora and fauna—80 mammal species, 2,000 species of plants, and over 450 kinds of birds and insects. Even snakes and wildcats are common during jungle treks. Take a truck ride through the lush forests while spotting the resident macaws and toucans’ loros, and synergize with the protected ecosystems that thrive wonderfully here. Back in my suite at the Gran Meliá Iguazú, the Reservation and Calendar of Full Moon Tour 2011 read: “Submerge yourself in nature, breathe deeply, and harmonize with the silver-plated rays of the moon that bathes everything in sight and ignites the night. One of the most unique sights in the world, you have to experience it to understand its beauty.” As darkness cloaked the evening, I said a prayer and thanked the good Lord for traveling mercies. I am glad I heeded the call of Iguazu Falls.