Note: This is a condensed version of the pictures I took with some added narrative. The rest of the pics can be viewed in the album [Trip 2013 - Mercedes to Itacare](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=1&l=a4ef0bc980). Each picture can be clicked to see a larger version and comment / like.



![screenshot_01](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/screenshot_011.png)

After chilling out at the ranch in Mercedes for a few days we were ready for the next spectacle. So what could be more spectacular than the Iguazu falls.

[![photo-9](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-910.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111046101031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-13](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-131.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111046446031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-8](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-810.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111045116031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

We spent two days at the falls, first exploring the Brazilian side when we first arrived then the Argentinian side on the second day.

[![photo-47](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-471.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111051801031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-55](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-551.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111052741031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

Both sides were absolutely spectacular, the sheer volume of water that cascades from one section of it just boggles the mind..

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SJFJw3-bdEU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

On the second day we all hopped in a speedboat and headed up the river right into the maw of the falls itself

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qA5xkfp9BCU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

While we were there some of us took the opportunity to visit a bird sanctuary.

[![photo-23](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-231.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111047531031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-27](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-271.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111047996031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-46](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-461.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111051501031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

Definitely well worth the visit for the sheer number and variety of feathery (and some not so feathery) creatures on show

[![photo-34](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-341.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111049006031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-18](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-181.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111046821031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

All in all the Iguazu falls was an incredible place and one of the (many) highlights of South America for me!

[![photo-59](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-591.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111053566031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-48](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-481.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111052011031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

After the two days we had to move on. An early flight and bus found us in Paraty an old Portuguese colonial town on the southern coast of Brazil.

[![photo-66](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-661.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111054876031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-70](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-701.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111055501031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

Its a quaint little place that I really enjoyed for the two days we were there. On the second day we took a cruze out around the coast to a number of beaches and snorkelling spots.

[![photo-74](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-741.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/mikeysee/media_set?set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3)

[![photo-72](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-721.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111055751031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-75](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-751.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111056401031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

Unfortunately the water wasnt particularly clear for swimming but the booze on the boat was free so it wasnt all bad ;)

[![photo-71](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-711.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111055591031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

The following day we took a short bus ride then ferry across to the island Ilha Grande.

[![photo-77](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-771.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111056961031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

The first day we spent walking around the island exploring the jungle, beaches and waterfalls

[![photo-79](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-791.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111057221031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-80](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-801.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111057571031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

Despite it raining hard that evening we had a good time bonding with our [GAdventures](https://www.gadventures.co.uk/) tour group

[![photo-81](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-811.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111057471031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-83](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-831.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111057836031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

Next up was a long drive up to Rio de Janerio where we had just one day to see the city before saying goodbye to our GAdventures tour group for the last time :(

[![photo-101](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1011.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111063461031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-102](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1021.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111063621031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

Im going to miss most of this bunch of awesome people, they made everything so much more interesting, thanks guys!

Kelsie and I didnt explore the city too much while we were we would be back again in a few weeks for NYE and then a further 14 days so we would have plenty of time to see the sights then. Instead we hopped on a flight he following day and headed north on a taxi then two planes then another taxi and bus and taxi until we eventully reached our Northern Brazil beach destination of Itacare.

[![photo-103](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1031.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111064651031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-109](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1091.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111067551031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

We had three awesome days there soaking up the sun sand and Caipirinhas

[![photo-104](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1041.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111065021031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-108](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1081.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111066411031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

On the second day we decided to go on a hike in search of "one of the best beaches in Brazil". To get there we had to hike along several beaches, then through dense jungle..

[![photo-110](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1101.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111068281031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

.. past several waterfalls which I had a lot of fun cooling off in ..

[![photo-114](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1141.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111070901031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

.. until we finally reached the beautiful, remote beach ..

[![photo-113](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1131.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111069586031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-112](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1121.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111069241031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

On the way back we stopped for a beer and relax as the sun went down..

[![photo-115](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1151.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111071266031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-116](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1161.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111071061031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-120](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1201.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111072451031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)

All in all it was a great start to our Brazilian beach adventure and the start of the end for trip!

[![photo-123](/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/photo-1231.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152111073326031&set=a.10152111043631031.1073741860.593661030&type=3&theater)