Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

'Wonderful' Iguazu Falls

Back in Hellenic days, Greek historians sought to catalog what were then the world’s greatest creations, compiling the original list of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” Of course, back then, the “world” consisted of a pretty limited area surrounding the rim of the Mediterranean Sea.

Today, people for some reason are still compelled to boil down all of the planet’s wonders – both natural and man-made – into neat little lists reflective of that original concept. As if it was possible …

But, in an effort to contribute to this continued fruitlessness, we’ll bring you the results of the most recent attempt. Some group called the New Open World Corporation (this just sounds like something George Soros dreamed up) announced their compilation of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World, after a round of online voting that ended 11-11-11 at 11:11 and 11 seconds.

I’m writing from Argentina, and the list was (relatively) big news in Buenos Aires because the insane Iguazu Falls area that straddles the border with Brazil made the cut. The truly awesome site is made up of some 275 waterfalls cascading more than 80 meters. It is certainly worthy of “wonder” status. You can book a great tour of the Argentina side HERE, and check out an offer from a Brazilian tour operator HERE.

Also on the, er, complete list is, um, is the Amazon Rainforest … the entire region, apparently. It spans nine countries and almost 2 billion acres. We’re sure it is “wonderful” but in terms of specific natural sites of interest across the globe, this one seems a bit of a stretch.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

That’s not to say it’s not worth exploring, though. You can book an adventurous tour near the headwaters in the Peruvian city of Iquitos. Of course, you’ll need to fly in or travel by boat to get there, as roads don’t reach this remote jungle outpost.

Rounding out the new list are some pretty amazing places in and of themselves: Halong Bay, Vietnam; Jeju Island, Korea; Komodo, Indonesia; Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines; and Table Mountain, South Africa.

Conspicuously absent? The Grand Canyon. And the Dead Sea. Mount Everest, anyone? Great Barrier Reef, perhaps?

We’re sure you have your own favorite places that could be on the list, which further demonstrates how nearly impossible the task is of narrowing the planet’s great treasures into short lists.

Instead, UNESCO has compiled a comprehensive list of world sites deemed to have “outstanding universal value.” You can find it HERE. We suggest checking out as many of these as you can during the course of your travels. And not limit yourself to some small, arbitrary number.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil: Located in northern Brazil, this park is a bit out of the way but well worth the trip just to make your friends incredibly jealous with your amazing photos. Drive through fields of white sand dunes that will beg you to jump and tumble down them before landing in nearby aqua blue lagoons. Heaven.

El Chaltén, Argentina: While the majority of Argentine Patagonia is flat grasslands, in El Chaltén incredible mountains suddenly puncture the horizon like a ferocious puma´s two front teeth. The sheer vision of these granite giants will knock you off your feet.  So lace up your hiking boots and let yourself be awed by Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia: This space is nothing but 4,000 square miles of cracked salt desert sprinkled with the occasional dormant volcano, reflecting lakes and light pink flamingos. The immense flatness of this blindingly white salt field will make you think deep thoughts while traveling in the standard South American adventure vehicle, the Toyota 4Runner.

Parque Tyrona National Park, Colombia: Stretches of white sand beaches, palm trees, and cloud forests make this the most desirable stretch of Caribbean coastline in Colombia. Trek through the tropical forest while listening to the deafening sounds of cicadas–and be sure not to step on the giant leafcutter ants that cross your bath. Once you reach the beach, sling your hammock and relax to the sounds of the sea. Ahhhh.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Chances are you have already heard everyone else rave about the delicious meat, the flowing rivers of Malbec, tasty empanadas, attractive residents, gay-friendly vibe and the clubs that don´t open until 2am. So I guess the real question is: che, what are you waiting for?!

Machu Picchu, Peru: Would you like to visit an ancient city hidden on the top of a verdant mountain range where llamas roam freely? Um, yes please. Truth be told, everyone and their mother goes here. And you know why? Because it´s freaking amazing, that´s why.

The Amazon River: This great flowing soul of South America radiates from the center of the amazingly diverse continent to touch over nine countries. While the vast majority of the Amazon lies in Brazil, many visitors head to wild west frontier towns and eco-villages in Peru, Colombia or Ecuador to explore the jungle. Remember, rainforests have lots of animal life but also GIANT bugs. Pack smart.

Rio de Janiero, Brazil: A geographically breathtaking city, Rio offers visitors its beaches, limestone rock formations and absurdly friendly locals. Take a picture with the Jesus statue, go to a Brazilian soccer match, drink too many caipirinhas, dance any way you know how and then recover on the beaches of Ipanema with fresh coconut juice. Muito bom!

The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Darwin would be proud of these islands for maintaining their biological diversity with Jurassic Park-era wildlife. While a 200-year-old tortoise is not as intimidating as T-Rex, the spiny iguanas and giant sea lions may make you run for cover until you realize that they are absolutely oblivious to you.