Unreal Places · Four countries · Series
4 places in the Americas that look unreal
These four places in the Americas look unreal and are all real: the rock spires of Bryce Canyon, the hundreds of waterfalls at Iguazu, the sandstone walls of Zion, and Lake Atitlan, a volcanic caldera ringed by three volcanoes. All four are open to visitors.
The places in this film
- 1
Bryce Canyon, USA
Bryce Canyon in Utah has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world: thin red, orange and white rock spires. It is not a river canyon but a series of natural amphitheatres. Sunrise at the rim lights the rock up. Rim trails are easy, and the Navajo Loop drops down among the spires.
- 2
Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil
Iguazu Falls runs along the Argentina and Brazil border, with around 275 separate drops depending on the water level. At the Devil's Throat, about half the river pours into one narrow chasm. Both sides are national parks and UNESCO sites; the Argentine side has more walkways, the Brazilian side the wide panorama.
- 3
Zion National Park, USA
Zion's red and cream sandstone walls rise up to about 800 metres above the canyon floor. In the Narrows, the canyon closes to about 6 metres wide and you walk up the river itself. Angels Landing is the famous ridge hike and needs a permit. A shuttle runs through the main canyon for much of the year.
- 4
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Lake Atitlan fills a giant volcanic caldera in the Guatemalan highlands and is the deepest lake in Central America, about 340 metres. Three volcanoes, Atitlan, Toliman and San Pedro, rise around it. Boats link the lakeside villages, each with its own character.
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Plan it
- Best time
- Spring and autumn for Bryce and Zion; March to May and August to November for Iguazu; November to April, the dry season, for Lake Atitlan.
- How long
- A day each for Bryce and Zion, two days at Iguazu to see both sides, and three days at Lake Atitlan.
- Getting around
- Bryce and Zion are about two hours apart by car. Iguazu is reached by air via Puerto Iguazu or Foz do Iguacu. Lake Atitlan is a few hours by shuttle from Antigua.
Good to know
- Book Angels Landing permits in advance through the national park lottery.
- At Iguazu, bring a waterproof layer: the spray soaks the walkways.
- Bryce is high and cold at night, even in summer.
Frequently asked
Is Bryce Canyon or Zion better? +
They are different and close together. Zion is a deep green canyon you look up from, while Bryce is an amphitheatre of spires you look down into from the rim. Most visitors see both in one trip.
Which side of Iguazu Falls is better? +
Both. The Argentine side has more walkways right over and beside the falls, including the Devil's Throat. The Brazilian side gives the wide panoramic view. Two days lets you see both.
Why is Lake Atitlan so special? +
It fills a huge volcanic caldera and is ringed by three volcanoes, which gives it a dramatic shape. It is also the deepest lake in Central America.
