When listening "Iguazú", the first thing that comes to the mind are the waterfalls, recognized for being one of the seven natural wonders of the world located within the Iguazú National Park (declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO) in the province of Misiones.
The Iguazu Falls are shared by the countries of Argentina and Brazil, both sides you can visit and go through the different activities in the National Parks. The Falls have a total 275 jumps: 80% of them are on the argentine side and the remaining 20% on the side brazilian. Both sides are different and it is impossible to decide which is the best, for this reason it is recommended to visit both because the people commonly said: Brazil have the best panoramic view and in Argentine you can live the falls".
Undoubtedly, the falls are the greatest tourist attraction in Iguazú but it is important to note that there are endless activities and attractions to enjoy, among the most outstanding there are the trekkings, mountainbike, nautical activities, birdwatching, helicopter flights and observations of wildlife.
So that you can explore this exotic destination I leave you each of the activities and places:
What to do on the argentine side of Iguazú
We are going to tell you all the activities, excursions and places to visit in Puerto Iguazú and in the National Park on the argentine side:
Enjoy the Iguazu Falls
The Iguazú Falls are located within the National Park (a nature preservation area that covers 67,720 hectares) a about 20 kilometers from the city of Puerto Iguazú is reached through the RN12. The river that forms them, also called Iguazú, is born in the state of Paraná in Brazil, and after traveling about 1200 kilometers for a flat zone, absorbing the flow of the tributaries that it runs into, reaches a point where a geological fault forms a crack in the plain. As if a giant shovel had sunk into the earth, separating its sides.
Only in this cut, it coincides with the passage of a river that has been traveling through a calm geography, without too many shocks, which little by little finds in its transit a series of jumps. And suddenly, about 80 meters of unevenness that turn into a violent sensation of vertigo: the Garganta del Diablo, the main waterfall of the Iguazu Falls, combined with a constant deafening thunder that plunges into the depths, and then gently flows into the Paraná River a few kilometers away.
In the Guaraní language, the term Iguazú translates as great waters. They were discovered by european explorers in 1541, by the advanced Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. In 1984, UNESCO declared them as natural heritage of humanity and in 2011 an international contest nominated the Iguazu Falls as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
The Iguazu Falls are a system of 275 waterfalls in the middle of the jungle, they have a width of 2.7 kilometers and their height varies between 60 meters with a water flow of 1,800 m³/s. A large part of the water from the falls into the Garganta del Diablo, a long chasm that is 82 meters high, 150 meters wide and 700 meters long.
Upon entering the Iguazú National Park you will find that all the trails are signposted and lead you to the walkways, a path system and iron railings in the middle of the jungle environment. Through these walkways you can access all the walks that allow you to see the falls: the Paseo Superior, where you can feel the breeze and see the water falling, the Pseo Inferior, which allows you to get closer to the mouth of the most impressive jump, the Garganta del Diablo.
The system of the walkways (3800 total meters in length) introduces you to the natural environment and adapts perfectly to the environment, protecting it without generating impact, and allowing everyone to enjoy the wonders that the Park offers. The folding walkway technology adapts to the natural environment: when the Iguazú River rises, the walkways fold, letting the water run. In the case of an extraordinary flood, the sections walkways detach and rest on the river bed, to later be recovered, reassembled and reused, without causing damage to the environment.
The walkways are adapted to baby strollers and wheelchairs so that everyone can approach the Garganta del Diablo, walk the Upper Path and touch the mist of the waterfalls in the Lower Promenade.
Other ways to get to the famous Garganta del Diablo is through the ecological train of the jungle. This communicates the entrance of the Iguazú National Park from the central station to Garganta del Diablo station, where you can access one of the most impressive and spectacular falls of the falls.
The ecological train of the jungle has an intermediate stop that is the Cataratas station, from this stop you can access the Inferior circuit, in these walks you can see the falls from below and from above.
In the park, the ecological train of the jungle plays a fundamental role in accessibility since it has special spaces to transport baby strollers and wheelchairs. The train moves at a speed that does not exceed 20 kilometers per hour and to avoid damaging the environment, this train is powered by liquefied petroleum gas, a non-polluting fuel.
It has a distance of 3,700 meters and the departure frequency of the ecological train is every 30 minutes. The last one leaves for the Garganta del Diablo at 4 pm. Tickets for transportation they are taken out at the entrance to the park.
Another of the most recommended ways to see the Iguazu Falls and all the environment that surrounds them is through the Argentine side waterfall excursion, where they pick you up from the hotel and together with a guide you walk through the Iguazú National Park for 2 hours. If you are interested in spending more time on the tour and see each corner of the Falls privately I recommend you the iguazú premium excursion that lasts 6 hours with lunch inside the restaurant located in the National Park.
Gran Aventura Boat Tour
One of the activities that no visitor wants to miss in its passing through the Iguazú Falls is the boat excursion Gran Aventura to navigate near the waterfalls and explore the heart of the missionary jungle.
The excursion is divided into two and lasts a total of two hours. In the first part, there is a truck ride (30 minutes long) to discover the flora and fauna of the missionary jungle.
And the second part is a boat navigation (1h30m duration) along the Iguazú River seeing the falls from another perspective San Martín, Three Musketeers and the Devil's Throat canyon, as well as soaking in a natural shower.
The tour begins at the entrance of the Iguazú National Park. Life jackets are given to all passengers, and waterproof bags in which the other change of clothes is put, protected from the water.
Regarding navigation, the first part is in the semi-rigid (zodiacs) that make the approach to the feet of the jumps San Martín, Bosetti, Tres Mosqueteros and Garganta del Diablo Canyon and navigation downstream through the river rapids, arriving at Puerto Macuco (3 kilometers from the Falls).
As approaching the waterfalls you can see incredible views of them from the base of the river, when the water flows with great pressure from the waterfalls, and it will be a unique setting for photos.
Every time closer to these natural showers, it is requested to store everything electronic in waterproof bags, in order to enjoy the freshness of the water, soaking directly, feeling the hit of the water like a massage.
Then you return to the dock, there is time to change into dry clothes, to begin with the second part. It consists of traveling with movitrucks along 8 kilometers through the missionary jungle, accompanied by a bilingual guide who will help interpret the beautiful flora and fauna of the surrounding region.
If you want to enjoy more of the boat ride, truck and walk along the catwalks, you can choose the Iguazu Falls excursion with boat ride Great Adventure that lasts 8 hours.
Watch the falls on a Full Moon Night
If you are lucky enough that any of the dates of your stay in Iguazu Falls matches a full moon night, I recommend you live this experience awesome.
It is an activity that takes place in the Garganta del Diablo where you will be able to film and take photos of the Falls, you can also walk along the catwalks under the moonlight. The duration of this excursion is 2 hours 30 minutes.
The visit to the falls with a full moon is a unique show in the world and can be done in any of the four seasons of the year and from twilight until late at night, where the moon surprises with its change of color as it reaches its fullness.
The walk in the light of the moon is a unique experience that takes place five nights a month in the Iguazú National Park, reaching the Devil's Throat, every night it has three departures.
The tour begins with the check-in at the park, after a brief introductory talk by the park ranger and the guide in charge, the Ecological Train of the Jungle crossing the park with its shadows, aromas, and characteristic sounds of the night to Garganta Station.
There begins a wonderful walk to the Garganta del Diablo balcony by walkways that cross the Iguazú River, to enjoy the view of this imposing waterfall.
The mysteries of the interpretive walk can be accentuated when the moon intermingles with the clouds that embrace it and let it see as they cross in front of its splendor, or dissipated with the moon and the stars in their fullness. Every night and every outing is different.
Finally, you return to the Central Station from where the passengers will be guided to the park exit (18 kilometers from Puerto Iguazú).
This excursion includes roundtrip transfers from the hotel you are. In the case of going on your own renting a car you have to go from the center along National Route 12 to the intersection with the 101 until the entrance to the Park signposted.
Observe the imposing Garganta del Diablo
The Garganta del Diablo (Devil'd Throat) is a set of waterfalls in the shape of a "U" of the Iguazú River falling more than 80 meters high that join in a narrow gorge which concentrates the largest flow of the Iguazú Falls and one of the most impressive spectacles of the Iguazú Falls.
The Salto Unión is the jump that gives rise to the Garganta del Diablo, it is located on the line that divides Argentina from Brazil. In this waterfall the waterfalls measure almost 80 meters high and when the water falls, rainbows and alt The clouds of mist and dew that can be seen from more than 7 kilometers away.
Around the Throat del Diablo there is an enormous biodiversity among the fauna species a bird that nests in the throat itself stands out: the waterfall swift, a species that has the characteristic of building nests behind waterfalls. This species has very short legs, which are adapted to adhere to wet rocks. It spends much of the day flying to hunt insects that are its food.
The Garganta del Diablo can be seen through the steel walkways that can be reached with the Ecological Train that starts from the parking lot at the entrance to the Iguazú National Park (18 kilometers from Puerto Iguazú). This walk allows you to approach a few centimeters from the most imposing and mighty waterfall in the Park. It is also possible to take a boat tour from some downstream piers (before entering the walkways there is a sign indicating your direction) to the vicinity of the waterfalls and the gorge itself, passing very close to the waterfall.
Riding a mountainbike in the National Park
The Iguazú National Park is located 18 kilometers from Puerto Iguazú and can be easily reached by National Route 12. This reserve of 67 620 hectares is one of the most visited sites in Misiones because it is home to the famous Iguazu Falls and countless species jungle.
One of the funniest ways to see the fauna and flora of the area. It is through the Bike Tour through the National Park, where for 4 hours you walk the dirt trails to appreciate various species of trees such as curupay, white laurel, barayú or paranaense cedar, aguay, and ceibo. The arboreal flora of the reserve is made up of more than 90 species, the communities of Palo Rosa or Perobá being characteristic of the place. The latter is a tree that can reach up to 40 meters in height and palm hearts grow in its shade, the trunks of which end in an edible bud.
On the side Of the fauna, you can see waterfall swifts, a bird that nests in the rocks,? coatis and specimens of the large toucan, one of the 5 species of toucans that live in the park. The harpy eagle, the lizards that climb the logs and stones are also highlighted.
Among the endangered species that the park protects is the jaguar, the tapir, the ocelot, the jaguarundí, the large anteater, the tamandua, the jungle eagles, and the alligator overo.
Among the insects that abound in the park's trails, you can see the butterflies of the order Lepidoptera, the genus Morpho and Heliconius, with their "swallow tails". Others that abound on the ground or in mud are the Pieridae. Other conspicuous insects are the clipper ants (Solenopsis), the "tiger" ants, the beetle "torito" and the "harlequin".
Until you reach the upper part of the Iguazú River, you will be able to appreciate the vast majority of these species, in total the entire cycling circuit is 12 kilometers with interpretive stops.
Walking the Macuco road
The Macuco trail (name that takes for a species of bird native, similar to the partridge with gray plumage) is part of the activities that can be done in the Iguazú National Park. The trail can be walked freely, it is a good option for discover the jungle and its inhabitants. The trail has a extension of 6000 meters round trip. You can cover the whole or only part of it. The Macuco road is on the Argentine side of the falls and begins near the car park, it is very well signposted and easily traveled.
The path is pedestrianized, runs through the interior of the jungle and takes the visitor to the territory of the Caí monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus), where you can enjoy a close encounter with this kind of expressive face, restless and very curious.
Another attraction of the Macuco trail is the Arrechea waterfall, a 23-meter high waterfall formed in the Arrechea stream (a tributary of the Iguazú River). It forms a natural pool of transparent waters, since the basin of this part of the Iguazú River is completely covered by the protected forest of the Iguazú National Park.
Another curious fact to take into account is that the best times to see wildlife is early in the morning or at sunset.
To get to the Macuco trail from Puerto Iguazú you have to go during about 18 kilometers in car along the RN12 to the National Park Iguazu. The beginning of the trail is signposted in the reserve's parking area.
Swimming in the Mbocay Jumps
The falls of the Mbocay stream (it means "small weapon" in Guaraní) are located in the urban area of Puerto Iguazú. They are a series of jumps and waterfalls that are discovered when traveling an approximate distance of 300 meters through the wild paths of the mountain, in addition to several natural pools and exuberant vegetation. This stream is born in the Puerto Peninsula Park and flows into the Paraná River.
The access is free and free to the public, there are campsites in the family houses near the place. Some stages of the trail have stairs that allow you to easily navigate the mountain. The last section is marked only by the footprints of the visitors. Around the falls you will be able to appreciate the jungle that surrounds it with bushes and rocks. There are also small wooden walkways no more than 100 meters long for better access to the waterfalls.
To visit the waterfalls of the stream Mbocay and can be reached on foot from the center, it is 500 meters. First you must reach Ambar y Libertad avenue, where the plant is located recycling, continue along Ambar for approximately 1.5 kilometers until you see a small sign indicating the access on the left. Then there is only 400 meters straight to the stream.
Doing arborism and canopy in the jungle
The canopy is an adventure sport whose main objective is to travel through the jungle from the top of the trees, swinging or suspended in the middle of nowhere, it is as fun as it is exciting.
The equipment consists of harnesses, esl Fertilizers and pulleys, with ropes that provide the necessary security throughout the journey. The wooden structures built in the treetops are the milestones in this walk through the highest level of the jungle. The platforms are linked by steel cables, from where visitors jump and travel more than 200 meters away hanging from a maximum security harness.
If you are interested in the challenge of flying through the air, a good option is do it with the excursion jungle fly, the adventure is half a day through the heart of the Selva Misionera, an exceptional ecosystem with numerous plants and bird species local.
The excursion is with a guide who starts the trekking of 2 kilometers (at the entrance to the Iguazú Reserve, 5 kilometers from the city center) to then reach the area where the canopy ( 12 meters high) and finally enjoy the fun activity of arborism (you move over suspension bridges built between the trees).
During the tour and activities in the Missionary Jungle you will be able to observe some of its 2,000 pristine plant species, you will have the possibility of sighting the birdlife of the region with more than 400 species of birds , highlighting toucans, trogons, cattle , the carp birds interos, hummingbirds and magpies. The numerous autochthonous fauna and the varied ichthyofauna of the Ríos Iguazú and Paraná offer phenomena such as natural museums, sanctuaries of flora, where legendary palm trees, giant ferns and bamboo canes reached the heights of the most important trees in the forest. inland Atlantic.
You will also find in the narrow paths carpeted with litter, herbaceous ferns, philodendrons, vines, air carnations, lichens and mosses. It is a magical place, ideal for lovers of adventure and nature!
Birdwatching in the Jardín de los Picaflores
The walk through the Hummingbird Garden is a very good option for bird lovers, you will be able to see around 8 species different and more than 150 specimens of hummingbirds in total freedom.
The park is located in the heart of Puerto Iguazú (near Aguirre Avenue and Misiones), it is the only tourist attraction of the American birdlife that is dedicated to feeding these little birds for over 25 years.
The garden has a space for relaxation, contemplation and various paths that allow you to see these wonderful endemic flying birds up close. It is also equipped with oriented benches strategically so that you can have an overview of the garden and the hummingbirds.
As is characteristic of these birds, their appearances are fleeting, but with a little attention it is possible to spot a great diversity of specimens, including the emerald hummingbird, the tan, the purple crown, scaled and white throat. One of the exotic species that flies through this garden is the red hummingbird, native to northern Brazil.
The space also has a minishop where you can purchase bibliographic materials related to the flora and fauna of Iguazú, sculptures of different birds and t-shirts with souvenir prints.
Walk in Parque Nacional Luis Honorio Rolón Municipal
The Parque Luis Honorio Rolón is a protected natural area of about 10 hectares located in the center of the city of Puerto Iguazú.
This outstanding green space is a fantastic place to discover nature and a little more of the fauna of the region. You will be able to see a dense bamboo jungle, a great variety of trees that stand out for their great height, flowers and many animal species, especially birds, such as toucans and hummingbirds, you can also walk along its trails of red earth.
The Municipal Park plays an important role in recreation, education for schoolchildren in the localities near the park and visitors who have just arrived, allowing them to have a first contact with the missionary jungle.
With the name assigned to the place we wanted to pay tribute to Dr. Luis Rolón, a native of Puerto Iguazú and a true defender of missionary nature, to whom the creation of 8 provincial parks, the first municipal reserves, and a great boost to the private reserve system.
Visit the Biocentro to see the native fauna and flora
The Biocentro de Iguazú is a space to see native flora and fauna. On Route 12, in the entrance of Puerto Iguazú, the Biocenter disseminates information about the characteristics of the Atlantic forest of the province of Misiones and invites you to be part of the conservation of the environment.
You will be able to immerse yourself in his walk through the tropical garden , where different paths take you to visit the aquarium, the serpentarium, the butterfly farm, the garden of orchids, bromeliads and water lilies, as well as the lagoon that receives birds, where photography lovers can capture fabulous images.
The architecture with stones, wood and glass that surrounds each of the spaces focuses on greater contact and enjoyment for the visitor.
This interpretation center in Puerto Iguazú is a mirror of what can be found in the missionary jungle , but also It shelters exotic species from other parts of the world. In many cases it is about the recovery of animals that will later return to their natural habitat, such as the famous crocodile brought from Missouri.
The tour begins with access to a reptile and aquarium where you can see iguanas, snakes, boas, colored pythons and poisonous snakes from the region and around the world, as well as different fish species.
The serpentarium comes with a story behind that makes it legendary. Part of the exotic animals it houses found a home there at the request of scientist Alejandro Vogt, who contributed to the science and development of the antivenom serum . Its Zootoxicological Center in the city of Oberá had to close its doors and the species were distributed among different institutions to avoid their sacrifice.
The trail continues to recreate the habitat of the Paraná jungle where you can see alligators, turtles and a space dedicated to boas and pythons of fascinating colors and sizes. The visit then continues with the butterfly farm, one of the prides of the Biocenter, where it is possible to meet and find the different butterflies of the missionary jungle and their life cycles (egg, caterpillar, butterfly). All this through a game established with the visitor through descriptive boards. Approximate duration: 1 hour.
Another point to visit in the Biocentro is El Pueblito, a thematic hotel with a sustainable philosophy, surrounded by the natural landscape of the Pájaros lagoon, in perfect alliance with the tropical garden. Its design It has colonial nuances that recreate historic buildings of the city. The decoration comes from the hand of artisans and visual artists of the region. It has an alternative and renewable energy policy and works with suppliers that also develop a project in line with conservation and preservation environment.
The walk through the Biocentro will take you approximately one hour and it is open from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.
Tour Iguazú on the Bus Turistico
The Tourist Bus is an entertaining and complete way to visit the most popular places in Iguazú. It is a circuit with 47 tourist points, it lasts approximately of 1 hour and 30 minutes with a frequency of 6 daily departures, departing from Plaza San Martin in the center of the city. The route has 6 stops, in which it stops a few minutes so that To get passengers off or on.
On board there are audio-guide headphones in different languages that provide information as you you travel through the city and the different attractions that surround it.
The ticket has 4 dies (1, 2, 3 and 4) which allows you to upload up to 4 times. This is a great advantage because you will be able to combine several tours and get back on the bus to go to other points.
The bus has two floors, one closed and the other open for those who want more contact with the outside. The stops it makes during the tour are:
-Plaza San Martín
-Bus terminal
-La Aripuca
-Guira Oga
-Iguazú National Park
-Hito Tres Fronteras
Visit Parque Tematico Aripuca
The Aripuca Theme Park is a site that tries to make its visitors aware of the effects of indiscriminate felling of trees and the cu care for the environment , in addition to showing how the missionary jungle was formed before the arrival of the man.
The term " Aripuca "comes from the name of a trap of Guaraní origin that was used to capture animals without hurting them. This agro-eco-tourism project belongs to to the Waidelich family, who was in charge of carrying it out by reproducing a giant-sized aripuca to illustrate the richness of the Misiones forest.
In this way people can learn about the characteristics of the logs that comprise it, their approximate growth and geographical distribution, as well as their potential and real utility. It is also learned about the Guaraní culture through an autochthonous element that was used in their hunting practices.
During the tour of the park, a local guide leads visitors through the interpretation room and the Guaraní handicrafts room until they come across the huge aripuca, a large structure of trunks 17 meters high by 30 meters in diameter and 500,000 kilos made with trees that are in danger of extinction. It should be noted that many of the trunks that make up the aripuca were bought in sawmills where they were about to be turned into boards. Others recovered from fields where they had been knocked over by storms or because they had already completed their life cycle.
The truth is that this true monument combines 28 species of native trees. Among them are: lapacho abá, missionary cedar, timbo, rosewood, peteribí or black parrot, whip horse, incense, curupa-í, marmelero, yellow berry, guayubira, cañafistula or ibirá pitá, black lapacho, samohú or cotton, alecrín, guaicá, laurel, camboatá, crown thorn, anchico, bull's shadow, guatambú, grapia, quina or palo amargo, parana pine or araucaria, missionary ceibo, sapuí or palo de canga. The names of each tree are carved in its bark and the visitor can climb to the top of the aripuca by stairs.
As you walk through this gigantic trap, the guide explains how it was used: food was placed inside the aripuca and when the animal entered to look for it, it stepped on a stick and the trap fell into its original position, leaving to the trapped prey without killing it. This is how species that were part of the diet of the native Guarani such as pigeons, wild chickens and rabbits fell.
When walking inside the aripuca it is impressive to see the remarkable size of the trunks, when walking inside this immense trap, one can feel in the hands the different textures of each bark. The trees they give off a unique aroma that can be appreciated if you approach the nose to them.
The Park is located 4 kilometers from Puerto Iguazú, you can reach renting a car and heading down Avenida Victoria Aguirre for 9 minutes until the entrance is signposted.
Strolling around the Parque Orquidiario
Near the Three Borders Milestone is the Solitary Indian Orchid a nursery specialized in orchids , where they are exhibited and they teach the ways of growing and the different dates of flowering of these exotic plants.
In this farm about 40 varieties of orchids of the region are grown , both native and introduced. Among the species with striking colors and shapes, the Aquatic, underground and there are also epiphytes . There is also a commercial sector where native and hybrid orchid plants are grown, exhibited and sold, it is an excellent option for those who want to take a souvenir. One of the most requested is the splendorous Catasetum embra.
The orchid garden is an interesting walk for lovers of plants and flowers, through different paths you can see the striking colors and shapes of these tropical plants. The total journey takes approximately 40 minutes, It can be entered from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm and has no cost.
The orchid park is only 1 kilometer from the Port of Iguazú, it can be reached on foot or by car through Jangadero street.
Visit the Museo Imagenes de la Selva
There is a private museum in this city called Imagenes de la Selva, it works in a building belonging to the Bishopric of Iguazú and whose sample belongs to Rodolfo Allou (great-nephew of Jules Verne, who lived in this area and became involved with the history and customs of the Guarani). numerous wood carvings representing anthropomorphic figures and animals typical of this place.
Among the characters who lived in the fronds, he portrayed a pregnant aborigine, the original professions and details of the life of the Jesuit missions. Figures from Guarani legends can also be seen and animals.
In addition, in the museum rooms you will see noble wood sculptures of some popular characters such as Jorge Cafrune and Horacio Quiroga, another in love with wild nature.
On the outside of the museum you can walk the Sendero de la Selva , where you reach the Panambí stream, here you will see that some visitors They decide to bathe in the waters. In turn, following the same signposted path, you will reach the chapel that also houses carvings by the same author.
The Allou Museum is located 5 kilometers from the center of Iguazú , it can be reached renting a car and driving for 11 minutes along National Route 12 to the signs of the place.
See macaws and other colorful birds at Guira Oga Bird House
It is impossible to miss this place during your stay in Puerto Iguazú. The House of the Birds Guira Oga (Refuge of Wild Animals) It is one of the best options created by man to get closer to nature. It is a center for the rescue, rehabilitation and breeding of wildlife that is then reintroduced into their natural environments.
It is enough to walk around the facilities to realize not only the love we have for animals here, but also the maturity and criteria with which the subject is discussed.
The Güirá Oga Center is located on a 19-hectare property, which is called“ protected landscape ”under the name of Andrés Giai, in homage to the renowned naturalist.
The circuit through this reserve is demarcated by a brochure that is delivered at the entrance to Güirá Oga that organizes the tour according to different areas of the park, their species and activities. Interpretation and Projection, the Nutrition Sector, the nursery, the rehabilitation space, the Hospital and the Ecoshop (where you can choose memories of Güirá Oga).
The place has an interesting and centuries-old vegetation cover, with trees up to 30 meters high. About 40 different species were identified (Coaties , parrots, toucans, macaws, snakes, iguanas, turtles, macucos and hawks, among others) and around 50 types of butterflies that constantly fly over the jungle environment.
The park can be explored in its entirety with or without guides through the trails located in the middle of the missionary jungle. The good thing about doing the guided tour is that you can learn about the history of each animal. enclosures where each species live conserve the vegetation of the place, offering animals that cannot be released the possibility of living in their habitat.
Güirá Oga is a place to reflect on the need to protect wildlife and its environment, it is important to keep in mind that it is not a zoo, it is a regional fauna rehabilitation center.
If you are interested in knowing the Reserve, it is located five kilometers from Puerto Iguazú, it is located at km 5 of the RN12 , its entrance is marked by a signpost. You can get there by renting a car and driving through the RN12 or by bus from the Bus Terminal of Puerto Iguazú (Av. Córdoba 200), from there the group of the Company El Practico leaves you in Güirá Oga's entry.
Visit the Guaraní village Iriapú
Hidden deep in the missionary jungle, 5 kilometers from Puerto Iguazú is the Iriapú aboriginal community, its name means “Water Noise”.
This community preserves its customs as if the passage of time had not passed , by delving into its form and lifestyle you will be able to know its exquisite gastronomy, its construction based on clay, the cultivation of medicinal plants, its dances and traditional festivals.
You can do the walk in one day, it is best to do it on a Friday to enjoy its traditional parties full of music, dance and food.
Iriapu is an aboriginal community that has a permanent relationship with art , which makes it stand out for its artisanal value, where you can appreciate its works of sizes, necklaces and baskets.
The Village can only be accessed through excursions to Iriapu, where you are transferred from the center of Iguazú to the area of the aboriginal town, where you will see a sign that says in Guarani “Aguije Vete” which means Welcome, and another word that says “Tekoa” that means Community.
The guide will take you around the town, where you will have the opportunity to meet the inhabitants and exchange words with them. It is a beautiful experience to learn about the Guaraní people, their rich history and ways of life.
The inhabitants show in a cheerful and warm way their customs, art and the different jobs within the community. After spending 2 hours exchanging cultures and learning about them, they return to the center from Iguazú.
Go through the thematic space Culturas Park
Culturas Park is one of the places and walks that you can take in Iguazú to get to know the best of missionary culture and the charms of the East.
The first stop at Culturas Park consists of a multimedia presentation on regional and oriental cultures. It has 3 thematic spaces, the first where you can meet and buy traditional crafts from the region , the second space is intended for brought items de Oriente and to end the tour at the third site you can enjoy a jewelry and mineral museum.
Also Culturas Park Iguazú has a Japanese Garden where you can relax and enjoy the natural environment.
In this entertainment space you will find exotic sculptures, precious stones, clothing, accessories and the best of regional and oriental gastronomy.
The route through Culturas Park is perfectly signposted and it takes approximately 1 hour. To get from the center of Puerto Iguazú you have to go 3.5 kilometers along Avenida Victoria Aguirre to the entrance arch to the park.
Ride a mountain bike along the Camino de Yaguarundi
The mountain bike excursion along the Camino del Yaguarundí is an exclusive adventure for lovers of cycling and nature. During the tour you will be accompanied by a guide who will take you through the most amazing paths of the missionary jungle, you will also be able to enjoy the whole environment that surrounds the Park Iryapú Natural Forest (Guaraní indigenous reserve).
The pedaling begins at the entrance to the Park (to which visitors are transferred from Puerto Iguazú 3.5 kilometers) through paved roads, walking trails of red earth and cr hovering streams while spotting different native species such as birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects. There are also stops in the communities of Mbya Guaraní so that they can appreciate the crafts they make in wood and stone.
The circuit lasts approximately two hours of pure ascents and descents with a medium difficulty level. It is advisable to have some previous experience in mountainbike to enjoy this tour.
Visit the San Ignacio Ruins
In the Misiones jungle is located the UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Jesuit Ruins of San Ignacio, a historical site Rich Argentine who represents the Spanish missionaries and Jesuit evangelizers on their arrival on the continent. During the tour of the red sandstone ruins, you will be able to observe the temple built in 1632 , designed by the Jesuits and the Guarani natives, which stood out for its efficiency almost 400 years ago and for that very reason it must have perished. The facade of its temple was made entirely of pink sandstone in 1610 and its American Baroque design was rebuilt by a group of scientists during the last century, since the reduction had been buried under the jungle for almost two centuries.
At present San Ignacio Miní is the best preserved of the Jesuit missions of the 16th and 17th centuries in the country. The church, the Casa de los Padres, the cemetery, the houses and the town hall are distributed around a central square. The ruins of San Ignacio were a Jesuit mission founded in the early seventeenth century to evangelize the native Guarani by Father San Roque González de Santa Cruz.
The ruins are located in the current town of San Ignacio, 3 hours away from Puerto de Iguazú (40 kilometers), you can reach renting a car and going along National Route 12 to the signs indicating its entrance or hiring a excursion to the ruins de San Ignacio.
Explore the Wanda Mines
The Wanda Mines are a deposit of semi-precious stones of quartz crystals, amethysts, agates and topaz. The mines were founded by Polish settlers in 1936, they are leaning on the mighty Paraná River and allows its visitors to appreciate this unique open-air attraction or "natural", as this class of deposits is commonly called. It is an ideal walk for those interested in gemstones, geology or jewelry.
Wanda was the name of a Polish princess who liked gems. Hence the name of the town, where the entrance sign is located and different craftsmen offering some of the stones. Visitors can walk, explore its caves, and even watch the exact moment when the operators perform some of the blasts to continue drilling into the basalt.
In 1976 the first seam of semi-precious stones was discovered in Wanda. Apparently, the basement on which the Province of Misiones rests was formed in the Tertiary era, approximately one hundred and fifty million years ago, and suffered different lava flows from the center of the earth. When the lava cooled, the gas globes were trapped and formed the basalt, which is the bedrock that gives rise to the formation of precious stones in the region.
As you walk around the property you will be surprised by the different colors and shapes of the stones. You can observe stones with hexagonal, dipyramidal and octahedron prisms. Amethyst , which has an almost purplish color, was found mainly in the veins of the Wanda mines. topazes, agates, jaspers and rock crystals were also found.
Once After visiting all the deposits, you can go to the gems exhibition and sale room, where the semi-precious stones are transformed to be used in jewelry.
To get to the Wanda mines from Puerto Iguazú you have to travel about 40 kilometers south by the national route N° 12, you can access renting a car or through the excursions that depart from the city center.
Visit the Ecological House of the Bottles
In Puerto Iguazú, Alfredo Santa Cruz and his family put together this self-sustaining project which today is one of the favorite walks for the boys and the environmental groups, who by word of mouth found out about the existence of this particular house. At the entrance to the city there are different signs that invite you to visit it.
The Casa de las Botellas is made with liter and a half soda bottles, its creator says that the idea of making this house with plastic bottles serves to generate awareness and to give an ecological use to this container that each day it pollutes the environment more.
Its walls have 1200 plastic bottles, the ceiling 1300 cartons of tetrapack, the doors and windows more than 140 boxes of CDs, the armchairs that decorate the environment about 120 plastic bottles and the bed, another 200 bottles more.
Its owner tries to convey with this plastic construction a self-sustaining project, which brings together interesting, creative and ingenious elements, which serve to reflect and try to change iar environmental behavior. He considers it a technique that anyone can repeat.
To get to the Bottle House from Puerto Iguazú you can rent a car and head along the RN12 for 4.5 kilometers to the sign that announces the house.
Walk the Milestone of the Three Borders
The Three Borders is a well-known trifinio international located at the border crossing between Argentina, Brazil y Paraguay, near the famous C ataratas del Iguazú (38 kilometers). The tour of the Three Borders gives you the possibility to visit three countries in a single tour, where you visit the cities of Puerto Iguazú, Foz do Iguaçu and Ciudad del Este.
The main attraction of this tour is the great cultural sociological and anthropological content, where the coexistence of the different societies and ethnic groups that coexist in this Tripartite Region and the different phenomena related to cultural, linguistic, economic and religious diversity is observed.
During your visit to this striking site you will notice the large number of local and craft fairs, where ornaments made with the different materials of the region (wood, clay and stone), clothing, jewelery with quartz and amethyst gems, appliances and technology. There are also stalls where traditional foods and spices are offered from the area such as feijao preto, reviro, empanadas, humitas, cheese bread, fried pacú, Paraguayan soup, mamón sweet and other delicacies.
If you are interested in reaching the Triple Frontier, you can do it renting a car and drive from Puerto de Iguazú for 38 kilometers along National Route 12 to the border area or you can hire the city tour of the Three Borders with departures every day from the center of Iguazú with a duration of 6 hours and lunch at the Brazilian restaurant Rafain.
Traditional food classes: Iguazú Experience
If you want to enjoy a gastronomic experience in the heart of Iguazú, Argentine Experience is a different and entertaining alternative. In this restaurant you will be able to discover the regional gastronomy while you taste exquisite wines. You will also learn to make the classic Argentine empanadas and prepare some delicious mates. It is an excellent option if you are looking for something to do in the night!
Another fun point of this gastronomic meeting is that you have the opportunity to share the table with people from different parts of the world who also want to enjoy the typical dishes of Argentina. At the same time there are guides that explain in a fun way about the peculiarities of culture, customs and local food. It is a unique dinner in which guests participate in the preparation of their empanadas, enjoy an exquisite steak, make alfajores and create their own mate.
During the experience everyone wears an apron apron and a chef's hat to be able to cook comfortably. The class begins with the preparation of a traditional pie, a fun creativity contest is held about the funniest pie! During the preparation you will be able to enjoy a picada (a plate consisting of cold cuts and fine cheeses with hot bread).
Then all diners will be able to enjoy a juicy sirloin steak, one of the best meats in Argentina. It will be prepared to the taste of each diner with some roasted vegetables. Then they will serve at the table a pre-dessert of cheese and sweet, followed by an gingerbread that each one is going to prepare (a sweet that combines a cookie with dulce de leche (caramel), fondue of melted chocolate and coconut shavings). Throughout the meal you can enjoy high-end wines from the famous Zuccardi line.
If you want to know more places to eat in Iguazú, I recommend you read the note about the best restaurants and bars in Iguazú.
Play at the Grand Casino Iguazú
Iguazú Grand Casino features more than 34 table games, including Roulette, Blackjack, Point and Banking, Poker, Craps and a Texas Hold'em Poker room. You will also find 220 modern slot machines with progressive jackpots, video games, video reels, mechanical reels, electronic roulette terminals traditional and an exclusive bingo room with different progressive prizes.
Located just 2 kilometers from downtown Iguazú, the casino offers its visitors excellent service and multiple entertainment. Upon entering you will be offered a complimentary drink and then head to the game room with 200 machines.
You will also find multi-denomination slots, video games and traditional roller games. The game tables are open all year round. In addition, It has a VIP room for the most select clients with an exclusive Texas Hold'em Poker room.
The Grand Casino Iguazú is located on National Route 12 at kilometer 1640, 2.3 kilometers from Puerto Iguazú.
Take some drinks at Icebar Iguazú
Do you want to make a different and fun plan at night? Then go to the most exotic bar in Iguazú is an excellent option! Icebar has all its interior made with ice and it is at -10 C temperature (this does not have to worry because they give you jackets and thermal gloves that allow you to enjoy this striking place near the missionary jungle).
You can drink all kinds of cocktails in the ice bar. They are prepared by their friendly bartender, that if you can only be inside for thirty minutes, so do not delay in ordering the menu. They prepare signature drinks and for the youngest sodas and juices.
To capture every moment, the bar has professional photographers so that you can take a funny memory, you can choose the ones you like the most and take them printed at the moment.
Inside the bar they pass the pop music of the moment, you will be able to dance among the fun ice sculptures, they are designed in crystal ice by renowned artists. There are more than 50,000 kilos of ice between the walls, the bars, the armchairs, the furniture and the glasses!
What to do on the Brazilian side of Iguazú
The visit to the Brazilian side is something that nobody wants to miss on their way through Iguazú, since it allows visitors to have the best panoramic view of the Falls and perform very fun activities that I detail below:
Flying in a helicopter over the Iguazu Falls
Another way to see this impressive natural monument is through helicopter flights.
For approximately 10 minutes, you can enjoy a fascinating aerial view of the falls framed in the lush vegetation of the place being able to capture the immensity of its greatness and the peculiarities of a unique geological formation.
The excursion of flight by helicopter over the falls begins with the transfer from the hotel or directly at the entrance of the National Park in Brazil, where the guide will take you to the heliport, located 300 meters from the entrance door.
The helicopter flight lasts approximately 10 minutes, you will have the opportunity to see the fall of the falls from a unique and unforgettable perspective.
After the air excursion, return to the meeting point or the passengers are transferred back to the hotel, according to the selected option (pick-up from hotels in Puerto Iguazú or Foz do Iguaçu or option without transfers, in front of the entrance portal of the National Park in Brazil.).
Take photos in the different panoramic points
The Iguazú Falls are a natural border that divides two countries: Brazil, in the city of Foz do Iguaçu and Argentina in the city of Puerto Iguaçu. En In total, these imposing waterfalls are made up of 80 meters of plummet and 275 jumps which undoubtedly make them well deserved the title of one of the great wonders of the world.
A popular saying states that the Iguazú Falls are seen in Brazil but lived in Argentina. The reason? On the Brazilian side you have the views more beautiful panoramic views of the waterfalls, while on the Argentine side you can even approach them by boat.
The Iguaçu National Park in Brazil offers you a single walkway in one direction so that you can contemplate different waterfalls and have an unparalleled panoramic view. This walkway can be accessed from the entrance to the Park and has a total length of 7 kilometers out and back. The walkway ends at the viewpoint of the Devil's Throat , the most impressive fall of all, there you will see how the water falls with force into the void. Also during the tour you will be able to appreciate the canyon of the Iguazú River, the Rivadavia Falls and Tres Mosqueteros.
If you want to visit this side of the falls, from P uerto Iguazú you have to go for 18 kilometers along the RN12 to the BR469 then along the way the entrance to the reserve. The only two ways to get to this natural wonder is renting a car or the most recommended, hire the excursion Iguazú Falls Brazilian side that starts from the center of Iguazú and includes a guide accredited.
Tour the National Park with Safari Macuco
Another very interesting tour from the Brazilian side is the
excursion Safari Macuco, where nbsp ;
you walk the wildest path in the National Park called Macuco. The tour begins aboard an open vehicle that is pulled by an electric jeep. This is the best way to appreciate the jungle and all the natural wealth that it has, during the safe dirt road you will see in the treetops the friendly Caí monkeys and other species around such as jaguars, tapir, ocelots, tiricas, anteaters, turkeys de monte, Jungle eagles, toucans and the alligator overo.
Part of the road is traveled by vehicle and the other part on foot. The jeep se head down the trail to the catwalks where you can see the best panoramic views of the falls. The steel walkways have an extension of 1,200 meters above the Iguazú River ravine.
Advancing along the route, you can see the canyon of the Iguazú River, the Rivadavia Falls and Tres Mosqueteros. Towards the end of the route you will reach the lower viewpoint of Devil's Throat , this point is about 200 meters away. This wonderful scenery is further enhanced by the permanent rainbow formation. The path ends next to the Salto Floriano.
Once the circuit is finished, passengers will get on a twin-engine inflatable boat. Browse for two hours passing for the rapids reaching the base of the imposing Falls . Then you will turn around to get back into the electric jeep that will leave you where the tour began in the Park parking lot National Do Iguaçu.
Visit the Bird Park in the Iguaçu National Park
The Bird Park was created in 1994 to offer optimal conditions for the reproduction of animals, in addition to guaranteeing the preservation of 16 hectares of native forest.
It is an ecological sanctuary located 300 meters from the entrance to the Brazilian National Park on Avenida Das Cataratas (kilometer 11, about 15 km from the city of Foz de Iguazú).
The Park has more than 900 birds of 150 different species, the majority being Brazilian birds. They are found in giant cages of 630 square meters, in which waterfalls and vegetation are recreated, so that the birds find their natural habitat.
The visit is done through trails inside these nurseries, which allows you to observe species that you would rarely see during a tourist walk. Besides birds you can see butterflies, reptiles and mammals.
During the tour you will see: more than 30 specimens of flamingos , a habitat for parakeets, curassows, magpies, thrushes, toucans, turkeys , pheasants, guarás, herons, toucans and chuñas . There is also the Den of the Reptiles that houses pythons, iguanas, alligators, boas and even an adult anaconda . In addition, you can visit the Butterfly farm with more than 50 different species.
The closing of the trail is with the Mansos Macaw sector is the finishing touch of the walk with specimens that perch amicably in the arms of visitors.
If you are in Iguazú (Argentine side) and want to go to this wonderful place, it is best to do it with a excursion to Parque de las Aves, which includes transfers to cross the border to Brazil, in addition to having a guide to carry out the entire tour. In this way, the tour from the beginning has a duration of 4 hours.
Another excellent option is to add a walk through the Falls on the Brazilian side, where you will be able to see all the complexity of the fauna and flora of the neighboring country. These two walks have a duration of 7 hours with transfers and guides included. In addition, you will be able to see a large part of the falls (275) and walk the footbridges whose circuit is 1,200 meters of path over the Barranca del Río Iguazú. At this starting point of the tour you also have a panoramic view of the Argentine waterfalls, an ideal setting to take beautiful photographs.
Observe the great Itaipu Dam
Crossing to the Brazilian side you can visit the Itaipú Hydroelectric Dam, considered the seventh wonder created in the modern world.
It was built on the Paraná River on the border of Brazil and Paraguay with an installed capacity of 12,600 MW. The Hydroelectric Plant is responsible for the generation of 25% of the electrical energy consumed in Brazil, and 95% of that consumed in Paraguay .
Itaipu means“ land that sings ”in the Guaraní language is the result of a treaty signed on April 26, 1973 between Brazil and Paraguay, which established that the energy produced by the hydroelectric dam would be divided equally betweenthe two countries. Construction began on the plant in 1975 and was completed in 1991, with a total of 18 turbines capable of generate 93.4 million MWh.
Thanks to the enormous engineering work, Itaipu has become a great tourist attraction in Foz do Iguaçu. Its facilities are They carry out video projections and an interesting guided tour of their complex. During the tour you will have a beautiful panoramic view from the central viewpoint towards the lake that formed the dam. You will also see nbsp ; the diversion channel, the worker's mural and the worker's forest, where each employee who completes 15 years of service in the company plants a tree.
In addition, in the lake area you will be able to observe and enjoy the nautical and sport fishing activities that are offered nearby.
If you are interested in visiting this giant of the jungle, I recommend doing it with the Itaipú dam walk, since it is the most comfortable way to cross borders and also, you go to have the transfer and a guide who will give you all the information and the most curious facts about this striking hydroelectric dam.
Parachute jump in Iguazú
For those who enjoy extreme sports this is a very entertaining option that allows you to have one of the best panoramic views of the falls, Itapu Lake and the Triple Frontier. The tandem parachute jump is the most fun attraction currently offered in Brazil, the jump is made in the area of the Itaipú Hydroelectric Dam , a scene amazing to feel the thrill of free fall.
The double jump consists of a fall to a height that varies from 9,000 to 10,000 feet (approximately 3,000 meters), the jump is performed tied to a of professional instructors. Before making the jump, a flight of approximately 20 minutes is made in Cessna-type aircraft.
Then, when jumping from the plane the free fall is 30 seconds and then the parachute is opened. After opening the parachute and until landing, they elapse about 8 minutes of browsing.
If you are interested, I recommend you reserve your place with the excursion skydive foz, since you have included the transfers from Puerto Iguazú to the Hércules Air Taxi Airport (Foz de Iguazu), where the planes depart.
Visit Ciudad del Este for shopping
Many come to Puerto Iguazú with the idea of take advantage of the trip to shop in the Tres Fronteras area or in the shopping malls and shops of Ciudad del Este, since it is popular for its wide variety of electronic, clothing, musical, aesthetic products and all kinds of accessories for cars and the home. In addition, it has easy access through border controls on the way to the Iguazu Falls on the side Brazilian.
Shopping del Este is located in Monseñor del Este and is characterized by being the largest shopping center and close to the front access hedgehog, here you will find sportswear, female and male clothing, formal and informal, footwear, notebooks, cell phones, tablets, televisions, all kinds of computer accessories and audio . You will also notice that around the shopping there are countless small shops and fairs , where in addition to finding clothing and technology, meals are offered on the go. Unlike the shopping venues in the stores on the street, the modality in which you can haggle the prices is used (seek to lower prices).
From Puerto Iguazú you can reach renting a car and driving two hours to Ciudad del Este to the commercial area signposted when entering the city are about 25 kilometers. First you must take the RN 12 until the intersection with Avenida Das Cataratas on the Brazilian side that will take you to the intersection of Route 2 in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.
If you want to know more about excursions, accommodation and all the information about Iguazú, contact us.