It can be said that Iguazu Falls, which borders Argentina and Brazil, is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world. It has about 275 big and small waterfalls, including that which is 70 m high, a sight which takes one’s breath away.

The National Parks close to the falls have great biodiversity, with wild birds, and wild animals. They are both UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites, owing to the majesty and sheer beauty of the Iguazu Falls.

Main Attractions

Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls is not just one waterfall, but it is a large cataract where some 275 waterfalls, big and small, form a hemicycle, falling from the height of 70 m.
The biggest attraction is the “The Devil’s Throat” (Garganta del Diablo), from which you can see a lot of rainbows which is created by sunlight hitting each drop of water rushing down in one large roar.

The Upper Circuit of the Iguazu River is 1,320 km in length (1,205 km in Brazilian territory and 115 km in the vicinity of the border of Argentina and Brazil). Iguazu Falls is right by this end of the river.
The average width of the river is 500 m-1,000 m. In the national park, there is a point where the width becomes about 1,500 m. It finally stretches to 2,700 m, forming a U shape, creating a large cataract with big and small 275 waterfalls.

“The Devil’s Throat”, the basin of the waterfall, is the main tourist attraction. The volume of 1,500 m³ of water falling per second from the height of 80 m is one great spectacle. The grandness of it all gives you the feeling of being swallowed into the gulley below.

The park is an ecological sanctuary, with more than 2,000 kinds of plants, more than 450 kinds of birds, more than 80 kinds of mammals, and where several species of butterflies live. Furthermore, it is the only region where the medicinal Copaiba tree (scientific name: Copaifera langsdorfii) grows.

There are paths in the jungle that stretches around Iguazu Falls where you can go trekking and mountain biking. Rafting in Iguazu National Park is also possible.


Iguazu National Park
http://www.iguazuargentina.com/
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00
Admission fee: 30 pesos (about US$10)

*As of May 2006

Ruins of the Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini
(RUINAS JESUITICAS DE SAN IGNACIO MINI)
There are ruins of the Jesuit mission built for the Guarani Tribe in years 1609-1768. From the ruins you can see the influence of European culture on the lives of the natives through the work of the Jesuits.
In the Guarani ruins, one can see the remains of the church, their houses, and the college. Within these community centers, the Jesuits did agriculture, livestock-raising, arts, as well as evangelization. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

There are also Guarani Jesuit ruins in Candelaria, Loreto, Santa Ana, and Santa Maria.

Opening hours: 08:00-18:00
59 km from the city of Posadas

Shopping

Native Guarani crafts
Baskets woven from vegetal fibers like the tacuapi cane (cana tacuapi) and guambe root (raiz de guambe), as well as wood carving using palo santo lumber are available at the local crafts market in Posadas.

Semiprecious
Raw ores of semiprecious stones are mined in Wanda and Libertad.
Cut and polished stones like amethyst, crystal, and other gems, and sculptures from the locality are famous.
Items that were found buried in the ground were made into décor and are sold in the shops.

You can also buy ladies’ accessories crafted from semiprecious stones.