IGUAZU FALLS
"Magic Kingdom"
How can you get there?
You have mainly 3 ways to go to Iguazú Falls
1) By plane:
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From Buenos Aires fly to Puerto Iguazú with Aerolines Argentinas. https://www.aerolineas.com.ar/en-ar .
At the airport, Emanuel Enriquez our local P.A.T.E (Photo Adventure Tours Expert) will transfer you to your hotel and guide you in whatever else you may need.
Whatsapp of Emanuel:
Technical Information
LOCATION:
Puerto Iguazú is a border city in the province of Misiones, Argentina. With a population of 82,227 (2010 census [INDEC]), it is the fourth largest city in the Province, after Posadas, Oberá, and Eldorado.
The world-renowned Iguazú Falls is only 18 kilometers (11 mi) away from the city, and as a result, the city has developed much of its infrastructure around tourism.
WEATHER:
Puerto Iguazú has a Humid Subtropical climate (Cfa according to Köppen climate classification). Temperatures are warm in winter and hot in summer. There is no dry season and rainfall is abundant with every month receiving over 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain and the wettest month, November, receiving over 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain on average. Precipitation falls mostly during convective storms. Due to abundant rainfall, rainforests surround Puerto Iguazú.
The hot season lasts for up to 6 months or more, with temperatures reaching between 30 °C (86F) and 35 °C (95F) on most days, and dropping to 18 °C (64F) to 24 °C (75F) at night. Thunderstorms with heavy rains bring relief when the heat becomes too intense. The cool season runs from late April to mid-September, with daily highs reaching an average of 21 °C (70F) and a low of 11 °C (52F) in June.
These averages are reached through an alternating weather pattern, with several days with northerly winds and temperatures of around 28 °C (82F) or higher and warm nights over 15 °C (59F) giving way, in a very sudden manner, to cool, rainy weather and temperatures between 10 °C and 15 °C (50F to 59F) for a few days, then to dry, sunny weather and colder nights (around 5 °C, or 41F, and sometimes much lower) and pleasant days in the 15 °C to 20 °C (59F to 68F) range, and a gradual increase in temperatures as winds rotate to the north again.
Frost is rare but does occur in some winters, and temperatures within a few degrees of freezing occur every winter. The record low is -4.9 °C (23.1F), a surprisingly low value given the latitude, the vegetation, and the low elevation of the area.
Temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F) have been recorded in the spring and summer.
2) By Bus:
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From Buenos Aires there are daily buses, you can buy the ticket personally at Retiro Bus Station downtown city or online at www.plataforma10.com.ar or www.centraldepasajes.com.ar. It is a 17 hs travel and spect to pay between U$ 40 and U$ 50. Buses are in good shape and service is ok.
3) By Car or Motorcycle:
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Turn on your GPS after you rent your car or get your motorcycle, is an easy and good road around 1200 km (650 miles) depending on the road combination you take, National Roads number 14 and 12. It is better if you do the journey in two days and relaxes somewhere in the middle, you will enjoy it better. So if you plan a car or motorcycle trip you will need at least 10 to 15 days (4 days for going and coming, and a week at least to move to the area).
About my experience
So, why I call it "Magic Kingdom". Because the Tropical Forest is that, you may feel as if you were on Avatar planet, or in Jurassic Wold when one velociraptor may appear from the woods at any moment. Puerto Iguazu and its falls are that a place was taken from nowhere, where the magical atmosphere of the dripping waters and the giant trees, with plenty birds and life are everywhere. Come on and discover it by yourself.
Feeling the power of such amount of water
With Itziar Ituño visiting the Devil´s Throat at Iguazú Falls
And when I said, it is a magical place, as you can see in the next photos, where the atmosphere of the forest, the giant falls, covers everywhere. You will feel yourself tiny, overtaken by the power of nature. It is a wonderful experience and you should not let it pass.
And what about animal life? I will show you just a glimpse of what you can see at Iguazu. Parrots, Tucans, fancy birds, monkeys, cougars, Jaguars, a lot of butteflies, color everywhere.
So, where to start?
A first "must to go" is the National Park "Iguazú Falls" (Cataratas del Iguazú in Spanish)
If you want to do it the Japanese way, just walk, point, shoot, and go on. You will walk a lot just in one day and will not experience the magic place itself. The Park organization suggests that you may do the three main tracks in two days, which is fair enough. For me, the most beautiful way to enjoy it is if you take three days for the three tracks, just one for each day. You will have sufficient time to relax, take good photos, enjoy the scenery, view some animals, and feel the place. If you do not have that time, so be it.
You may contact Emanuel Enriquez, Photo Adventure Tours Expert, who will transfer you to the park, and there you can hire a local guide or just walk in and enjoy it. Emanuel's Whatsapp number is +54 9 3757 656353.
Second place to visit if you want to see some fauna, birds, and great animals is GUIRAOGA
It's a great place to go with kids because it's a non-profit organization that rescues animals being captured by ilegal hunters or damaged in accidents. The cool people doing a wonderful job, these are the ones that are "making the difference." Lead by Silvia Elsegood, the place is very close downtown Puerto Iguazu. https://guiraoga.com.ar/
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Another great place to visit is "The Garden of Hummingbirds", right in the city, Fray Luis Beltrán 150, N3370 Puerto Iguazú, Misiones.
Run by Leandro and his brother Adriano. The Garden of Hummingbirds is a tourist attraction created by Marilene Moschen, who has been feeding these small birds for more than 40 years, beginning as a hobby.
Today, the garden has space for relaxation and contemplation of these wonderful flying birds endemic to the American continent. It is possible to see about 19 different species of hummingbird among other birds that feed on seeds and fruits, and most importantly, all in total freedom!
All this takes place in a small space equipped with strategically oriented benches in order to have a general view of the garden with direct observations of the birds less than a meter away.
We also have a minishop where you can purchase reference materials related to flora and fauna.
And a local point to shoot some photos is the "Three Frontiers", where the physical and political limits of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil merge, divided by the Iguazú River. It is a very scenic place to go, close to the city centre.
EASY LIFE / Where to eat
Where to eat:
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, we can say there are not many places in Puerto Iguazu where you can have this amount of variety, though I have found a couple of good ones. The first place I give it to is "The Green Mandioca Restaurant of the Selvaje Lodge Iguazú Hotel". We will talk about it later on.
Then there are others fair enough to have a decent meal at a good price. These are the ones I checked for you.
1) PUNTO AR, located right in front of the Three Frontiers, is a kind of resto-café with a beautiful view of the Iguazu River and the Three Frontiers. It is a little bit overpriced for the quality it provides. Meals can be improved much more, but it is a must-visit place.
The attention given by Priscila, the owner, with all her sweetness, is very good, and the waiters are eager to help and serve you.
2) PATANEGRA is a well-placed and located gourmet restaurant in downtown Puerto Iguazu with stunning views and high-quality cuisine. They have a large selection of vegetarian options, and also have beers, wines, liqueurs, and whisky, in case you want to try it or carry it with you.
Local Spot is managed by Mariel Gonzalez, who is also a tourist guide with a lot of experience in public relations and tourist services.
 PATANEGRA 1B |  PATANEGRA HD 2B |  PATANEGRA 6 |
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 PATANEGRA 4 |  PATANEGRA 5 |
3) GREEN MANDIOCA is the restaurant of the Selvaje Lodge Iguazú, which offers high-level local cuisine for both guests and visitors. It proposes a luxury menu that includes native specialties and respects the season and the production of local raw materials, obtaining its products from its own vegetable garden.
Everything is made with precise decoration, plenty of flavor, and exquisite delicateseen. For me was by far, the most amazing experience in Iguazú.
With the cold, what is most enjoyed at this time are hot dishes, such as stews and soups, and desserts with chocolate and red fruits.
The Green Mandioca has an extensive menu, with a wide variety of options suitable for coeliacs and vegetarians. To start with, there is a range of exquisite appetizers made with prawns, salmon, and vegetables, fresh salads and cream soups of the day.
The main courses are divided into pasta with delicious sauces and rice dishes with mushrooms and pumpkin as the main ingredients; best quality meats with spinach cream and caramelized onions; and fish with assorted vegetables. And to finish, the exquisite desserts such as Parfait de Baileys and Maracuyá, Bombón Selvaje, and Bolo de Mandioca, among others.
I will point "you must try it" the "Avati ku´i", an special local risotto made with corn.
 GREEN MANDIOCA 6 |  GREEN MANDIOCA 5 |  GREEN MANDIOCA 4 |
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 GREEN MANDIOCA 3 |  GREEN MANDIOCA 1 |  GREEN MANDIOCA 2 |
EASY LIFE / Where to sleep
Where to sleep:
1) SELVAJE LODGE IGUAZU
I will continue showing you the Selvage Lodge Iguazú, was my third option testing Puerto Iguazú places to sleep but was the most funcy one and luxury.
It is located in what is called "the 600 hectares". This is a neighborhood created to experience the jungle and the forest, and you will definitely do that. Rooms are placed just there, in the middle of the jungle. In the meantime, as you walk the wooden tracks leading to the living area, you may feel that you will encounter a Jurassic-era velociraptor. Nature, birds, and monkies are all around you, and during the night you will hear the loud sounds of the jungle.
You will have great comfort in relaxing beside the great swimming pool, with its huge cushions. The rooms are elegant, spacious, and beautiful. The whole place is marvelous.
Run by Martina Bustos, it´s manager, a clever, cool and wonderful person, the Lodge is a great place to stay, enjoy, feel the jungle and relax. Further info and booking at the website: https://www.selvajelodge.com/
2) OCIO APART
It was the second hotel I checked into and really was a great experience for me, not only because the place is beautiful, but also because Mirta and Esteban, the owners, are really amazing people. You will feel at home.
Ocio Apart is located in a very quiet residential neighborhood, 500 meters from downtown Puerto Iguazú and just 10 minutes from the Falls. Ocio Apart is a cozy, comfortable place, made with quality and good taste. The Apart is attended by its owners, as I said, a wonderful couple that are in all the details, so you can spend a beautiful time here!
Ocio Apart has everything you need to spend a relaxing time right in the city, with a beautiful garden, a nice swimming pool, complete apartments with kitchens where you can cook yourself anything you want, excellent bathrooms, TV, Wi-Fi, and a lot more comfortable details. It's owner, Mirta, is always looking to improve your time at the Apart.
It is a very cheap place, really, according to the kind of accommodation it provides. It is around 50 USD a room and you have many different combinations of rooms, just for yourself or for a complete family of four.
For reservations, contact Mr. Esteban at his Whatsapp: +54 9 3757 41-5800 or visit the Ocio Apart Hotel website: https://ocioapart.com/
Ok, that´s all for now but there are more places to visit, enjoy, eat and sleep in Iguazu. In future months I will be updating with more information, keep in touch.
Regards
Mark Royo Celano
Tourist Journalist - Professional Photographer
Photo Adventure Tours to South America