7-day road trip to discover a charming, authentic, enigmatic country with untamed natural beauty, unusual wildlife, and a fascinating colonial story.
7 day / 6 nights | Paraguay/Argentina
At a glance
In this expedition you will get to know this emblematic region of the Southern Cone of deep South America, an area that, although today it is politically divided, before the arrival of the Spanish people it was the vast territory of the Guarani tribe, later the Jesuit province of Paraguay and, before the current political divisions, the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata.
The entire region through which we will be traveling recognizes no differences in its natural environment. Its history, its people and its humble way of life do as a whole a cultural baggage that impacts the visitor as much than the natural attractions.
The trip begins in the area of the Iguazú National Park.
Here the constant deafening roar and the violent sensation of vertigo of the waterfalls and the jungle environment provide such an impact that is probably going to remain present for a lifetime.
As you approach the falls, green and red rule, the vegetation grows, to the point of completely covering the sky and the surrounding landscape, a jungle underworld, offers all its wild plenitude. Here the constant deafening roar, the violent sensation of vertigo of the waterfalls and the jungle environment provide such an impact that it will probably remain present in your mind forever.
To penetrate and feel that green world, the best alternative is to advance along dirt roads delimited by plant walls on both sides of the route towards the deepest part of the jungle and settle there. Here you can optionally enjoy 2 nights in the middle of this protected environment, a local family rooted in the jungle will welcome you in their small and exclusive ecolodge and share their life experience with you.
Paraguay remains hidden from tourists but offers untamed natural beauty as well as wealth of tradition and colonial history to discover.
Southern Paraguay, along with Argentina, is home to some of the most significant historical sites, such as the ruins of Jesuit settlements, some of which are declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Finally, in the Argentine territory there is one of the greatest attractions of South America, the Iberá Wetlands, where the immensity of the landscape, combined with the singing of hundreds of aquatic birds, mammals and reptiles, make this a destination totally out of the ordinary common.
Completely off the beaten path, this is a charming, authentic and enigmatic region with a lot to offer to the open-minded adventurer.
What will you experience
- Admire how millions of liters of water sink every second in the whirlwind of the Devil's Throat.
- Experience the feeling of finding yourself amid pure jungle in a dreamlike spot surrounded by subtropical rainforest.
- Immerse yourself into the jungle along paths with vines, mosses and ferns.
- Enjoy the unique experience of riding a bike through jungle trails and kayaking on the Iguazú River at Surucuá Lodge.
- Follow the trails in the jungle accompanied by expert naturalist guides.
- You will see fauna from the comfort of our transportation in a unique Portal within the North area of Iberá National Park.
- You will be able to observe Iberá aquatic birds, such as storks, roseate spoonbills and herons, as well as alligators, capybaras and deer.
- Get to know the most notable of the temples built in the towns founded by the Jesuits together with the Guaraní people.
- You will meet hospitable and peculiar people away from the tourist crowds.
- Be a witness of the culture of this original people and their legacy as part of the roots of Paraguay and northeast Argentina.
- Experience the interaction between European immigrants with native and Creole customs generating a unique combination of culture.
- Enjoy the extraordinary typical Paraguayan homemade food, prepared by the locals.
- Stay in small exclusive lodges with unique environments.
Day 1. Iguassu Falls
Argentinean side
Driving distance about: 70 km
The
spectacular falls are something amazing and unique.
The
Iguazú Falls represents all the furious, beautiful and unmanageable of nature.
It has an impact on the senses.
You will have a whole day to visit the different
circuits of the National Park; those who wish can optionally take a navigation
of 8 km. down the lower Iguazú River in inflatable boats, crossing 2 miles of
rapids. The boats enter into the Devil’s Throat Canyon (“Garganta del diablo”)
allowing you not only to experience the falls from below, but also to feel the
water on your own skin.
Free
time to walk the upper and lower pathways and Devil's Throat walkways.
Suggested accommodation
at Hotel Guamini Resort
Day 2. Iguassu Falls
Brazilian side - Jesuit-Guarani route
Driving distance about: 260 km
In
the morning visit the Brazilian side of the Falls for a walking tour through
the passages that connect the different observation points. The Brazilian side
of the falls offers a wonderful panoramic view.
After
lunch, you will cross the Paraná River to go into Paraguayan territory and
travel back to the 17th century, to admire some of the best-known Jesuit
missionary settlements.
The
route offers an intimate look into the Guaraní culture and allows you to
understand the importance of the Jesuits in South America.
During
the afternoon you will visit a Guaraní village, where you can learn first-hand
about their thoughts, traditions, their appreciation for native seeds, their
art, and their extensive knowledge of natural medicine.
Accommodation
in Bella Vista, the hub of the Guaraní Jesuit missions.
Suggested accommodation at Encanto Rural hotel.
https://www.encantorural.com.py/?lang=es
Day 3. Jesuit-Guarani
route
Ruins of Jesus and
Trinidad - San Cosme y Damián
Driving distance about: 290 km
The
ruins of Trinidad and Jesús, listed by Unesco, are true archaeological relics,
grandiose ruins of entire villages built by and for the indigenous population.
The
history of San Cosme y Damian is different from that of other Jesuit Guaraní
towns. This enchanted place preserves the only mission that was never
abandoned, although there are ruins of the mission complex scattered throughout
the town, its church, school and other houses remain as before and have always
been used since the very foundation of the town until the present day.
In the evening
you will attend a light and sound show that recreates with delicate and genuine
artistic expression the meeting of two civilizations.
Overnight.
Day 4. Paraguay to
Argentina.
Iberá
marshlands National Park – Cambyretá portal
Driving distance about: 200 km
In
the morning we will cross the majestic Paraná River towards Argentina.
The
natural environment will progressively change till going into the world of the
huge “Esteros del Iberá” wetland.
Then
you will travel through "neighborhood" roads, to enter one of the
portals of the northern section of the Iberá National Park, a world of millions
and millions of hectares of flourishing nature, owner of its own cultures and
forged by the confluence of the history.
Finally, you
will arrive at a private nature reserve bordering the National Park, here
totally out of the beaten track, you will stay in a lodge at the base of the
reserve and will be the guest of a welcoming family of park rangers. Here you
will enjoy not only the hospitality, but you will learn about the conservation
projects in which they work to protect and guarantee the survival of several
native species.
Accommodation at Wild Wetland
Lodge (2 days - 1 nights with full board) (https://www.facebook.com/WildWetlandsLodge/)
Day 5. Iberá marshlands
Cambyretá
portal - Loreto Town
Driving distance about: 80 km
Half
day activities at the Reserve and National Park
The
Iberá is an open area of swampy grasslands, leaving some of the highest
concentrations of fauna on the continent exposed to view.
These
days you will have the opportunity to walk along trails, you will observe
incredibly docile wildlife, as you could hardly have imagined always guided and
assistance by expert naturalists.
In the evening you
will continue heading west, to the small town of Loreto, where the Guaranis
took refuge after the expulsion of the Jesuits and is considered a National
Historical Town.
Accommodation and enjoying a unique experience
at Iberá Birding Lodge, an exclusive and cozy place within a nature
reserve, created and managed by a naturalist biologist. In this environment,
you will be a privileged guest because of the host's hospitality and his deep
knowledge of nature.
Day 6. Iberá
marshlands
San
Nicolas Portal
Driving distance during the day about: 220 km
This entire
region, although today divided between Paraguay and Argentina, was originally a
single province, first the Jesuit province of the viceroyalty of Peru, then
part of the viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Subsequent political divisions
did not erase their common past; Its magical towns and cities offer culture,
history, tradition and music with personal and collective expression.
By touring these
towns and their places you will also be able to access a unique culture, the
customs of the people: their way of life, their work and their beliefs and
delight in their typical foods.
In the morning we
will visit "San Nicolas", another extraordinary Portal of Iberá on
the western margin of the wetlands accompanied by a guide from the National
Park, on the way you can easily spot abundant wildlife from your car window.
Here you can
navigate in a canoe with a launcher.
Overnight in Iberá birding lodge
Day 7.
Iberá – Posadas airport
Transfer to the airport
Driving distance: 160 km
This day you have
several flights from Posadas airport to Buenos Aires
Along the paths of the Jungle
As we move forward, red and
green begin to rule; the vegetation grows, to the point of completely covering
the sky, and the surrounding landscape offers all its wild fullness.
The journey continues in a
jungle underworld delimited by plant walls on both sides of the route.
To penetrate and feel that green
world there is no other alternative than advance along dirt roads into the
depths of the jungle and settle there.
Day 1
Surucuá
Jungle Reserve
In
the afternoon we will drive through an emblematic road in the Iguazu National
Park, to the Surucuá Ecolodge, where you will stay for two nights with full
board.
Overnight with full
board at Surucuá Lodge. https://surucua.com/
Day 2
Surucuá Lodge
Enjoy an incredible experience at one of the largest remaining virgin rainforests, as well as
one of the most biodiverse in the world.
This is the right moment for a photo-safari and general fauna
observation, paddling along the Upper Iguazu River or having interpretative walks, conducted by expert guides.
After dinner, enjoy a Night walk: “The
Forest at night”.
Overnight with full board at Surucuá
Lodge
Day 3
In the morning time “off” to enjoy the facilities of the Lodge
(swimming pool, bike, pathways).
In the afternoon we
continue driving through another scenic byway. You will have the opportunity to
visit the Urugua-I Provincial Park.
We
will cross the Iguazu river to go to the Brazilian
city of Foz do Iguaçu.
