Argentina Travel Planet

Iguazú National Park

Way up into the northeast of Argentina, in the province of Misiones, is one of Argentina’s most beautiful national parks, home to one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the country and Latin America, the Iguazú Falls.

The Iguazú National Park covers a total area of about 550km2, extending from Argentina all the way up into Brazil, and is a mix of both subtropical jungle, rivers, and waterfalls. This national park was created in 1934 as a way to conserve one of the most beautiful natural spots found in this Argentina travel guide, along with the flora, fauna, and waterfalls found there. Separating the Argentine park from the Brazilian park is the fast and furious Iguazú River, a river that at times spreads up to an incredible 1,500 meters wide, flows further than 1320km in total, and finally, 23km ahead, ends up in the Parana River.  This spectacular and large than life national park was announced a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, for good reason.

One of the most obvious reasons to visit the Iguazú National Park is to see the spectacular natural wonder, the Iguazú Falls. This enormous group of waterfalls, totalling more than 275 falls altogether of some which reach up to more than 80 meters in height, stretches more than 2.7km along the Iguazú River, and is the world’s biggest conglomeration of waterfalls. The falls can be seen from both the side of Argentina and of Brazil, either from a distance or by taking one of the many trails that follow alongside and sometimes almost beneath the rushing fall waters.

Flora & Fauna

Iguazú is home to various flora and fauna and said to have the richest natural environment in Argentina.  The subtropical jungle is made up of various species of trees, some growing higher than 40meters, others that grow only near the edge of the river, thriving on the moisture, such as the Curupy, the Cupay, and the Aguay, as well as the Ceibo, whose flower has been declared the national Argentine Flower.  Orchids grow in these forests, attaching themselves to the limbs of trees, absorbing the moisture and nutrients, and, at a lower level, yerba mate, one of Argentina’s favourite herbs to make tea.  The majority of the soil found in the national park is red in color, moist, and full of nutrients, a major reason why vegetation is so dense in the park. The high temperatures and humidity treats the park like a greenhouse, giving the vegetation exactly what it needs to grow, all year round.

The Iguazú national park is home to more than 400 species of bird, each more colourful than the next, and immeasurable amount of insects and bugs, plus hundreds of animal species, a few sadly on the list of extinction. Although wildlife is not spotted easily, it is possible to get a sight of animals like pumas, jaguars, small mammals, reptiles, anteaters, snakes, and a diversity of butterflies. Birds are a whole different matter, literally filling the jungle and the air, each with a unique voice and look, including a diverse range of species in birds such as toucans, eagles, parrots, and parakeets.

Visiting the Iguazú National Park

Arriving at the park is simple as buses from Buenos Aires go directly to the park on an overnight trip, about 18 hours.  The national park has hundreds of different trails to be taken through the jungle, various boat rides, guided tours to see the waterfalls, as well as adventure sports like canopy rides or river dives. There are many tourism agencies in Buenos Aires that offer various tours for various days to the park, most including accommodation and activities while in the a park.