La Boca & El Caminito

La Boca, the Buenos Aires’ neighborhood famed for its colorful houses, its tango and its soccer team, is the one spot that makes every visitor’s agenda.

The centerpiece is the cobblestone strip, El Caminito, or little walkway. The one-time railway route is lined with the bright facades that make La Boca postcard perfect. Named for a 1926 tango song, the pedestrian lane features an outdoor fair where artists sell their wares and tango dancers prance along the sidewalk in between photo ops with tourists.

But there’s much more to La Boca than what meets the casual tourist’s eye. Like New York City’s Lower East Side and London’s East End, La Boca was the neighborhood where new immigrants first established themselves when they arrived in Buenos Aires.

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Due to safety issues, La Boca is the one neighborhood in Buenos Aires for which we strongly recommend a tour, either a full-day or half-day tour that includes La Boca and other famous spots such as Plaza de Mayo with our Irish friend, or if you’re adventurous, a full-day bike tour that include La Boca and Caminto.

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The neighborhood may derive its name from its location at ‘La Boca’ (the mouth) of the Riochuelo, as the Mantanza River is usually called. The port-side barrio is an obvious point for boats to come ashore and historians say the Spanish first landed in La Boca as early as 1536.

During their early colonial expansion the colonizers housed African slaves in this area. After Argentina gained independence many of the freed stayed. With the arrival of the industrial revolution La Boca grew into a gritty shipyard area with meat curing plants and tanneries.

Xeneizes, Tango and Lunfardo

Mass settlement in La Boca began in 1830, with an influx of immigrants from Genoa, Italy. Coming from a port city, it was natural for the Genoese to settle along the Buenos Aires waterfront. There were so many Genoese in La Boca at that time that some say the name is a spin-off of the name Boccadasse, a neighborhood in Genoa.

The new arrivals constructed tenements made of scrap metal and painted the shacks with bright leftover marine paint to liven up the one-time wasteland. Soon the Italians were joined by immigrants from Spain, France, England, Ireland, Eastern Europe and Greece and among others. The cross-cultural mix gave birth to tango, although the term wouldn’t be coined until the end of the 1890’s. Factory and port workers would gather to dance in the central halls of the tenements and vie to grab the attention of the few women available at the time.

La Boca also played a fundamental part in the creation of the Argentine slang, lunfardo. The vocabulary grew out of cocoliche, a mix of Italian dialects that immigrants used to communicate with each other. Even the barrio’s famous soccer team, La Boca Juniors are also called Los Xeneizes, derived from the word for ‘Genoese’ in the Italian dialect.

By the turn of the 19th century the area was the second most populated zone in Buenos Aires but the construction of a new port in Puerto Madero meant the shipping industry would move northward. As Argentina entered its golden era, residents moved further inland and La Boca began to decline.

La Boca’s Revival

A revival of El Caminito and La Boca in the 1950’s was led by artist, Quinquela Martín. The famed La Boca orphan was abandoned at birth, adopted and spent a good portion of his childhood in La Boca. After studying drawing at a La Boca night school, he ended up becoming one of Argentina’s most famous painters and a major neighborhood philanthropist.

After the General Roca railway train line, which ran through here shut down in 1954, Martín set to work to save the barrio. He gathered neighbors to paint the houses bright colors, emulating the early immigrants. The artists began to host theater here utilizing the colorful houses as part of the backdrop.

At the urging of Martín, in 1959 the city government officially declared the street El Caminito an open-air museum. It’s named in honor of Martín’s friend, Juan de Dios Filibrito, a former La Boca resident who co-authored the tango tune of the same name.

Safety in La Boca

As in most places where a popular tourist attraction sits in the middle of an economically disadvantaged neighborhood, La Boca can be dangerous for visitors who stray off the tourist path.

Most just see El Caminito, its the few surrounding streets and La Bombonera the stadium where Diego Maradona became ‘God’ for his fans.

For brave low-profile travelers who want to explore more of the neighborhood, there are many interesting sites here, just don’t carry anything you can’t afford to lose.

A nice way to explore a La Boca with relative anonymity is by bicycle or go for strength in numbers and take a tour.

If you are headed to La Boca at night to eat in one of its many cantinas such as the El Obrero steakhouse or to dance tango, the usual advice is to take a taxi or uber to and from your destination.

La Boca Safety Tips:

• Don’t carry anything you can’t afford to lose

• Be careful straying off the tourist path, which includes El Caminito and the few surrounding blocks.

• Don’t ever wear a River Plate shirt to La Boca — that’s the soccer team’s biggest rival and you’d be asking for trouble!

→ Do you need Travel Insurance for Argentina?

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Getting to La Boca:

–Subway: There is no subway to La Boca

–Bus lines:

20, 25, 29, 33, 46, 53, 64, 86, 129, 152, 159, 168, 195

Tours & Bike Rental:

→ Check the La Boca tours on our curated tour list

⇒ Check out all the La Boca Tours on Get Your Guide

The Buenos Aires Pub Crawl

Buenos Aires may be one of the world’s great party cities, but there is only one organized pub crawl in town.

Luckily for party people, the Buenos Aires Pub Crawl takes place no less than six nights a week.

On a typical Pub Crawl night a crowd gathers around the fountain in Palermo’s Plaza Armenia. It’s not unusual in Buenos Aires to see a bunch of grizzled characters hanging around in a local plaza drinking the night away with a few ballads, but it’s obvious this crew is a little different. It’s a mix of North American college kids, British backpackers, dolled up Argentine girls, and mustachioed Australians.

Hugs and kisses are bandied about between the regulars — mainly locals and friends of the Pub Crawl staff who obviously enjoy these big nights out on a regular basis.

Starting the Night at the Pub Crawl

A group of gay partiers carrying pink and black ‘Out and About’ balloons loudly join the proceedings, sending the energy levels (and average age) up a little. Some jet-lagged Australian travelers, who only arrived in Buenos Aires a day before and found out about the Pub Crawl through their hostel, are already on a massive bender.

Two American friends who are in Argentina for a week’s holiday are on their second crawl.

“He picked up a hot Argentinean girl on Tuesday night,” explains one, pointing to his buddy, “so we decided to come back to try our luck again.”

A stack of cheese pizzas arrives and everyone tucks in right there in the plaza. Several guys in black t-shirts sit on the steps taking the names of new arrivals and handing out fluorescent wristbands so that the pubcrawl staff can keep track of their protégés throughout the night.

In the end, the pub crawl group, mostly English-speakers in their twenties to early thirties, numbers at least 40.

As the alcohol flows, strangers start to mingle, kicking off conversations with the timeless icebreaker, “Hi, where are you from?”

After an hour in the plaza, a slight restlessness starts to pervade. The folks are ready to start the pub crawl. With impeccable timing, the guide who will be in charge tonight, stands up to address the party-goers. His role is part guardian angel, part fearless general, and part MC —safely leading the troops while keeping things congenial and rolling along. He is accompanied tonight by five other Pub Crawl staff.

pub crawl shirt — His logic is hard to argue with

The Pub Crawl guide addresses the group to lay out the plans for the evening, as well as provide a few words of caution.

The pub crawl is designed to visit three bars and finish up at a nightclub.

Participants will get a free shooter upon arrival at each bar as well as drink specials all night and free entry into the nightclub at the end.

Everyone will be given a 10-minute notice before leaving each bar. Pace yourself — it’s a marathon not a sprint. Pub crawlers are reminded to treat the bar staff with respect, don’t fall into potholes and be careful crossing the street.

The crowd, already buzzing, chatters and giggles throughout the speech, and have to be told to quiet down several times by Pub Crawl staff. Tough love. Finally, the party begins for real, as the guide strides off to lead the group to Tazz Soho, the first bar of the evening, with the mob bustling along in his wake.

On this particular Thursday night, both founding members of the Buenos Aires Pub Crawl happen to be along; Dustin Walsh (now a Youtube star) who resides here in Buenos Aires, and Roger Trueba, who makes the trip down from the US about once a month to oversee the operation, which includes 22 staff members, headquartered in an office in Buenos Aires’ downtown.

Buenos Aires Pub Crawl Founders

“Once we had the idea to go ahead with it, it took us six months to set everything up. Then within two months of starting, the thing was huge,” says Trueba.

They have now set up another pub crawl operation in Santiago, Chile, and plan to do the same in several other South American cities.

“I had thought originally when we set it up that I wouldn’t have to actually be in Buenos Aires that often, but it’s become so big, running six nights a week, that I have to come back here on a regular basis to help make sure everything is going smoothly.”

Roger and Dustin are Kappa Sigma Fraternity brothers from Georgia State University and they continue to use their old fraternity to recruit employees for the Pub Crawl.

“We bring them down here for a year and it’s an excellent way for them to gain work experience,” says Trueba. “The problem is that they have so much fun that they don’t want to leave after 12 months!”

It does seem like a dream job for the fresh-out-of-college staff. They get to live in a beautiful South American capital, meet lots of new people and party all the time, but even though their work attire consists of sneakers and t-shirts, there is a level of professionalism that they are required to maintain as in most any job.

Keeping Safe on the Buenos Aires Pub Crawl

If taking a bunch of young people — some who aren’t even old enough to drink in their respective countries — on a bohemian death march through the streets on Buenos Aires seems like a risky venture, it is. “There’s always liability issues,” says Walsh, “We try to give the ground rules but keep it fun and upbeat.”

The Pub Crawl staff do keep the gang together as they move from bar to bar, corralling stragglers and maintaining control, even as the patrons get progressively messier.

So far the most shocking behavior on the pub crawl has been rather innocuous— spontaneous strip shows by participants. Rugby players are the worst offenders, says Walsh. “I don’t know what it is about rugby players but the second they start drinking they can’t resist the urge to strip.”

The Buenos Aires Pub Crawl is held in different parts of the city depending on the night of the week. The Pub Crawl usually hits San Telmo on Monday and Saturday nights, Palermo on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Microcentro on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Gay Pub Crawl is on Saturdays.

The cost covers the introductory drinks and pizza, a free shot as well as drink specials at each bar and transport and entry into the club that is that’s night final destination.

Be prepared to spend a bit more than the initial price as it’s a long time between complimentary shooters, however the whole package offers good value for money for those who don’t know the city well.

As the Thursday group stumbles its way through Palermo’s cobbled streets to each new bar, instant friendships are formed amidst the beer haze, and rum-fueled romances blossom.

The bars visited (Tazz Soho, Clara and Quiroz) are fairly empty until the Pub Crawl arrives in numbers to turn the volume up from ‘relaxed Thursday night’ to ‘party time!’.

Baactivitiespubcrawl2 — -photos courtesy of the Buenos Aires’ Pub Crawl-

The final chartered bus ride to the Lost club is a particularly bonding experience as the last vestiges of sobriety have by now disappeared into the cool night.

Striding past the queue at the door and straight into the club, the group disperses into smaller cliques within the dark bowels of the monstrous venue.

The Pub Crawl staff are still around, but when and how the night finishes is now entirely up to each individual party-goer. And while most will be nursing a hangover the next day, wallowing in the swamp of self-loathing and regret (albeit with some good stories to tell and a camera full of hilarious photos), the Pub Crawl crew will be back doing it again the very next night.

—by Dan Colasimone

The Buenos Aires Pub Crawl

When: Every day (better on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays)
Time: 10:00 p.m.
Price: $25

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Mendoza: Beautiful Wine City at the Foot of the Andes

Mendoza, with its tree-lined streets, plentiful plazas, and prime location at the foot of the Andes is one of the world’s most beautiful wine cities, ideal for casual strolling through the streets.

Mendoza’s City Center

Early immigrants from Europe realized the potential for viniculture when they saw that not only was the area blessed with abundant sunlight all year round, it also had a ready-made canal system, courtesy of the Huarpe natives, which brought water from the Andes mountains.

The area proved ideal for the cultivation of wine grapes, especially the previously under-appreciated Malbec grape.

The effective water-distributing canals are also the reason for the healthy verdure of the trees lining Mendoza’s downtown streets, as well as the fact that it is illegal to cut down or even trim one of the city’s characteristic trees without permission from the local council.

That particular law is great for the aesthetics of Mendoza, but not always favorable to its residents – it’s not uncommon to see a huge tree smack in the middle of someone’s driveway, or slowly strangling some poor telephone wires into a crackly death.

It’s also surprising that more people don’t break their ankles by tumbling into the grate-less streams running alongside every street, which are especially hard to notice after a few glasses of the local product.

Such a clean, organized and well thought-out city seems like a far-fetched idea for anyone who knows the lovable, but shambolic Argentines well.

The contrast between Mendoza and sprawling, chaotic Buenos Aires is striking. This can partly be put down to sheer size difference between the two cities, and perhaps the typically slower pace of provincial life.

Tragedy has also played a part in shaping the Mendoza of today. A massive 7.2 earthquake in 1861 almost totally leveled the buildings of the city, and wiped out an estimated 30% of the population.

From the rubble, the city was rebuilt along a carefully laid out plan that included low buildings, wide streets and dozens of open plazas, which would act as sanctuaries in case of future earthquakes in the volatile region.

Visiting Mendoza’s Vineyards

Conveniently for tourists, the main wine producing districts are all located within 40 kilometers of Mendoza city center, so it’s easy to visit a handful of vineyards in a single afternoon.

Hiring a car is a popular option for those who have a designated driver, but it’s also easy to visit the vineyards as part of a tour group.

⇒ See all Day tours & Wine Tours in Mendoza

The latter option is surprisingly inexpensive, and allows a great deal of freedom to roam. The drivers are used to escorting tourists around, and they’re locals, so their inside knowledge can be really valuable.

The best strategy in a Mendoza visit is to mix up vineyard visits — visit a couple of the big name wine producers, and also some smaller, boutique bodegas (wineries).

One of the biggest names in Argentine wine is Rutini, and their lovely La Rural Bodega (Montecaseros 2625 – Maipu) is well worth a visit.

Rutini tours start with a visit to their very own wine museum, which offers an insightful journey through the history of wine production in Argentina, from the early days of pressing the grapes by foot in large leather troughs, right through to the modern methods involving the grape passing through a series of impressive looking machines, each the size of a room, before the juice is fermented in massive temperature controlled vats.

The tour guides are slick and well informed, and at the end of the tour they will talk you through a tasting of some of Rutini’s famous wines.

There are other similarly extensive wine tours in the likes of La Guarda (Abraham Tapia 1380 – San Juan), and Terrazas de los Andes (Thames y Cochabamba, Lujan de Cuyo) with their vast vineyards and sophisticated production facilities, show visitors how traditional methods have been combined with modern technology to produce the quality wines, in vast quantities, that end up on our dinner tables.

Interested in having us design an amazing trip in Argentina including in Mendoza? See some of the premium tours including wine, kayaking and horseback riding tours as part of a Mendoza itinerary here.

Small Bodegas (Vineyards) to visit around Mendoza

One of the real pleasures of visiting a wine region like Mendoza, however, is discovering for yourself your own little gems of winemakers.

One such gem is Carinae (Videla Aranda 2899 – Maipu), owned by French couple Brigitte and Philippe Subra, who fell so in love with the region and its wine culture, that they decided to become a part of it, enlisting the help of world renowned French Enologist Michel Rollan to produce a multi-award winning range of wines.

Phillippe’s other love, astronomy, works as a theme all through the bodega, from the names of constellations which appear throughout, to the starry design of the labels on the bottles.

Bodega Cecchin (Saez 626 – Maipu) is a maker of organic wines and olive oils of excellent quality. Tours here have that personal touch, and the wines you can taste and buy here can’t be found in stores.

Similarly intimate is the vineyard Cavas de Don Arturo (F. Villanueva 2233 – Maipu), a family-run vineyard whose staff is knowledgeable and passionate about their product. You can also find limited edition wines, which are designed by Don Arturo himself and produced especially for family occasions such as weddings and birthdays, and are available to buy only at the estate.

These are just a few examples of what can be found among the 682 wineries of Mendoza. Once you are there you can go ahead and discover some of your own.

Harvest time for the grapes is between February and April each year, and culminates with the Vendimia Festival – a huge celebration of the grape harvest and a perfect time to visit.

Hiking, Kayaking, Biking in Mendoza:

The natural rock formation at 'La Puente de las Incas' outside of Mendoza City, Argentina. Read about this attraction and the nearby healing hot springs on Wander Argnetina — La Puente de las Incas, a natural rock formation in Mendoza

There are plenty of other things to do in and around Mendoza apart from tasting wine all day, although you could be forgiven if that’s all you did.

Apart from vineyards, the region is also prosperous in fruit growing and oliviculture.

Many of the area wine tours will also include a stop at one of the numerous olive groves, where you will be able to see how olive oil is pressed, and sample some delicious varieties on crusty bread.

For the more adventurous, there are plenty of outdoor activities such as kayaking, horse riding, mountain biking, some very good trout fishing and trekking, such as the Cordon del Plata trek Andes excursion to the summit of the Morro del Negro.

A typical Mendoza city tour, which takes half a day, will include pretty plazas, historical ruins left by the great earthquake, a drive around the General San Martin Park with its elaborate gates and Romanesque fountains, and a trip up nearby Cerro de la Gloria (Glory Hill), which has Instagram-worthy views of the picturesque city and its surrounding vineyards.

At the peak of Glory Hill is the coolest monument you will ever see, depicting José Francisco de San Martin, ‘Liberator of the Americas’, astride his horse with arms crossed in all-conquering confidence, flanked by a horde of hellacious warriors, above whom rises Liberty, in the very moment in which she is shattering the chains of oppression.

It’s a monument that is as subtle as a train wreck, and quite spectacular.

General San Martin is a constant presence in these parts – his name is on everything — as this is the place where he crossed the Andes in 1817 to liberate (or invade, depending on who you talk to) neighboring Chile.

The Andes, Aconcagua & Mendoza’s Hot Springs

Being so close to the Andes, a must while in Mendoza is taking a drive up through the three levels of mountain ranges, each greater than the last.

The long and winding road up Mount Villavicencio, famous in Argentina for being a source of bottled spring water of the same name, culminates in some spectacular views from the top.

Deeper into the ranges is Las Penitentes, one of the most popular of numerous ski resorts in the zone.

Just before the highest peaks, and the border with Chile, is an attraction known as La Puente de las Incas, a colorful natural bridge formed by limestone that is rooted in native Huarpe legend.

La Puente de las Incas is renowned for the healing qualities of the hot springs found there. (The Cacheute Thermal Springs, a little up the river are nicer though).

Looming over everything is Aconcagua, the Andes’ highest peak, and the tallest mountain in the world, outside the Himalayas.

When to Visit Mendoza

Mendoza offers so much variety that it’s an ideal destination for young and old travelers, couples or families, adventure seekers or those just wanting a relaxing time drinking wine and wandering around.

You’ll need at least three or four days to see the basics, and could spend much longer time here without running out of things to do.

Mendoza has a dry climate and is sunny for more than 300 days a year, which means it is pleasant city to visit at anytime of year.

For six months of the year, from October until April, the climate is very agreeable, with daily temperatures range from 16-25 Celsius (60-77 Fahrenheit).

The spring months of September, October and November are planting season. While temperatures are pleasant during the day, it cools off at night.

The summer months of December, January and February are the warmest months, but unlike Buenos Aires it rarely gets unbearably hot. Summer visitors will want to pack light, breathable clothes, sunscreen and sunglasses but also bring a couple of light sweaters for the evenings when it cools off.

International wine connoisseurs descend on Mendoza during its harvest months of January, February and March. Mendoza’s biggest festival of the year, La Fiesta de la Vendimia culminates in early March.

For anyone planning to visit more of Argentina than just Buenos Aires, sunny wine-soaked Mendoza is a worthy destination up there with other Argentina favorites such as Iguazu Falls, and Bariloche.

—by Dan Colasimone

→ See our list of Premium Mendoza Day Tours

⇒ See all economy Partner Tours in Mendoza

→Read our guide to accommodation in Mendoza here

→ See a list of all hotels in Mendoza

→ Read Meandering Mendoza: A Walking Tour

Iguaçu Falls, Panoramic Views in Brazil

Iguazú Falls, spelled Iguassu or Iguaçu in Portuguese, can also be visited from Foz do Iguaçu, located in the state of Paraná in the south of Brazil.

→ Buy online now: Full Day Iguazu Tour from Foz de Iguazu — $84

Iguazu: Getting a Brazilian Visa

If you don’t have a Brazilian visa to enter the country (and you don’t figure out how to sneak over for a bit, as travelers have occasionally been known to do) you will need to get one. Those from the United States, Australia, Canada and most African and Asian nations (excluding South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore) all need visas. Most EU citizens don’t need a visa, but check online before showing up at the border.

The price is high and getting the tourist visa can be a bit of a pain, but many consider the fee worth it for the chance to stroll through Brazil’s national park. Those who didn’t plan well can apply for a visa in Foz de Iguazu before 12 p.m. at the consulate in Puerto Iguazu, but you’ll need 24 hours to process it. Worth noting is that those with an expired Argentina visa will be rejected.

Although there are not as many trails and close encounters with the falls on the Brazil side, the panoramic views are superior. On the Brazilian side of Iguazu there is also the opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the falls by a helicopter tour, although it is hoped visitors resist the excursion due to the environmental impact.

Just north of the cataracts, on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, is the Itaipu Dam, the largest hydroelectric power plant on the planet. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the US Association of Civil Engineers and is an interesting excursion for those who enjoy educational travel. Check availability for a Itaipu Tour online. Although they aren’t high in the list for many tourists, there are some gem mines in the area to visit as well.

Many tourists opt to stay in Puerto Iguazu on the Argentine side of Iguazú, rather than on the more urban and crime-laden Foz do Iguaçu on the Brazilian side. Nevertheless, because of the over-saturation of accommodations in Foz do Iguaçu there are some good deals to be had.

The most desirable lodging option is the Hotel das Cataratas, a classic colonial-style four-star hotel, unique for being located inside the national park. It is far more tasteful, although a bit more expensive than the old Sheraton Hotel (now, Melia Iguazu) which is the only hotel located inside the Argentina side of the park.

Updated in 2018

Iguazú Falls: The Fury of Nature

When faced with nature’s brute strength and grandeur at Iguazú Falls, it’s easy to understand why mystical indigenous stories of love and rage serve to explain this phenomenon of nature.

Local legend maintains that this is the spot where a beautiful woman was sacrificed every year in order to tame a vicious snake that inhabited the waters.

One year a brave Guarani man kidnapped the woman in an effort save her life. The snake grew angry and burst, contorting his body and splitting the river to form the waterfalls of Iguazu, forever separating the couple.

Another variation of this local story maintains that a God cut the Iguazú River in half out of fury when he found out his beautiful bride fled with her mortal lover, causing the couple to fall to their death. The gushing waters represent the eternal heartache of the God.

The name Río Iguazú (Iguazú River) or ‘Great Waters,’ was given by the Guaranis who used to roam its banks.

Upper Iguazú drops over 80 meters at the pinnacle of the cataracts, marked by the largest fall, La Garganta del Diablo (The Devil’s Throat), which feeds into Lower Iguazú, collects in a canyon, and then flows into Argentina’s Paraná River.

Iguazu Falls span over 2.7 kilometers of the river’s edge, forming a semi-circle of 275 individual waterfalls with water rushing down at 1,300 m3 per second.

At Iguazú Falls there is a majestic sparkle in the air, as if you’ve stepped into the scene of a Disney-made fairytale.

The sun dances off the water pouring over the fault’s edge, casting rainbows throughout the air and dusting the vivid greenery with a diamond-like shimmer.

There is an elegance about Iguazú Falls that causes jaws to drop and heads to shake in disbelief, leaving no questions about why the UNESCO World Heritage site was named on of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World in 2011.

Upon arrival, the surreal beauty of the jungle and waterfalls are masked by the imposing Visitor Center structure where tickets are purchased.

Visitors planning to return for a second day should sure to get the tickets stamped by park rangers on the way out because admission on day two is discounted.

Several languages can be heard along the trails, a testament to the worldwide reputation of one of Argentina’s top tourist attractions.

Get an early start at the national park and try to stay ahead of groups of tourists on guided tours who populate the paths.

While many do hire tour guides, it is not a necessity and they don’t overwhelm the park. Luckily, there are plenty of courses to walk and passing others is as easy as just picking up pace and scooting by.

Aquatic Tours in Iguazu Falls

Iguazú Jungle provides the aquatic tourism in Argentina’s National Park (Parque Nacional de Iguazú) and offers opportunities to navigate both the upper and lower sections.

The Great Adventure Tour, the most daring and longest offering, includes a tour of the Yacaratiá Trail, introducing you to the subtropical climate that is home to 2,000 species of plants, 450 types of birds, 80 mammals and the countless insects that inhabit the forest.

Along this eight kilometer safari ride you may see snakes crossing the trail, Capuchin Monkeys swinging between trees, huge spiders spinning their webs in the branches and Red-Breasted Toucans perched in the treetops.

The bilingual guide points out the edible trees that line the dirt path and explains how hearts of palm are extracted from the numerous Palmetto trees in the jungle.

The 20-minute safari concludes near the water’s edge, where boats wait to traverse the Lower Iguazú River. After a six kilometer cruise showcasing some of the smaller falls, the current picks up and boats are thrown into two kilometers of rapids and a close encounter with the mouth of The Devil’s Throat, a drenching beneath the Dos and Tres Mosqueteros, (Musketeer Falls) and San Martín cascades, and a close view of the San Martín Island, a paradise that sits at the heart of the cataracts. The finale leaves passengers soaked yet awed by the feeling of having faced the fury of the falls. The water quells the heat and one cannot resist the urge to gaze upwards to receive a bath by Mother Nature.

Iguazú Jungle tours offers an assortment of aquatic excursions – the Nautical Adventure, which is the same trip as the Great Adventure tour without the safari ride, the Ecological Tour, which traverses the calm waters of the Upper Iguazú, and a variety of packages that combine the different programs.

Walking Trails Around Iguazu Falls

Coatis, or Brazilian aardvarks are part of the racoon family and are seen all over Iguazu Falls — Coatis, or Brazilian aardvarks are part of the racoon family

Those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground will find plenty of walking trails that provide breathtaking views and the vertigo-inducing sensation of standing on the fault’s edge, where a refreshing mist gives relief from the humidity.

Along these walkways are packs of Coatis, or Brazilian aardvarks, that feed on stray berries and pose along the railings for snap-happy tourists.

Groups of butterflies rest their wings all over the trails at Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side. Book your Iguazu Falls excursion with Wander Argentina — Groups of butterflies rest their wings all over the trails at Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side

The Lower Circuit takes roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes to traverse, hosting 150 meters of stairs, but the face-to-face encounter with five different falls makes up for the effort it takes to arrive.

This is a nice circuit to conquer at the end of the day, once the crowds have dispersed — you may feel as though you are discovering the falls for the first time, especially those such as Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters), tucked away in a quiet crevice complementing the peacefulness of the trail at dusk with their synchronized pitter-patter on the pool below. A diverse mix of walkways and jungle paths make it likely to spot several of the different species of birds resting in treetops, including boomerang-like swifts (the park’s official symbol) parakeets and parrots. Iguanas and lizards also scurry across the trails, but perhaps the most inspired picture comes from the swarms of vibrant butterflies that land on the limbs of passers-by.

The Upper Circuit – This 1200 meter walk, can be complete in roughly 35 minutes, and consists of various lookout points at the peak of several cataracts, starting with Bossetti Fall – named after an explorer who ‘rediscovered’ the falls in the late 1800s – and finishing at the Mbiguá Fall. This course boasts some of the most impressive panoramic views that can be enjoyed from the Argentine side and highlights the vast expanse of the Brazilian border.

All trails throughout the Argentina Park are connected by the Rainforest Ecological Train (Tren Ecológico de la Selva), which facilitates access to each part of the park with three different stops along the way. From Central Station, one can either take the train or walk the Green Trail (Sendero Verde, 20 minutes of a ‘canopied’ walkway through the jungle) to Cataratas Station, which marks the beginning of the Upper Circuit. From here, the train travels deep into the forest, explores different branches of the Upper Iguazú and ends at the Devil’s Throat Station, where the Devil’s Throat Circuit begins.

The powerful and large waterfall, the Devil's Throat at Iguazu Falls, Argentina — The Devil’s Throat, photos by Jenna Frisch

Allow an hour for the popular Devil’s Throat Circuit because unlike the other paths with several vistas, there is only one balcony area to get a good view of the falls.

Once you reach the Devil’s Throat, the railing is the only thing holding you back from certain death, but this unrestricted access liberates the onlooker and makes the crowd disappear into the background. The thunder of the river breaking over the banks here is hypnotic.

If the Devil’s Throat Fall is the conductor, the neighboring cascades are the orchestra, keeping perfect rhythm with the main event. Adding to the devilish drama are the swarms of turkey vultures menacingly circling overhead, as if waiting for someone to fall to their demise.

Food in Iguazu National Park

There are restaurants, which have pizza and other basics, near the entrance of the park, but expect the usual tourist offerings of overpriced, mediocre food.

There are also fast food options near Central Station and Devil’s Throat Station, useful for the bathroom facilities and places to sit and relax throughout the day.

Packing your own picnic is a healthier and cheaper option. The ultimate dining experience in the park is the once-a-month full moon tour to the Devil’s Throat, which provides a chance for visitors to see the daytime shimmer replaced with serene silver and blues of the falls at night.

Puerto Iguazú and Other Local Attractions

Since visitors are already in Iguazu, most also make the hop over to border the Brazilian side of the national park for a tour to enjoy the panoramic views of the falls.

The area that includes Iguazú Falls, Foz do Iguazú and Ciudad del Este is known as the Hito Tres Fronteras (Three Borders Milestones), which is the point where the limits of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil come together with these cities.

Ciudad del Este is known as a shopping mecca for Argentines an Brazilians and is also known for a black market goods.

Those with an interest in geology could also visit Wanda Mines an hour to the south. Still, with so much magnificence in close proximity you only really need two or three days to have the full Iguazu experience.

→ Cont. Getting there and Lodging

→ Whether you prefer to travel by bus or airplane, stay in a budget hostel or a fancy hotel, we can design a dream Iguazu trip for you at a price far more reasonable than your travel agent at home → Contact us

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→ Whether you prefer to travel by bus or airplane, stay in a budget hostel or a fancy hotel, we can design a dream Iguazu trip for you at a price far more reasonable than your travel agent at home → Contact us

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