The Iguazú National Park, located in the province of Misiones , ARGENTINA, was founded in October 9^th , 1934 and its surface is of 66148ha.

Different areas form this wonderful nature refuge and it is precisely at the falls area where you can make visits to contemplate the falls of the Iguazú river.  

THE RIVER

The falls can be seen at the foot of them, called inferior circuit or over them, called superior circuit.

Nowadays the both circuit has new catwalks.
The length of the inferior circuit is of 1600 meters, and from this circuit it is possible to have access to a boat which crosses to the San Martín Island.

The superior circuit has a length of 1200 meters.

Your will also be able to visit the most important waterfall which is Garganta del Diablo ( Devil' s Throat)

You can reach this point by the new catwalks that faces the main fall.

THE JUNGLE

Besides the falls, the park shelters a natural sanctuary called jungle. Many elements are combined to create this protected ecosystem and by walking through the pathways a completely unknown world can be discovered by the common visitor.

The jungle usually adjusts the climate, reducing the extreme heat, acting as shelter against cold weather and maintaining high environmental humidity, by this creating the perfect atmosphere to accommodate a great variety of vegetal species, around 2000, which grow in different forms.

Due to the vast variety of food and shelter offered by the jungle, the fauna is also abundant.

It has been reported 448 species of birds, 80 species of mammals and a bigger number of fish, batrachians and reptiles, it must also be mentioned the great quantity of lepidoptera ( butterflies and moths).

Mammals are distributed among all the vegetal stratum, and most of them share specific characteristics related to the jungle space they occupy: they have natural aptitude for the water and to move through the dense vegetation.

The falls have constituted a barrier between the superior and inferior river for many millenniums, reason why, the fish fauna has evolved separately.

The fauna of the inferior river, constituted by Surubí, Pacú and Piraña, could never reach the superior river, where colored chanchitas (goldfishes), Tarariras, Dientudos  and Moncholos are the main characters of this part of the river.

THE MACUCO TRAIL

Near the research center there is the MACUCO trail.

It is a 3 kilometers pedestrian trail through the dense and mysterious jungle, with different levels of difficulty.

The walk can be made individually and it takes 2 hours approximately.

At the end of the trail you will find the Arrechea fall, which has a small beach, however, it is not possible to swim there.

Be careful with the stairways down to this beach, since it is quite dangerous.

There are several stops along the trail, and at the beginning there is a map which informs the levels of difficulty of the circuit.

Take a camera, a bottle of mineral water, enough repellent and  let´ s go!!

Different levels of the jungle from Misiones and its inhabitants

Image

References:

1-Pecarí, 2- Yaguareté, 3- Yarará, 4- Macuco, 5- Pájaro carpintero ( woodpecker), 6- Oso hormiguero (anteater), 7- Mono Caí, 9- Boyero, 10- Tucán ( Toucan ), 11- Yacutinga, 12- Yacutoro, 13- Halcón Negro ( black hawk), 14 Halcón Tijereta.

Winter timetable: from 9 to 18hs.
Summer timetable: from 8 to 19 hs.
Entrance price: $ 30 (US$ 8)
Younger than 6 years old: free

FULL MOON WALKS

On full moon nights it is possible to visit the falls to watch an outstanding show: the rainbow formed by the moon light.  The trip is guided by the forest rangers.
Usually starting from the visitors center, each day of full moon, at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.