Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FISHING
Iguazú Water Sports,
Town Port, Puerto Iguazú (
&
3757/556-932
), orga-
nizes all-day fishing ex cursions, including riv erside
asados
(barbecues), as w ell as other
watersports.
195
What to See & Do Around Puerto Iguazú
La Aripuca,
RN 12, Km 4.5, Puerto Iguazú (
&
3757/423-488
), is a giant house made
from fallen tree trunks, its design based on a primitive bird trap. It is located outside the
town on the way to the par k and worth a morning stroll, with a handicraft stor e selling
everything from
mate
-flavored ice cream to leather goods. It is open every day from 8am
to 7pm.
Indio Solitario,
Calle Jangadero 719, Puerto Iguazú (no phone), and
Jardín de
Ozain,
Fray Luis Beltran 84, Puerto Iguazú (
&
3757/421-302
), are two colorful orchid
gardens located in the to wn. The latter is open fr om 8am to 6pm ev ery day, while the
former is open Tuesday to Saturday 9am until midday and 3 to 8pm. I t is also open on
Sunday from 9am to midday. Perhaps one of I guazú's most eccentric sites is the
Plastic
Bottle House,
RN 12, Km 5, P uerto Iguazú (
&
3757/405-621
). The somewhat ugly
bungalow made from recycled materials is just down the road from La Aripuca and worth
a 20-minute stop and the $1.60 (£1.10) admission.
Guïrá Ogá Bird's House
, RN 12,
Km 5, P uerto Iguazú (
&
3757/423-980;
http://guiraoga.fundacionazara.org.ar), is an
interesting animal r efuge full of parr ots, owls, and monkeys. A dmission is $5 (£3.40).
Fortín M'Bororé
is a Guarani Indian community that now accept visits and reveals the
secrets behind their ancient traditions of hunting, natural medicine, and handicrafts.
Tours are organized by the agency
Cuenca del P lata
(
&
3757/421-062;
www.cuenca
delplata.com), with a significant shar
e of the cost going to
ward social pr ojects and
7
medical assistance.
SHOPPING
Feathered G uarani wander the to wn selling trinkets, and the principal
streets are jammed with shops selling all types of tourist tat, from factory-produced
mate
gourds to dr eamcatchers. Look har d enough though and y ou will find genuine, locally
produced w eavings and handicrafts.
Timbó Ar te,
Av. M isiones 141, P uerto I guazú
(
&
3757/422-698;
www.timboiguazu.com.ar), has ev erything from seeds to ceramics.
Patria Gaucha,
Victoria Aguirre 222, Puerto Iguazú (
&
3757/423-469
), is perfect for
those cowboy shoppers who want leather boots, jackets, and ponchos.
Claudia G,
Av.
Brasil 154, P uerto I guazú (
&
3757/425-456
), specializ es in wool and cotton goods,
with a nice line in candles.
SPAS & WELLNESS CENTERS
All that mud and humidity takes its toll, and after a
long day in the jungle, y our body will appr eciate an hour in a sauna or on the massage
slab.
Spa de la Selva,
Route 12, Km 5 (
&
3757/420-057
), is a charming garden facility
beside the O rquídeas Palace, offering ev erything from manicures to y oga sessions. F or
somewhere closer to to wn, tr y
Vergel I guazú R elax,
Bonpland 111, P uerto I guazú
(
&
3757/421-733
), a small street clinic with hot stone massage and aromatherapy baths.
Most of the high-end hotels hav e in-house spas that w elcome nonguests—the most
notable in to wn being the
Hotel S aint G eorge,
Av. Cór doba 148, P uerto I guazú
(
&
3757/420-633;
www.hotelsaintgeorge.com).
WHERE TO STAY
Puerto Iguazú has witnessed a hotel boom in r ecent years, with some ex cellent budget
options in the town and more upscale operations appearing on the road to the park. Peak
season for hotels in Iguazú extends through January and February (summer holiday) and
also includes J uly (winter br eak), Semana Santa (Holy Week, the w eek before Easter),
