Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
204
Esteros del Ibera
The locals turn out in st yle to greet you in Esteros del Ibera. Southern scream-
ers, red crested cardinals, giant wood rails, storks, cormorants, and kingfishers
are just some of the 300 f eathered creatures that don their finest plumage —
red eye patches, crimson collars, yellow-tipped wings, scarlet hats, and orange
headbands in what is natur e's version of C arnaval, except it takes plac e year-
round. They swoop, scuttle, scamper, and dive in an acr obatic show of nature
that demands a camera with telescopic lens and no time delay.
And that is just what happens in the sk y. Bathing in this amazing 2m- deep
(6
1
/
2
-ft.) marshland are multitudes of the large blunt-headed rodents known as
capybaras. They have family picnics at the edge of floating islands wat ched by
grinning caiman and g rowling howler monkeys. Yellow-backed anaconda slip
between the water reeds, while turtles sleep at the feet of graceful marsh deer
that trod gently around lily pads the size of large frying pans.
Esteros del I bera is a 13,000-sq .-km (5,019-sq.-mile) trough of r emarkable
wildlife running up the middle of C orrientes, the nex t province south of M is-
iones. Dominated by two lakes, Laguna de Luna and Laguna Ibera, it is a morass
of wat erways and v egetation, with wide -open spac es per fect f or a spot of
nature spotting . Spec tacular sunsets ar e just the opening ac t t o incr edible
night skies, and the utt er peace and tranquillit y demand that y ou stay for at
least 2 or 3 days.
Most people choose to stay in the sleepy settlement of
Colonia Carlos Pel-
legrini.
It is a quiet, unassuming plac e of baked brick huts surr ounded b y
water and ac cessible over an old w ooden bridge. Here you'll find some w ell-
appointed lodges that off er all-inclusiv e 3- or 4- day deals , including daily
7
play equipment. In high season, activity leaders organize all-day children's activities in the
pool or in the Tarzan house, tucked away in the for est.
Rodovía das Cataratas, Km 2.5, Foz do Iguaçu.
&
0800/451-010
or 4535/290-123. www.bourbon.com.
br. 311 units. $236 (£160) double. Prices include breakfast and dinner. AE, MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
3 r estaurants; 3 pools; out door t ennis c ourts; sauna; t our desk ; r oom ser vice; laundr y ser vice; Wi-Fi.
In room:
A/C, TV, high-speed Internet (master suites only), minibar, fridge, hair dryer, safe.
Tropical das C ataratas Hotel & Resor t
The P ortuguese colonial hotel,
located in the Brazilian National Park, is a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site. The
meticulously kept pink-and-white buildings, on a cliff above the Brazilian falls, are often
fully booked, but if you can get a reservation, its spacious corridors and quiet courtyards
promise a r elaxing v acation. D eluxe and superior r ooms, fitted with two-poster beds,
granite- or marble-top tables, and har dwood floors, are far better than standar d rooms;
make sur e y ou ask for one that has been r efurbished, so y ou don't get stuck with a
50-year-old bathroom. The hotel has two commendable restaurants serving Brazilian and
international food. Restaurante Itaipú is the mor e formal choice, while the outdoor I pe
Bar & Grill offers evening entertainment.
