wanderlust.co.ukSeptember 2019 27
ARGENTINA EXPLORE
Get there
Air Europa now lies
from London Gatwick
to Iguazú (Argentina)
via Madrid from
around £635 return
(aireuropa.com);
the shortest journeys
take approximately
19 hours.
5
ThenumberofOlympic
swimmingpoolsthat
Iguazú’slowofwater
(12,743m³/s)canill
intherainyseason
(OctobertoMarch).
260°
Theanglethatan
observercanstand
andbesurrounded
bywaterfallsatthe
Devil’sThroat–you
won’tknowwhere
tolookirst.
75
Thenumberofyears
sincethelegendary
USFirstLadyEleanor
Rooseveltirstvisited
thetoweringwaterfalls.
Overcomebytheir
greatness,she
famouslyexclaimed,
“PoorNiagara!”
PoorNiagaraindeed.
GEM OF A FIND
Feel amethyst, topaz and agate
under your ingers at the Wanda
mines, just a short bus ride south
of the falls. Named after a mythical
Polish princess, the caves are full
of semi-precious stones and can
be navigated with a local guide.
GET UP CLOSE
Located on the banks of the
Iguazú River, the Awasi Iguazú
eco-resort is a jungle paradise.
Secretive jaguars and ocelots prowl
close by, and it’s not far from the falls,
either – ideal for the early risers who
want near-exclusive access to them.
THE NUMBERS
Get out andaboutaroundIguazúFalls...
IF YOU ONLY DO THREE THINGS
Head deep into the land of the indigenous Guaraní tribe
and uncover the ruins of Jesuit missions, built in the
17th century. Escaping the persecution of Spanish
conquistadors who wanted to enslave them, the Guaraní
were o ered protection by the Jesuits – in exchange for
adopting Christianity and building settlements.
Nowadays, all that’s left of them is crumbling ruins, but
you can still explore the site of the San Ignacio Miní
mission and ind the red ruins of the Baroque-style
church – the sandstone settlement lights up at sunset.
SANIGNACIOMINÍ
A DAY TRIP
MONKEYING AROUND
Visit the land of the capuchin
monkey on the park’s Macuco
Trail, which ends at Arrechea
Falls. Spot the curious primates
travelling in troops, munching on
jungle fruit. They’re cute – but
don’t feed them!