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The (ECO) Tour of Iguazu / Iguassu Falls!

Travel the JESUIT MISSIONS and Iguazu / Iguassu Falls Tour

Travel the IBERÁ MARSHES and Iguazu / Iguassu Falls Tour!

The Most Popular of all 4****SouthAmerica Tours including Iguazu / Iguassu Falls: TANGO, SAMBA, WATERFALLS, 12 days from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro!

Excursions around Iguazú / Iguassu Falls:

Please note: Prices depend on group sizes; please call us at 1-800-887-5686!

PUERTO IGUAZÚ - ARGENTINE FALLS
Half day tour (basic tour: 6 hours). Total distance: 42 Km (26 miles).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – Visitors’ Center – Train – Inferior and Superior walkways – Train – Devil’s Throat – Return to the hotel.
Optional tours:
-Visit to San Martín Island: Embark in Puerto Peligro (Inferior Walkway) – San Martín Island – Return to Puerto Peligro.
-Nautical Adventure: (10 minutes): Embarkation at Puerto Peligro – Navigation – San Martín Bay – Bozetti and Tres Mosqueteros Falls.
-Great Adventure (50 minutes): Embarkation at Puerto Peligro – Navigation to meet the falls – disembarkation at Puerto Macuco – Yacaratia Path – Return to the Visitor’s Center (This tour can be done the other way round).

BRAZILIAN FALLS
Half day tour (basic tour: 4 hours). Total distance: 50 km (31 miles).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – Tancredo Neves Bridge – Migrations – Walking tour along the National Park ‘Das Cataratas’ paths – Return to the hotel.
Optional tours:
-Lunch in Churrascaría in Foz do Iguazú (1 hour).
-Visit to Birds Park (about 1 hour).
-Iguazú falls over-flight (Brazilian side only) (7 to 10 minutes).
-Visit to the city of Foz do Iguazú.
-Itaipú Hydroelectric Power Plant (20 km) (2 hours).

SAN IGNACIO JESUIT RUINS
Full day tour (10 hours). Total distance: 520 km (325 miles).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – Mines of Wanda – San Ignacio Ruins – Lunch – Return to the hotel.

MINES AND PLANTATIONS
Half day tour (4 hours). Total distance: 90 km (56 miles).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – Mines of Wanda – Yerba Mate and Pine plantations – Return to the hotel.

GREAT ADVENTURE
Half day tour (2 hours including transfers). Total distance: 20 km (12 miles).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – Iguazú National Park – Visitors’ Center – Inferior Walkway – Embarkation at Puerto Peligro – Navigation to approach the falls – Disembarkation at Puerto Macuco – 4WD drive along the Yacaratia path (7 km) – Arrival at the Visitors’ Center – Return to the hotel.
Alternative: A similar tour named SAFARI MACUCO can be done on the Brazilian side.
It is recommended to take this tour along with either Argentine falls or Brazilian falls, respectively.

MOCONA FALLS
Full day tour (12 hours). Total distance: 775 km (485 miles).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – El Soberbio – 4WD drive – Embarkation and navigation along the Uruguay River up to the Moconá Falls – Return to the hotel.ITAIPÚ DAM
Half day tour (5 hours).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – Foz do Iguazú (Brazil) – Itaipú Dam – Visitors’ Center – Return to the hotel.

IGUAZU FOREST
Half day tour (4 hours).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel by 4WD vehicles – Puerto Peninsula – Natural Reserve – Bird-watching –Rappel, Tyrolese, Trekking and Canopy – Return to the hotel

POSADAS - IBERA MARSHLANDS
Full day tour (12 hours). Total distance: 360 km (225 miles).
Itinerary: Departure from the hotel – Loreto – San Juan Lagoon – Navigation – Caiman-watching – Return to the hotel.

INCENTIVE TRAVEL

The region is ideal to perform successful Incentive Trips. The jungle provides the perfect setting with its exotic touch and its deluxe hotels. Different theme parties can be hold such as: a Forest Dinner in the core of the dense jungle, an encounter with Guaraní aborigines at the ‘Aripuca’ (the replica of an old aborigine hunting trap, or the Great Adventure finishing at ‘El Arenal’ beach with an exotic tropical cocktail on the banks of the Iguazú River. All of it enhanced by the mix of nationalities typical of this frontier land, which will be tasted in each meal and enjoyed in the typical sounds and rhythms of each culture.

BIRD WATCHING, FAUNA AND FLORA SPOTTING

The Iguazú Falls are the main highlight for visitors but once superseded the first thrill the surrounding jungle has also a lot to offer: some 2,000 species of plants, nearly the same number of butterflies, 100 species of mammals, and nearly 400 varieties of birds, including hummingbirds and toucans.
The rest of the region, specially the Iberá Marshes, is an actual paradise for bird-watching lovers. The following species can be observed among others: egrets, grebes, storks, ibis, assorted species of ducks, eagles.

GAME FISHING

The dorado and surubí are native fish of Río de la Plata river basin, which gathers to great tributaries: the Uruguay and the Paraná rivers. The dorado, also known as ‘tiger of the rivers’ due to its fighting spirit and its ability to obtain its food, can be fished by various methods: with lures (spinning or trolling); with flies; or with live bait. Once hooked, it tries to get rid of the hook jumping repeatedly clear out of the water and shaking its head violently. Males rarely exceed 5 kg (11 pounds) while females weigh an average of 10 kg. The surubí is, undoubtedly, the largest fresh-water fish in Argentina. There are two species of surubí according to the color of the skin: the ‘spotted catfish’ (reaching 50 kg/110 pounds) and the ‘tiger’ or ‘barred catfish’ (reaching 20 kg/44 pounds). The distinguishing features of the surubí are: its scale-less body and its large and flattened head with small eyes, a huge mouth and whiskery barbs. A number of different techniques can be used to hook it: trolling, spinning, fly-casting and fishing with live bait (adrift and stationary).

FISHING GROUNDS:

Misiones: Montecarlo and Puerto Rico; Corrientes: Esquina, Goya, Ituzaingó, the Iberá Marshes and Paso de la Patria; Entre Ríos: Concordia and La Paz.

ESTANCIAS (RANCHES)
The littoral keeps within the entrails of its exuberant jungle, its immeasurable marshes and its gentle slopes, exceptional natural, which creates a favorable environment for alternative tourism, that is why many ranches offer to visitor the chance to have a glimpse to its varied agriculture activity. The melting of cultures living together in these lands, render possible for each ranch or farm to show its characteristic features to visitors..
The country activities join nature and pleasure to escape from the city routine with a big dose of adventure, apart from offering very interesting attractions for specialized Rural Tourism since the region is strongly devoted to agricultural production: citric, forestation (for pulp and timber), yerba mate and tea, tobacco, rice and cattle breeding.

General Information on the LITTORAL

The so-called littoral is an extensive area that includes the provinces of Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Misiones, Formosa, Santa Fe and Chaco. Also known as Mesopotamia because it is surrounded by the Iguazú, Paraná and Uruguay Rivers, this is a region where the landscape surprises with its colors and movement. From the gentle slopes of Entre Ríos to the wet marshes of Corrientes and the red hills of Misiones, everything is a reason for amazement.
The climate of this area can be considered subtropical and it is moderated by the winds from the Atlantic Ocean, frequent rains and abundant vegetation. The assorted fauna completes its natural attractions, turning it into one of the most captivating regions in Argentina.

PUERTO IGUAZU
The main attractions of this area are, undoubtedly, the Iguazú Falls. They are located in the northwest extreme of the province of Misiones, 1,400 km (875miles) from Buenos Aires, where the waters of the Iguazú River (limit between Argentina and Brazil) flow from a height of 70 meters (233 feet) onto the inferior course of the river offering the unique spectacle of its 275 falls that seem to emerge from the virgin jungle of the Iguazú National Park, which protects over 2,000 flora species and 400 bird and wild animal species. ‘Iguazú’ means ‘Great Waters’ in the language of the ‘Guaraníes’, aborigines that inhabited the region prior to white men arrival.
Two thirds of the falls are within the Argentine limits. However, it is necessary to explore both sides since there is a very good panoramic view from Brazil. To feel the falls close enough and enjoy the beauty of its vegetation, birds and butterflies, it is essential to walk along the walkways and paths on the Argentine side.
At the Visitors’ Center, located in ‘Area Cataratas’ (‘Falls Area’) of the Argentine National Park, an open train is boarded for a 15-minute trip up to ‘Estación Cataratas’ (‘Falls Station’) (wherefrom the Superior and Inferior Walkways are reached) and ‘Estación Garganta’ (‘Devil’s Throat Station’) (wherefrom a 1,200-meter walkway leads to the observation balcony of the Devil’s Throat, the most imposing of them all). Another alternative to reach the Inferior and Superior Walkways is a walk along the so-called ‘green path’ (about 15-minute long).
The Inferior Walkway permits a closest contact with the waterfalls and the natural pools, allowing the visitor to enjoy the impressive scenery where beautiful rainbows formed by the mist of the falls contrast with the bright green of the exuberant vegetation. On the banks of the inferior course of the Iguazú River Puerto Peligro is placed, an improvised pier with access through the Inferior Walkway. Here, you may board the small motorboats crossing the river up to the San Martín Islands or the zodiac motorboats to get close to the most plentiful waterfalls such as Arrechea, San Martín, Tres Mosqueteros, Bozetti and Devil's Throat falls.
The Superior Walkway stretches along the upper part of the falls, over the Iguazú River superior course, where the cascades start. It is possible to observe from this walkway the Dos Hermanas, Chico, Ramírez, Bozetti, Adán y Eva and San Martín falls.
From the observation balcony of the Devil’s Throat you get a magnificent view of this impressive fall, indeed the most plentiful and imposing of the whole arc of the falls. The fall is 150 m. (500 feet) wide, 700 m. (2,330 feet) long and the Iguazú River flows 1,700 m3 of water per second therein.
A good way to explore the hidden life of the subtropical jungle is to take a drive in 4WD vehicles along the different paths purposely open in the jungle. On the Argentine side, the Yacaratia Path travels 7 km through the heart of the jungle reaching Macuco Pier, embarking or disembarking pier for the ‘Great Adventure’. Another path specially designed for photographic safaris and bird watching is the Macuco Path on the Brazilian side. Both paths, leading to the inferior course of the Iguazú River, are part of an excursion which may turn into an unforgettable experience. With different names, at each side of the border, they are the passport to a thrilling adventure that starts at the very moment of putting on the life jackets and comes to its best when reaching the very point where the falls meet the waters of the inferior course of the river. This excursion is known as ‘Great Adventure’ on the Argentine side and ‘Safari Macuco’ on the Brazilian side.
Near Puerto Peninsula, on the banks of the Paraná River, 7 km (4 miles) southwest from Puerto Iguazú stands a Natural Reserve Area ideal to practice adventure or eco-tourism activities. Arriving by 4WD vehicles, visitors can fully enjoy the subtropical rainforest, with the possibility of getting to know its flora and watch the quite abundant bird fauna of the region. Activities such as rappel, Tyrolese, trekking and canopy can be practiced in the reserve. This tour, called ‘Iguazú Forest’, is another option to keep exploring the beauties that nature offers in the area.
A few kilometers from the falls, in Brazilian territory, stands the Itaipú Dam, considered a masterpiece of engineering. The dam is 8 km (5 miles) long and has a spillway that can pour 60,000 m3 of water per second, a channel and an artificial lake with a surface of 1,350 km2. It is an enormous power plant, which can produce up to 12,6 thousand megawatts, considered one of the seven wonders of modern world, according to the ‘Civil Engineering American Association’. Technical and tourist visits are available.
Only 60 km (37 miles) from the Iguazú Falls, situated over the Superior Course of the Iguazú River, the Yacutinga Lodge and its Wild Life Refuge are settled in the core of the subtropical jungle, were the sounds and images of the forest seem to fit perfectly with the natural-looking constructions built with local materials such as stone and wood from fallen trees. An important eco-touristic project never attempted before in Argentina, whose philosophy is to preserve nature and to teach visitors, through an array of different activities, to love and respect it.
On the Uruguay River, 200 km (125 miles) from Iguazú, the Moconá Falls, which can only be reached in small expedition groups, appear in the middle of the jungle. Located in the border between the Argentine province of Misiones and Brazil, the Uruguay River forms a beautiful and imposing fall when it splits its waters in two arms and flows over its own course in a cascade parallel to the coast which is about 3 km (2 miles) long with waterfalls that range from 5 to 12 m. (16 to 40 feet) in height. Tourist facilities are scarce and the area can only be reached by 4WD vehicles from the small town of El Soberbio.
A few kilometers south from Puerto Iguazú, you can visit the precious and semi-precious stone Mines of Wanda (agate, quartz, amethyst, among others, can be found there). A few kilometers further south, you reach the small city of El Dorado with its citrus, pine tree forestations, yerba mate and tea plantations. Going on southward, along National Route 12, the city of Montecarlo stands surrounded by thick forestations in an area of hilly slopes, 130 km (82 miles) from the Iguazú Falls and 185 km from Posadas. This village, located on the banks of the Paraná River, houses the small Zoo Bal Park, with a wide variety of autochthonous fauna species. Montecarlo stands out for its citrus production, its reforestation activities, and cellulose production. The nearby complex ‘Celulosa Argentina’, situated in Puerto Piray is an example of it. In October, the ‘National Festival of the Orchid’ and the ‘Provincial Festival of the Flower’ are held in the city. From here, the road goes through the small cities of Puerto Rico and Jardín América, wherein it is interesting to see the small 10-meter (33 feet) high cascade called 'Salto Tabay' appearing in the middle of the thick surrounding forest of autochthonous species. After a drive of 240 km (150 miles) from Iguazú you reach San Ignacio, Santa Ana and Loreto Jesuit Ruins just a few kilometers before the city of Posadas.

POSADAS
Posadas, capital of the province of Misiones, is located 1,000 km (625 miles) from Buenos Aires and 330 km from Puerto Iguazú. It was founded in the second half of the XIX century and was built on the banks of the Paraná River just where an aborigine reservation had been settled in the XVII century. It is a relatively modern urban complex with some old buildings in ‘Bajada Vieja’ district. The city has a beautiful central square with local tree species such as lapacho, jacarandá, pindó and petiribí. A few regional art museums exhibit sculptures from the Guaraní Jesuit Missions. It is also possible to visit the Botanical Garden, the Provincial Casino and the Palace of the Mate, which houses a museum devoted to yerba mate (kind of green bitter tea). The city is linked with Paraguay by the San Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz Bridge that leads to the city of Encarnación.
The main centers of production and growing processes of products such as tea and yerba mate are located in the central area of the province. Such is the case of Oberá, a city located 95 km (60 miles) from Posadas and the second city in the province. It was named like this after a Guaraní cacique and it means ‘the one that shines’. It has over 150 industrial companies where wood, tung and tobacco are processed (the main yerba mate processing plants are established in Oberá and Apóstoles.) Most of its inhabitants are Swedish, German, Norwegian, Spanish, French, Polish and Russian immigrant descendants, which accounts for the more than 30 different temples in the city. During the first week of September, the ‘Festival of the Immigrant’, that gathers people from everywhere in the province, is held and each community takes part exhibiting its traditional garments, cuisine, crafts and dances. In the surroundings there are two nice falls called ‘Berrondo’ and ‘Escondido’, which may be watched from its corresponding belvederes. Oberá also houses one of the most important motorcar racetracks in Argentina, where TC2000, South American Grand Prix (F3) and Turismo Carretera races take place. In the central area of the province, the city Aristóbulo del Valle, one of the most important villages due to its tea, tobacco and yerba mate plantations rise at about 500 m. (1,665 feet) above sea level. Only 4 km (2.5 miles) from Aristóbulo del Valle, more falls can be visited: ‘Salto Encantado’, ‘Salto Piedras Blancas’, ‘Salto Alegre’ and ‘La Olla’, among others. In the same area it is located the town of San Vicente, especially apt for processing the typical local products thanks to its moderate temperatures and humid climate. In December, the ‘Agro-Industrial and Artisan Exhibition’ takes place, where machinery for the wood industry is exhibited, accompanied by a 6-day long festival with folk performances and typical dances. Within short distance from the village, a wide variety of animal species can be admired, such as parrots, hummingbirds, tapir, tamandú, yaguareté and capybaras.

Jesuit Ruins
There are several Jesuit ruins around Posadas.
Most Jesuit settlements were located in this region: eight in Paraguay, seven in Brazil and fifteen in Argentina. Some of them appear in rather good conditions but some others have completely disappeared. They are the result of the evangelical determination of the Jesuit priests to convert the Guaraní aborigines to Christianity. This attempt did not produce the expected results so the priests decided to live with the converted ones within missions (reservations of converted aborigines). They had a well-organized urban outline: a main avenue leading to the central square where a big church, the most important building in the village, was located. Next to the church stood the priests' houses, the school, the offices of the artisans and the warehouses, and on the opposite side of the church, the cemetery. Around the square, the aborigines’ houses were located. The administration of the village was in charge of a ‘Council of Caciques’. Three ruins were declared Historic Heritage by the United Nations, Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO). The best preserved in Argentina are those of San Ignacio Miní, located only 222 km (140 miles) from Iguazú Falls and 55 km (34 miles) from Posadas. It is possible to visit the remains of the imposing temple, the vestry, the school yard with a few classrooms around, the priests' refectory, the orchard, the square and the aborigines’ houses around it. This mission sheltered about 5,100 inhabitants. The buildings date back to the XVII century and its carvings and architecture reveal the advanced culture of the Guaraní aborigines. Some of the red sandstone walls are 10 m (33 feet) high; the best preserved parts are the columns, the galleries and the steps of the church that reveal the magnificence of the building, finished in 1724. San Ignacio Miní was burnt in 1817 by order of a Paraguayan dictator and its remains were covered by the jungle until their discovery in 1897.
Other missions in the Argentine area are: Loreto, Santa Ana, Corpus, Candelaria, San Carlos, San José, Mártires, San Javier, Santa María, Concepción, Apóstoles, Santo Tomé, Yapeyú and La Cruz.
What is left of the missions in Paraguay are also ruins in different states of preservation, located in the south of the country near the Paraná River. From an architectural point of view, the missions of Santísima Trinidad del Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue are the most beautiful and important. Trinidad has buildings of baroque features. The stones of the church façade, the tower and the door of the vestry carved by the Guaraní aborigines are outstanding. It also has stone sculptures, woodcarvings, musical instruments and paintings made also by the aborigines. The construction of this imposing mission took 61 years, from 1706 to 1767 and sheltered up to 3,500 aborigines. Ten kilometers from Trinidad the Spanish style buildings of the ruins of Jesús de Tavarangue arise. The three large doors with arches reveal Moorish-Christian influences and the high stone walls area also outstanding. Other missions in Paraguay are: Santa María, San Ignacio Guazú, Santa Rosa, Santiago, and San Cosme y San Damián.
In Brazil, the ruins of San Miguel Arcángel are one of the most beautiful sets of buildings with its monumental baroque church, its façade, its towers, some huge lateral walls with arches and doors. There is also an interesting site museum, which holds a collection of statues and carvings coming from many of the missions that have been lost forever. These ruins were the old missionary capital of the seven missions of Brazil. At the time of splendor, San Miguel Arcángel sheltered about 6,500 Guaraní aborigines. The seven missions were: Santo Angelo, San Juan Bautista, San Lorenzo, San Luis Gonzaga, San Nicolás, San Borja and San Miguel Arcángel.

RESISTENCIA AND FORMOSA
These cities Aare capitals of the provinces of Chaco and Formosa, which constitute a region known as ‘Gran Chaco’ that occupies the vast lowlands of center-northern Argentina, as well as parts of Bolivia and Paraguay. The climate here becomes drier from east to west, splitting the region in two merging parts. The ‘Dry Chaco’ in the west is likely to appeal only to the most adventurous spirits. Its wildlife is very diverse, specially with regards to snakes, but even reptile-lovers may find to get around in the region a daunting task, for the country is covered with dense thorn thickets, scarce roads and no facilities for visitors at all.
The area of the Argentine littoral called ‘Wet Chaco’ stretches towards the northwest in Formosa and Chaco provinces, both covered with subtropical forests. Although it has undergone some major clearance for agriculture, it still contains beautiful tracts of woodlands interspersed with marshes. Its marshes and rivers are habitat for diverse fauna species, which lead to the creation of the Pilcomayo River National Park, on the right margin of the mentioned river, in the Province of Formosa. Created in 1951, this park protects an area where marshes and the Palma Blanca and Caranday savannah prevail. There are woods in the highlands, and dense jungle on the riverbanks. One of the gateways to this area is the route starting in the city of Clorinda, some 40 km (25 miles) from Asunción in Paraguay and 15 km (9 miles) from the park, continuing afterwards along its southern boundary. Another access is Formosa airport, situated 112 km (70 miles) away.
In the province of Chaco, some 100 km (63 miles) northwestward from Resistencia, stands the Chaco National Park with examples of all characteristic ecosystems of the Eastern Chaco District. The southern and center areas are covered by forests where ‘quebracho colorado’ trees stand out; the western area represents the typical ecosystem of savannah with Caranday palm-trees; finally, in the southeastern area, the Panza de Cabra Lagoon exhibits an abundant aquatic vegetation. The local fauna consists of a wide variety of mammals, such as howler monkeys but the main attraction for visitors are, no doubts, its widely assorted birds. It is better to avoid the wet season in summer (from December to March) for heat is intense and roads become impassable.
In the provinces of Chaco and Santiago del Estero there is a large area called 'Campo del Cielo' (Sky Land), where 13 iron-nickel meteorites have been found. The so-called ‘Chaco’ meteorite weighs 33,400 kg and stands out among them for being the biggest among the ones ever fell in our country and the third one in the world.

CORRIENTES
The city of Corrientes, located on the banks of the Paraná River, is the outset of assorted circuits of interest for tourists. It has local importance its Carnival celebrations with parades, music, dances and fancy-costumes. The province stands out for its important water resources consisting of an extensive system of rivers, marshes and lagoons, fed by the abundant rains of the region, which cover a surface of 14,900 km2 (5,750 sq miles), that increases up to 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq miles) during the season of heavier rains (March, April and September). The biggest concentration of water in the littoral is the Iberá Marshland. Iberá means ‘Shining Waters’ in Guaraní. The marshland, with an area of more than 1 million hectares, covers more than a third of the surface area of the province of Corrientes and are one of the biggest fresh water reserves in the Americas, and the second largest swampland in South America. Iberá retains a relatively pristine condition due to the natural isolation it was kept in until relatively recent years. This area offers unforgettable landscapes for lovers of off-the-beaten-tract destinations wherein mysterious stories about this magical and fascinating land are constantly related by locals. This reserve is one of the most attractive places in the country for adventure tourism such as photographic safaris, fauna watching, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing and trekking outings. The variety of trees is infinite but the main feature is aquatic vegetation (‘irupés’ –royal water lilies-, hyacinths, irises and small ferns, among others). The area shelters four of the fauna endangered species in Argentina, declared Natural Monuments of the province: maned wolf or small river wolf, ‘aguará guazú’, Pampas deer, and marsh deer, that live together with other species such as two varieties of ‘yacarés’ (caimans) as well as countless fish and bird species (the area holds more than 350 bird species). The main surrounding inhabited areas are Ituzaingó, Colonia Carlos Pellegrini and Mercedes. The best way to explore the reserve is staying at one of the estancias in the area and from there set out on foot, on horseback or in a boat guided by a local expert (almost essential) either park rangers –guardafaunas- or ‘baqueanos’ –locals-. Thus you will get to know the essence of the region. An advice: start very early in the morning. Take your time and enjoy every minute.

PARANÁ
Entre Ríos province is located to the south of Corrientes province by the Paraná River. The name of this province means “between rivers” and is due to its geographical position since its coasts are bordered by the Paraná, Uruguay, Guayquiraró and Mocoretá rivers as well as by the Basualdo and Tunas streams. It has picturesque landscapes ideal for the practice of all the aquatic sports. About 1,000,000 hectares are covered with forests and only 10 % of them are artificially cultivated. This is one of the few Argentine provinces that preserves its original fauna such as vizcachas, armadillos and foxes. Some of the most important tourist centers of the province are located on the banks of the Paraná River; the following are the most important among them from north to south: Paraná, capital of the province; Diamante, an important center for the practice of aquatic sports; Victoria, called the city of the seven hills; and Gualeguay.
On the Uruguay River, the coast is completely different. The soft undulations of the colorful land with its fine sand beaches and a great amount of birds stand out. A road that runs parallel to the coast of the Uruguay River links the main urban and tourist centers. Concordia, called the “Capital of the Citrus”, is the most important town of this coast. Large orange and grape plantations surround it. It has numerous beaches, campsites and sporting clubs. One of the most beautiful cities of the province is Colón, which keeps its colonial aspect. Between both cities stand
El Palmar National Park
Its 8,500 hectares (33 sq miles) protect the last habitat of the once abundant Yatay forest. The Yatay is an endangered palm tree due to the action of the cows. The Park is a place of crystal clear streams and soft soil covered with ferns and palm trees, some of which are over 800 years old. The excavations that were carried out here allowed scientists to discover numerous fossilized specimens.