Iguazu Falls & Argentine Rainforest

Day 1 Arrive Yacutinga Lodge

Fly from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu, and leave behind the rest of the world as you enter one of the last pristine rainforests in Argentina. The trip begins with a drive among the yerba mate (tea) plantations. As we cross through the Iguazú National Park, our local naturalist guide will point out local wildlife and rainforest plants and discuss the environmental problems of the region and the importance of protected areas.

Check into your room and after a short orientation to the facilities and activities available, wander the lodge grounds and explore the Argentine rainforest. Tonight enjoy a wonderful welcoming dinner!

Day 2 Yacutinga Lodge

 Today you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore and learn about the diverse ecosystem surrounding the lodge. After an early breakfast, begin your day with a short hike to the San Francisco River. Wildlife is most active early in the day, so being up and about at sunrise increases your chances of seeing animals. Enjoy a peaceful float through quiet, safe waters - this stretch of the river is known as the "Forest Gallery" and is a great chance for camera enthusiasts to get snap happy! Wild fauna tracks are common along the muddy shoreline; you'll take a look, hone your tracking skills, and learn to decipher what happened a few hours ago at the riverbank.

Return to the lodge for a delicious lunch before heading out to explore the various interpretive trails with one of the resident naturalist guides. The biodiversity of the area is incredible, with ancient trees, medicinal plants, orchids, bromeliads, butterflies, beetles, bird life and some mammals. Scattered through the nature reserve are a number of subtly built observation towers and blinds, allowing you to view flocks of parakeets and other animals at close proximity.

This evening you might visit one of the observation towers and use the scopes, binoculars and spotlights for nighttime game-viewing. Alternatively, take a walk to one of the swamps located in the Yacutinga Reserve, where the humidity produces an array of life. Watch as the swamp becomes a hive of activity at dusk, and listen as a jungle symphony commences once darkness descends. Be sure to look for toucans nesting at sunset!

Day 3 Yacutinga Lodge / Iguazu Falls

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading out to spot fresh wildlife tracks, complete the lodge's checklist of viewed fauna, or stroll along the hanging "Cat-Walk " and "Orchid's Trail." If all that sounds a little busy, you might prefer instead to spend your morning relaxing at the pool! Mid-morning we bid farewell to the magic of Yacutinga and continue our Argentina travels to our new home close to the spectacular Iguazu Falls.

We'll stop and drop our bags at the hotel before heading out for our first adventure. We set out on a four-hour jeep safari through the Iguazú Forest, where we'll traverse the jungle trails and wind our way past waterfalls and 300-year-old giant ferns. Our adventure includes hiking and exploring the jungle canopy by zipline. Those looking for additional adventure have the opportunity to rappel down to a small waterfall along the trail - but be prepared to get wet!

Day 4 Iguazu Falls and Forest

Today explore the Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls and watch the cascading water from various angles. Begin the day by boarding a small train to Devil's Throat Station, where there's a suspended walkway with spectacular views. Later explore the two walking circuits, beginning with the upper walk. This is about a quarter-mile long and takes approximately 45 minutes. From here you can see the Two Sisters, Bosseti, Adam and Eve, Bernabe Mendez, Mbiguá and San Martín Falls. The lower circuit has been described as the "most beautiful thousand meter walk in the world." Heading in a clockwise direction you get a very different perspective of the falls; watch out when you get to the middle of the walkway - you might get wet!! We make our way through the jungle in a rugged 4x4 vehicle, traveling the limited-access Yacaratia Trail to the nearby of Puerto Macuco. Here we leave the truck behind for an inflatable speedboat, in which we'll navigate four miles (7 kms) along the lower Iguazu River. Bring your swimsuit and be prepared to get wet in the refreshingly cool spray from the falls! Approaching the picturesque falls in Devil's Throat Canyon, we'll brave a mile of rapids before finishing our adventure surrounding San Martin Island. Return with zodiacs to Macuco port and back to the hotel.

Day 5 Return to Buenos Aires

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel this morning, and spend free time exploring the town of Puerto Iguazu. Take the flight of your choice back to Buenos Aires today.