"Awesome" is a word English speakers tend to overuse, but Iguazú Falls embodies the term in its fullest sense: In a spectacular subtropical setting, 23km (14 miles) of deafening waterfalls plummet up to 70m (229 ft.) into a giant gorge. The sheer power is overwhelming. You come face to face with raging sheets of water, with sprays so intense it seems as though geysers have erupted from below. Forget Niagara Falls (a mere toilet flush), forget Angel Falls (a faucet); think Grand Canyon with way too much water. Iguazú is a must-see on any trip to Argentina, and the well-run national park with howler monkeys and elusive pumas is another top national tourist draw.
It's shocking that this ecological blockbuster is 90 minutes from the civilized, cosmopolitan buzz of Buenos Aires. Many people drop into this humid corner of Misiones province on a day trip or for 2 days max. Yet this fascinating jungle zone of red soil, giant butterflies, and comical toucans has more to offer than jaw-dropping waterfalls. Misiones Province is a heady mix of strong indigenous tribal culture, blond eastern European settlers, and tropical frontierland. Its abundant wildlife and the mystery of its long-fallen Jesuit ruins are worth exploring. With its multitude of isolated national parks and huge swathes of untouched rainforest, it is an eco-tourist's paradise, with several genuine jungle lodges. Civilization has encroached in the form of tea plantations and pine forests, yet it is not too difficult to get off the beaten track and visit isolated wonders such as the stunning Mocona falls (a mere 3km/1 3/4 miles wide). Farther west of Misiones are the sprawling lowlands of El Chaco, a vast savannah of endless wetlands, cotton plantations, and sunflower prairies that could draw you as far as Bolivia.
