Puerto Iguazú

By Katrina McKeever

Most visitors to Argentina hoping to catch a glimpse of the majestic Iguazu falls will have to spend at least some time in this balmy little town.

Luckily, though not a destination in itself, Puerto Iguazu is a pleasant enough place to for a day or two.

The town is snuggly packed between the borders with Paraguay and Brazil at the tip of the province of Misiones. The tree lined streets are packed with restaurants, hotels, hostels and travel agencies all vying for a share of the tourist dollar that keeps the local economy thriving.

Despite this, unlike the hyper touristy towns in the far south of Argentina, it is possible to visit Puerto Iguazu without feeling like a walking dollar sign.

Due to a long tradition of catering to visitors, the locals do tourism well and most people you encounter are friendly and treat you with respect and courtesy.

Downtown Puerto Iguazu is home to a local population estimated at 60,000. A regular supply of tourists from around the globe keep the hotel population buoyant.

A relatively small town, it is neat and compact, with all the services expected of a tourist destination and most within an easy walking distance.

The center is clustered around Avenue Victoria Aguirre, which houses the bus terminal, supermarkets, banks, shops and restaurants.

There is a huge range of accommodations offered,which include the splendor of the five-star Sheraton and apartments, hostels, lodgings and camp grounds.

One big bonus in the often stifling heat is that even budget hostels often come equipped with swimming pools to keep guests temperate during the soaring sub tropical summer months.

Aside from the falls, there are plenty of other attractions scattered around the town and Ruta National 12, ranging from a museum of recycled plastics to eco tours through the forest.

There is even an opportunity to learn more about the culture of the indigenous Guarani population of Misiones at La Aripuca, 4.5km from town.

Another bonus is the bargain shopping across the border at Paraguay's Ciudad del Este. Tourists and locals alike snap up electronic goods, named brands, booze and anything that they can drag back across the border without raising too many eyebrows.

But the star of the show is undoubtedly the falls, located 17km from the town and serviced by regular half hourly bus departures from the terminal.