The quiet city of Posadas, situated on the banks of the Rio Parana close to the border with Paraguay, is the capital of the province of Misiones. It’s an obvious stopover on the way to the Jesuit missions, the Esteros del Ibera or Iguazu Falls.

Plaza 9 de Julio in the centre is overlooked by the early-20th-century cathedral and the attractive Casa de Gobierno. Nearby are the Museo de Ciencias Naturales e Historicas which recounts local history and the Museo Regional Anibal Cambas, which has many interesting artefacts from the indigenous people as well as various objects from the Jesuit missions. The Bajada Vieja is an attractive old road leading to the port at the eastern end of the costanera, a great place for a stroll.

The Puente Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz links Posadas with the town of Encarnacion in Paraguay. And just 60 km northeast of Posadas is the tiny settlement of San Ignacio, home to the most impressive Jesuit ruins in the province. South of Posadas is Estancia Santa Ines, a vast ranch dedicated to the production of yerba mate and farther south still in the small town of Apostoles where the Fiesta Nacional de Mate takes place each July.