Iguazú National Park is another UNESCO designated world heritage site. The park, which extends over 67,000 hectares in the northeast of Misiones province, is largely covered in sub-tropical rainforest. Here the River Iguazú flows for 1,320 km until it meets the River Parana 23 km before the falls where it makes a sharp U-turn, the terrain drops and the river cascades downwards producing the most spectacular semi-circle of waterfalls, 275 in all, some crashing over 70 metres on to the basalt rock below, filling the air with never-ending clouds of mist. Walkways take you to the edge of the impressive Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Gorge), the park’s biggest fall and you can get drenched by the Salto Bossetti while observing their vast expanse.

Argentina and Brazil share the Iguazú National Park. Each have a unique perspective in that you see the panorama of the falls from the Brazilian side, although there aren’t as many trails or walkways and it’s smaller. Whereas on the Argentine side you can appreciate more the sheer volume of water, get closer to the falls and enjoy the vegetation and wildlife of the rainforest. The area is home to jaguars, giant anteaters, ocelots, tapirs and howler monkeys. And it’s not uncommon along the park’s numerous trails and walkways to see lizards, toucans and butterflies and the Great Dusky Swift can often be seen swooping through the cascades. Tree species include the Curupay (Adenanthera macrocarpa), the exclusive to falls Cupay (Copaifera langsdorfi), the Aguay (Pouteria gardneriana), laurels Blanco and de Rio (Ocotea acutifolia and Nectandra falcifolia), the Coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli) - Argentina’s national flower – and spectacular begonias and orchids.

It’s well worth visiting the information centre at the entrance to the park – it has lots of information on the first settlers and details about the fauna and flora. Route 12 enters the park from the south and route 101 from the east. The town of Puerto Iguazú is 17 km west of the falls and 7 km from the airport and there is a regular bus service to the park. Park Administration, Parque Nacional Iguazú, Victoria Aguirre 66 (3370), Puerto Iguazú, Misiones. Tel: +54 (0) 375 742 0722.