March - April at the Falls: The King of the Jungle
While the Falls acquire a pretentious greenish color and become much more crystalline, this is also the reproduction period of the biggest feline in the American Continent: the Yaguareté.
The Guaraní mythology considers the yaguareté as a sacred animal. In Misiones, the natives and farmers do not call its name out loud because it is said that when invoking it “appears”. Its strength, power and mystery star in many legends, myths and also anecdotes and stories from our pioneers and today’s inhabitants of the forest, tales told from generation to generation.
Its Guarani name means “true wild animal”. Its power and ferocity have always impressed the peoples of the American Continent. The yaguareté, whose scientific name is Panthera onca, is one out of ten species of wild cats that inhabit Argentina and one out of six that is found at the Misiones Province.
The Misiones jungle represents a hope for all the region as the conservation and good use of the jungle contribute to the survival of the richness of different life forms that live in this province, one of the most biodiverse areas of the country and one of the biggest of the continent. Besides, the survival of emblematic species like the yaguareté depends on the protection of this area.
The yaguareté stands out for its robust aspect and its proportionally big head with a powerful jaw structure. The males reach 8.20 feet long, tail included, and 308 pounds. In the yaguareté population, cases of specimens with dark fur resembling a panther sometimes occur.
It’s an excellent swimmer and its footprints are very frequently found next to the watercourses. It also is a skillful climber. They are solitary and territorial animals. Occasionally, it roars during the day or night, with a series of pulses, individual, deep and resounding raucous roars that can be heard several hundred miles away. Its diet is broad and diverse. It feeds from big size vertebrates like the tapir or anta, capybara, peccaries or mount hogs and deers. Their diet also includes pacas (agouti paca), acutíes, coatíes, yacares and minor preys like turtles, lizards, birds, fish, cuises and tapeties. After killing the big preys it usually takes them to a safe place in order to eat them during several days.
The yaguareté females can deliver from one to four baby yaguaretes, although generally deliver two. Baby yaguaretes are born blind after about 100 days of pregnancy. They weigh 1.54 to 1.98 pounds at the moment of birth and open their eyes after 13 days. They stay with their mother about two years and when they turn 3 or 4 years old they reach adult size and sexual maturity. Opening hours and services:
Hours of Operation: Open 08:00 hs - Close: 18:00 hs.
- First train to Devil’s Throat from Central Station: 08:30 a.m. - Last train to Devil’s Throat from Central Station: 04:00 p.m. - Last train to Devil’s Throat from Falls Station: 04:10 p.m. - Last Boat to San Martín Island: 03:15 p.m. - Macuco Path opens until 03:30 p.m.
• Timetables of the Forest Ecological Train. Every 30 minutes, half an hour after park opening. Last to Devil’s Throat departs 04:00 p.m.
• Public transportation from Iguazu Port to the Falls: Starting from the Three Frontier Landmark to the Park, from 07:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. Timetables.
Full Moon:
Next tours will be from March 06 to 10. In April from 04 to 08 inclusive.
Fees: Full Moon Tour dinner included $270 each. Full Moon Tour without dinner $200 each.
You should be at the Park entrance: 1° Departure________ 08:00 p.m. (Dinner after tour) 2° Departure ________ 08:45 p.m. (Dinner before or after tour) 3° Departure________ 09:30 p.m. (Dinner before tour)
This tour is organized five nights per month with bilingual tourist guides; this is the tour to become enchanted by this singular show.
During the nights of full moon it is possible to walk the Devil’s Throat Path and watch a show as dazzling as unique: the unmistakably rainbow created by the moonlight. The tour consists in a train travel from Central Station to Devil’s Throat Station and a walk along the boardwalks to the Devil’s Throat Balconies. On your way back, at the Central Station a welcome cocktail is offered with natural juices and caipirinha for everyone at the Food Court close to the "La Selva" Restaurant, where you will be able to enjoy the most exquisite Argentinean style meats arranged in a large barbecue, a buffet with cold and hot dishes, salads and desserts daily homemade. A good wine is the corollary of the Iguazu National Park experience in the full moon light, before going back.
Weather:
This bimester, the region is characterized by average temperatures between 75 and 82º F. The forecast anticipates values from average or superior to average. Within this bimester, rains are registered uniformly, with values ranging between 100 to 200 millimeters. Rain forecast is estimated to range from average or superior to average during this time.
What to do?:
In order for you to take full advantage of this Nature’s unique show, we suggest 10 things you cannot miss within the Iguazu National Park. Here.
Touristic Place per excellence with its water level at its maximum volume, you obtain the biggest water and forest show on Earth with the magnificent Iguazu Falls, that means "big waters" in the Guaraní language.
Cover its 275 falls, visit San Martín Island, take a deep breath at the exotic flora and fauna of the place, trip on board of the Forest Ecological Train and for the most adventurous, trekking in the "Macuco Path"; these are the most common choices of the visitors.
ONE DAY IS NOT ENOUGH!
If you wish to visit the Park during two consecutive days, for the second day you can get a discount in your ticket price. Here.
