Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Friday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Friday - Depart USA: Depart Miami on evening flight.

Saturday - Arrive Asuncion: Morning arrival and transfer to the Hotel Granados in the heart of the city. Balance of the day at leisure.

Sunday - Asuncion: Morning visit to the main points of interest in modern and colonial Asuncion including the Independence House, the National Cathedral, Government Palace, the National Heroes' Pantheon and the Railroad station with the oldest continuously running wood-burning locomotive, among other places. (B)

Monday - Asuncion - Encarnacion: Morning departure from Asuncion heading southeast towards Encarnacion, a total drive of around 230 miles. En route visit San Ignacio Guazu, a Jesuit mission founded in 1609, with a preserved cloister, excellent museum and clay portico walls with wooden beams. Continue to Santa Maria de Fe, founded in 1647 but destroyed by fire in 1889. There is an excellent museum of several rooms each dedicated to a particular theme, such as Saint Ignacio and Saint Peter, filled with paintings and artifacts of those themes. Have lunch en route and afternoon arrival at Hotel Papillon located 28 miles from the town of Encarnacion near the Trinidad ruins for overnight. (B/L)

Tuesday - Encarnacion - Iguassu Falls: This morning you will visit Trinidad, founded by Indians coming from a Jesuit Mission located in Argentina. While never totally completed, it might have been one of the largest and most beautiful churches of all the missions. Trinidad was declared a World Heritage Site in 1993 nu UNESCO. Then drive through Encarnacion and cross over into Argentina at Posadas for short drive to San Ignacio Mini, one of the most propserous of Jesuit Missions and partly restored by the Argentine government. Visit San Ignacio Mini and then drive north some 180 miles to Iguassu Falls,.  Lunch en route and drop-off at your hotel, the Hotel Das Cataratas for two night stay. (B/L)

Wednesday - Iguassu Falls: Today you will spend the day exploring the Brasilian side of these awesome falls. Eleanor Roosevelt is said to have exclaimed upon viewing them: "Poor Niagara! This makes Niagara look like a kitchen faucet!". Here are 275 falls spanning a 2 mile wide precipice plunging an average of 300 feet to the river below. Plenty of time to take the walkways for changing multi-vistas of the falls. Then enjoy the Macuco Safari and motorlaunch excursion where large motorized zodiacs take you close the the Macuco Falls, a thrilling experience. Also visit the Parque de Aves, a colelction of huge walk-through aviaries with birds from Brazil and around the world.  Lunch included en route. (B/L)

Thursday - Iguassu Falls - Iguazu Falls - Yacutinga: Morning transfer to the Argentine side of the falls for a visit to the falls from the vantage point of "up close and personal". You'll have time to walk the boardwalks that skirt the edge of the top of the falls and one that explores the bottom of the falls. Have lunch and then at the appropraite time, transfer to Puesto Tigre for your "eco-tour transfer" through the Argentinean Iguazú National Park, during which the guide will explain some details and curiosities of the rain-forest. Arrival at port La Blanquita, at the shore of the Iguassu river and board motorzied boats for about 15 minute ride up to Port Yacutinga. Upon arrival jeep transfer through the Yacutinga Wild Life Private Reserve to the Lodge.  The combination of various means of transportation provides a great start as this allows the visitor the opportunity to "melt" in a comfortable way with the wonderful natural world of wild fauna. Check in and briefing about Yacutinga, the system of the Lodge and activities. At dusk wild fauna observation. Welcome dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)

Friday - Yacutinga: Early breakfast and short hike downstream to the San Francisco river and floating through the quiet waters, ideal for photo safari. This floating tour is very secure and simple, the water of the river is gentle. The possibility exists to observe wild fauna from a very close distance, since fauna is more active in early morning. Return to the Lodge, have lunch and then in the afternoon enjoy an escorted wild life excursions to the various observation trails. Then early evening visit of one of the observation towers for night games with scopes, binoculars and strong spotlights. (B/L/D)

Saturday - Yacutinga - Iguassu Falls: Breakfast and time for track scouting, listing (complete checklist of viewed fauna), packing and relaxing at the pool area. Self-guided tours at suspended catwalk and the orchid trail. Mid-day departure for transfer back to Puesto Tigre where you r local host will pick you up and transfer you back to Iguassu Falls and your hotel, the Das Cataratas. (B)

Sunday - Iguassu Falls - Sao Paulo and depart to USA: Morning at leisure to explore at your own pace - catch the sunrise over the falls, or explore the national park trails. Mid-day check-out and early afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Sao Paulo where you make connections to your ovenright flight back to the USA. (B)

Monday - Arrive U.S.A.: Morning arrival in your USA gateway. Clear customs and immigrations and make connections to your home city.

RATES and DETAILS: