The Yacutinga Lodge

.At the Iguazu National Park.

Argentina has always been the land of cattle, open spaces and the Argentinian institution "the estancia", a large estate ranch. Most estancias, many with luxurious estate houses, are found in the Pampean plains, which got their name from the Quechua Indian word for "flatland". Spread out the to the north, south and west, these extensive plains were inhabited by gauchos, decendants of Spanish Conquistadors, and the indomitable aboriginies of the land. They were experts with "boleadoras" (three rock hard leather balls tied to a rope and used for hunting), lassos, the "facon" (gaucho knives), and the guitar. A few of the more elegant estancias are open to the more sophisticated traveler. Visits to these beautiful colonial ranches usually features horseback riding, wildlife watching, hiking and the general day to day farm activities of the property.

There are certain estancieas that are recommended for the foreign visitor and these listed here are but a few. For information of additional estancias, contact the experts at Marco Polo Vacations. (Estancia packages normally require a minimum stay of 2 nights).

Yacutinga is an enviornmentally friendly lodge and private wildlife nature reserve located in the heart of the Argentinean rain forest and surrounded by the Iguazu National Park. This wildlife & nature reserve area is part of the 650,000 acres of protected rain forest shared by Brazil and Argentina. The Yacutinga Wildlife & Nature Reserve maintains a wealth of bio-diversity, far away from the tourist concentration. The park presents a pristine area of subtropical rain forest, with more than 2000 identified plant species, more than 400 species of birds, mammals and reptiles and contains the majestic Iguazu Falls, one of the world's natural wonders.

The lodge itself follows the natural terrain and maintains the harmony of the surrounding jungle. Local materials, such as stone and large wood pieces gathered from naturally fallen trees, were used to build the lodge. Only 10 acres of the 1100 total have been used for the lodge facilities. A minimum of forest has been disturbed to accommodate the buildings.

The Yacutinga Lodge at Iguazu

The Yacutinga Lodge is located on the Iguazu River in the northeast of Argentina. This area of the lush Iguazu National Park is a region of large rivers, humid tropics, red soil and bright green jungle. To reach the lodge, you will fly to Iguazu Falls and travel through the heart of the Iguazu National Park. As the Yacutinga Lodge Nature Reserve is surrounded on three sides by the Iguazu River, the final leg of your journey to the lodge is by boat. The lodge is easily reached from Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) or Foz do Iguazu (Brazil). There are outdoor activities with a focus on soft adventure and ecotourism.

The lodge itself follows the natural terrain and maintains the harmony of the surrounding jungle. Local materials, such as stone and large wood pieces gathered from naturally fallen trees, were used to build the lodge. Only 10 acres of the 1100 total have been used for the lodge facilities. A minimum of forest has been disturbed to accommodate the buildings.

The main building contains the reception area, an indoor restaurant, garden and a terrace bar. The main cat trail (an elevated wooden walkway suspended in the trees) allows you to enjoy and observe the canopy of the surrounding native forest. The facilities consist of 10 seperate sleeping areas called "Butterflies" (due to the amazing variety that congregate in that area), spread through the forest around the common areas. Each "Butterfly" contains four private units. The rooms provide split level accommodations with rustic details comprised of an entrance porch leading up to a sitting area and bedroom. Each unit has private facilities.

The Yacutinga Safari - 3 Days

Day 1: Yacutinga

Drive from "Puesto Tigre" through the Argentinean Iguazu National Park. During the ride, your guide will explain about the area and point out some of the curiosities of the rain forest. At Porto La Blanquita, on the shore of the Iguazu River, board boats for a 15 minute ride to Porto Yacutinga. Then take a short drive by jeep through the Yacutinga Wildlife Reserve to the lodge. At dusk, there is wildlife observation followed by a welcome dinner. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 2: Yacutinga

Following an early breakfast, there will be a short hike to the San Franciso River for canoeing through the quiet waters. This canoeing expedition is very secure as the river meanders gently down current. Observe wildlife from a very close distance, since the fauna is more active in the early morning. Return to the lodge for lunch. There are afternoon wildlife excursions to the various observation trails and in the early evening, there is a walk to one of the observation towers for night game viewing.

Day 3: Yacutinga

After breakfast, there is time for more game viewing or relaxing at the pool area. Following a farewell lunch, drive back to "Puesto Tigre".