When you think of Misiones, the first thing that comes to mind is the imposing and beautiful Iguazú Falls. The province is making leaps and bounds. There are places, hidden corners, where the small waterfalls, the wildlife, the colorful flora and the dense jungle surprise. The Margay Reserve, at the foot of the Yabotí Biosphere, is one of the wildest and most natural treasures of the Mesopotamian province.
Margay It is a 65 hectare privately managed protected area located within the buffer zone of the Yabotí Biosphere Reserve. Here, 253,000 hectares of one of the last contiguous remnants of the Paraná jungle on the planet are protected. It is a special place where nature emerges and humans are another guest.
The reserve is 40 km from El Soberbio, a nearby settlement and also a starting point for visiting the famous Moconá waterfalls. It is 290 kilometers from Iguazú. The reserve invites you to rest, to do educational tourism, but above all to raise awareness of how fragile the northeastern region of Argentina is. Offers a hut with four cabins in the middle of the jungle on the banks of Paradise Stream. You can have breakfast or a snack on a wooden deck overlooking the stream while listening to the sounds of the jungle. In culinary matters Regenerative gastronomy is characterized by fresh, organic preparation and a missionary spirit.
Beyond the tourist peak, the reserve aims to contribute to the regeneration of the Paraná jungle and biodiversity, the promotion of a restorative economy through the diversification of productive activities, and the revitalization of the culture and identity of the communities living in the region. One of its pillars is the maintenance of the protected area in order to prevent the extinction of critically endangered species such as bitterwood. Another important point of the project is that Protecting native fauna, minimizing hunting through species monitoring such as tapir, monkey chariot, yacutinga and coati using camera traps. The third pillar is agroforestry, an agricultural system based on syntropic successional crops.. This type of food production enables the regeneration of native forests by planting native species as part of the agroflora system, restoring soil, water, biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Regarding activities, You can hike on self-guided trails or accompanied by a professional guide to enter the Parana jungle. where huge birds, mammals and insects live. The guides, like Emanuel, have extensive knowledge, making the tour an outdoor biology and geography course. The plant and animal species living in the mountains are discussed along the paths. Alternatively, kayak along the Paraíso Stream and enjoy the fauna near the Yabotí Biosphere. At night, the oven is lit to talk about the influence and beliefs of the Guaraní culture while fish is cooked in banana leaves. In addition, you can visit the nursery, an ideal place to immerse yourself in the world of Misiones flora and the current programs for its protection.
Following the leader Emmanuel, On the tour of the Kawsay nursery you will discover the regeneration laboratory. Between 100,000 and 200,000 seedlings of native species and germplasm for ecological restoration and urban trees are produced here each year. Gardening promotes the restoration of damaged ecosystems, restoring biodiversity and improving the quality of urban health. Along the reddish paths you can discover the Refundar project, a breeding and reintroduction program for two species of native rodents threatened by hunting: the Paca and the Agito. Later the guide introduces himself the project M2 x natural, This invites us to restore square meters of the Paraná jungle destroyed by humans through the extraction of native wood, the monoculture of tobacco or yerba mate and fire. The days are spent in the area of tension between leisure, contemplation and awareness.
The reserve, like many others, is a hidden destination in Misiones. In addition, you can visit the Moconá Falls, a geological fault unique in the world that produces a waterfall more than 900 meters high. Length across the Uruguay River. In the center of the province lies the Salto Encantado Provincial Park. Here you can walk in peace and enjoy the delicacy of the Paranaense jungle.
A trip in February/March is recommended, the temperature is pleasant and can be supplemented with other activities. The recommended stay is two to three days. Bring a change of clothes for the water, a coat for the night, sunscreen, glasses, mosquito repellent, hat, trekking shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved trekking shirt.
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