Iguazu Falls – Jesuit Missions Cross Country Ride
 
Iguazú Falls

The Iguazú river is born in Brazil, and after crossing 1,200 km. on a plateau where it receives several tributaries, it reaches a fault forming a crack in the interleaved layers of sandstone and basalt where the river runs. Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth.( Its geological formation dates back to approximately 150 million years.)

The falls are part of a singular practically virgin jungle ecosystem protected by Argentine and Brazilian national parks on either side of the cascades

The lovers of adventure travelling can access to more intense circuits. Apart from waterfalls, the jungle offers a series of alternatives in a dump but slightly fresher environment with a wide variety of animals and plants. Almost 500 species of wild fowl, 80 species of mammals and an immense variety of reptiles, fish, insects and butterflies live in this ecosystem.

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Itinerary
1st day - Reception at Iguassu (Brazil) or Iguazu (Argentina) airport and transfer to the hotel in Foz do Iguassu ( Brazil) .
Half Day tour to the Brazilian side of the magnificent Iguassu Falls. There, happens the walking tour along the catwalk measuring one kilometer with several gorgeous panoramic views of the Falls and at the end of the catwalk a fantastic close-up encounter with the Devils’ Throat and main cataracts.
The torrential Iguassu River crosses Southern Brazil, and before its junction with the Parana River it forms one of the most splendorous natural beauties of the world: the Iguassu Waterfalls. Over 2.7 kilometers long with an average flow of 1.750 m3/s, this wonder is located in a very special scenery.
The contrast between the green of the vegetation, the dark color of the basalt rocks with whirring waters plunging from a 72-meter-high cliff makes the visitors feel a profound communion with nature. Great-dusky-swift and black-vultures performs acrobatic flights through the clouds of mist giving a final touch to this magnificent nature’s work of art. The Iguassu Falls are protected by two National Parks – Brazil and Argentina both listed as Heritage Sites by Unesco in 1986.

2nd day - After breakfast, departure to visit the Argentinean side of the Falls: visit to the Devil’s Throat waterfall, lower and upper catwalks, with lunch and the Gran Aventura Safari by zodiac boat tour.
In the afternoon, transfer to Estancia Las Mercedes, (one hour drive), reception with welcome drinks and check in.
Estancia Las Mercedes is the property of a pioneer English family established in the region 80 years ago. The Estancia’s buildings date back to last century and today it is dedicated to cattle-raising. With vintage furniture, tradition and hospitality, the farm offers a typical “missioneira” estancia experience.
After dinner a briefing of our cross country ride

3rd day - After breakfast we will be introduced to our horses (criollo crosses) and will receive instructions for the ride. In the morning we will explore the area around the Estancia in order to get acquainted to the horses. Soon after that we will have a glimpse of the Misiones Rainforest within the Estancia’s 70 hectares Forest Reserve.
After having an authentic Argentine “assado” barbecue, we will ride to the “Ducks Game” field, crossing pasture fields where we can see upclose the mixed Brahman – Aberdeen cattle raising activities and proceed on with the ride till we get to the field where we are going to watch a “Ducks Game” match. During the match explanations will be given on the history and rules of the game that demands high level expertise and strength from players ( Horse Ball was created in France in the 70s, inspired in this game - see further information on the game at the end of this itinerary). After the Ducks Game those of us interested in it can give the play a try. Later in the afternoon we will return to the Estancia following another trail. Dinner at the Estancia

4th day - Early departure for our cross country ride. Whole day exploration of Misiones Rainforest fields and Red Soil Back Roads, crossing rivers and mate tea plantations. We will have a trail snack and later in the afternoon we will leave our horses at a designated point in order to go on to Montecarlo where we will stay overnight.
Typical dinner with folkloric music will be in a restaurant in this small village.

5th day - After breakfast we will be reunited with our horses to continue our ride. Whole day exploration of Misiones Rainforest fields and Red Soil Back Roads, crossing rivers and mate tea plantations. We will have a trail snack and later in the afternoon we will get to the Refugio La Misionerita by the Itá Curuzu River where we will stay overnight.

6th day - After breakfast we will depart to travel through mate tea plantations and trails as far as the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Timbó Grande (Giant Timbo Wildlife Refuge) that protects one of the Misiones giants - a tree that has been standing for centuries boasting a circumference of 6,5 meters, a diameter of 2,20 and 42 meters high. After a stop at this special place, our ride continues as far as the Establecimiento Caraguatay where Mariela our guide will show us her property where she breeds the horses for the Ducks Game ( criollo crosses). A special farewell lunch will be served since our ride ends here.
In the afternoon we will say good bye to our horses and will be driven to Estancia Santa Cecilia, making a stop to visit the Aguantadora Mate Tea Factory, so that we may learn how the mate tea is produced. (during our ride we crossed through several plantation of this ubiquitous Argentine herb.)

7th day - Santa Cecilia is a traditional Argentine Estancia dedicated to cattle raising since 1908 and has pioneered the introduction of Hindu cattle in the region and also the adoption of wilderness-friendly cattle raising methods and environmental property management. After breakfast we will depart for a day in the Estancia.
Whole day riding through Estancia’s fields where its more than 5.000 heads of Brahman cattle are raised. The Estancia is responsible for the entire production cycle. Also over 200 criollo horses are bred here (some of them crosses with quarter horse) divided in groups of 20 mares for each horse.

8th day - After breakfast we will leave with a group of Gaucho farm hands for an idea of their skills and chores with the cattle herds. The Estancia has divided the hard work between two groups of Gauchos (four in each group) to take care of the 7.500 hectares. The method adopted is interesting; each group has a eight-horse tropilla (little troup) exchanging them for a new tropilla in the coming week. During the week they use a horse in the morning and another in the afternoon.
After lunch we will be driven to the Jesuitic Missions (Reduction) of Trinidad and Jesus in Paraguay (more details at the end of itinerary). The visit to the Mission is accompanied by a cultural guide who besides introducing us to the history of the Missions along the road, will also accompany the group through the actual ruins.
The Jesuit World is the route that allows us to understand the history of the Jesuit Reductions in this region, the founding of the Jesuitic Province of Paraguay, the attempt at the Christianization of Indians by these daring priests, their fight to protect the Indians against slavery.
The visits to the remaining archaeological sites transport us to relive the heroic acts of these protagonists be it in the Indian vision, maybe their only possibility of survival, be it in the vision of the Jesuits themselves, educated, intelligent men who often gave their lives for a cause. Return to our hotel in Foz do Iguassu ( Brazil) at end of day. There will be a stop for a snack on the way.

9th day - After breakfast, transfer to Iguassu (Brazil) or Iguazu (Argentina) Airport.


Duck Game (Jogo do Pato)
In the XVI th century competitions where groups of men on horseback struggled to catch a live duck and to take it to a place previously defined – that is how the Ducks Game began. Ancient chronicles mention that the game could have had up to 200 participants and that the game was practiced from estancia to estancia (ranch to ranch). Ducks were put in a basket inside a hand-held leather bag. The absence of rules resulted in a game that on many occasions could become extremely violent resulting in deaths as players tried to round up ducks with their horses or by merely being run over by other horses. It could also include fight among participants.
This was the reason why the game was banned by both Church and Civil authorities for a long time (there is a 1796 bill that states that no one killed in the game could receive a Christian burial).
Finally rules were created and the living duck was substituted by a ball with handles and the game was brought back to life. In 1953 the Argentine President Perón finally declared the Ducks Game as an official Argentinean national game.
Many observers have said that the Argentine polo player’s competitivity as well as their horses’ date back to the tradition of Duck Game in the province of Buenos Aires. The Duck Game is similar to the modern polo: the size of stadiums are basically the same (between 180 and 220 meters and 80 and 90 meters wide), the teams are made up of four horsemen and the game is divided in short high intensity periods called chukker. Each game is made up of up to six “times” of eight minutes each set apart by 5-minute halftimes. The horses used in the game are of mixed criollo and English purebred horses mostly 1.45 meters tall. Created in Argentina, this game has a cultural relationship with an ancient Persian game known as buzkashi still played in Afeghanistan where the ball is substituted by a headless, limbless goat.
In many places in Europe where polo is played there are also Horseball competitions, a game that was inspired on Ducks Game. The Horseball is recognized by the International Equestrian Federation as a sport. Despite its English name the Horseball was actually created in France in the 70s.


The Jesuit Reductions
The Jesuit Reductions were a particular version of the general catholic strategy used in the 17th and 18th centuries of building reductions (reducciones de indios) in order to be able to christianize the native populations of The Americas more efficiently. They were created by the order of the Jesuits in the areas inhabited by the Tupi-Guarani peoples, generally in an area corresponding to modern day Paraguay, although later they were extended into the areas that are now Argentina and Brazil. The first settlement was founded in 1609.

Guided by the Jesuits, the Indios had advanced laws, founded free public services for the poor, schools, hospitals, established birth control, and suppressed the death penalty. A kind of society based on the principles of the primitive Christianity was established. All the inhabitants of the reducciones worked in the "tupambae" lands property of the community, and all the products which they produced were fairly divided among them.

The Guaraní were very skilled in handicraft works, sculpture, woodcarving etc.; the reducciones, were the first "industrial" state of the South America. Indeed, such advanced products as watches, musical instruments, etc. were produced. The first typography of the New World was built in the reducciones. The working day was of about 6 hours (in Europe at that time was of 12-14 hours).

The Guarani society was the first in history to be entirely literate. These missions reached their apogee in the first half of 18th century, gathered around about 30 missions. 100.000 to 300.000 Indios converted to Catholicism.

The missions assumed almost full independence, as if they were real nations.The "reducciones" were centres of the community life. Around a wide square were concentrated the main buildings, like the church, the college, the churchyard. The Indios’ houses were faced on the other three sides of the square. The village was also provided with a house for the widows, a hospital, and several warehouses.

Trouble started in 1750s, when the King of Spain ceded a portion of the territory where the missions were located to Portugal. The Portuguese, that wanted to take economic advantage of these zones and of the work of the Indios, caused the so-called Guaraní wars which concluded in 1756 with the Indios defeat. The Missions ended in 1767, with the expulsion of the Jesuits and the Indios returned in the forest.


The Mission is a 1986 British film about the experiences of the Jesuitic Missions in South America. The film stars Robert De Niro among others and won several prizes.