The
long journey by car
from the city of Buenos Aires to delight the senses with the Iguazú Falls, the native fauna and vegetation, and the Guaraní culture makes up an exciting
adventure of just over 1,300 kilometers
.
Most of the itinerary heading north along
National Route 14
, runs along the
coast of the Uruguay River
of Entre Ríos and Corrientes and crosses the mountain range - between herbaceous fields and tea plantations - of the center of Misiones.
Trip from the City of Buenos Aires
But the trip starts earlier, through a 90-kilometer stretch along
Route 9
(Panamericana Campana branch)
to Zárate and another 80 kilometers along Route 12
, a wide straight line that crosses the two arms of the Paraná River through both. bridges of the Zárate-Brazo Largo road complex, before reaching
Ceibas
.
This
fishing village in the south of Entre Ríos
marks the beginning of Route 14, converted into a
highway since 2014
, when the last section of the double carriageway was inaugurated, which extends from kilometer 0 to
Paso de los Libres
, in the kilometer 496.
Road distributor to divert Highway 14 to Colonia Elía and Colonia Santa Ana, in Entre Ríos.
The changing landscape contributes to providing a more than entertaining journey for tourists.
Although the Uruguay River and its
corridor of sandy beaches
accompany a good part of the trip, they cannot be seen from the road, which is corrected by the varied range of tourist services offered by the riverside towns, from
Villa Paranacito
(on 20 km detour from Route 12, about 10 km before reaching the beginning of Route 14) to
Santo Tomé
.
In addition, a dozen cities - from Gualeguaychú to Monte Caseros - have
hot spring complexes
.
In any case, Route 14 offers motorists the
green-tinted panoramic views of the typical Entre Ríos hills
- an intense color that intensifies once the robust specimens of yatay come into the scene, at the height of the El Palmar National Park -, shops selling regional products, service stations with hostels, forests alternating with rural establishments in Corrientes and the red land of Misiones, where the Itacuara mountain range begins to take shape and loud waterfalls in the middle of the jungle.
Route 14 completes its 1,127 kilometers in Bernardo de Irigoyen - the border crossing from the northeast of Misiones to Brazil - but, in this report, it is suggested to shorten the path by deviating 47 kilometers to the left along Route 47 in Dos de Mayo (in the km 955) and, from El Alcázar, travel the remaining 140 kilometers to Puerto Iguazú along Route 12.
Automobile Club service station next to Route 14, in Oberá, Misiones.
Attention: a route to drive with great caution
From end to end, the road to the Falls has
gas stations
in almost all the cities and towns it passes through.
On the other hand, the picture is complicated for gas-powered cars, since CNG charging places only operate in Entre Ríos (Gualeguaychú, Concepción del Uruguay, Colón, Concordia and Chajarí), a service that does not exist in the sections of Corrientes and Misiones. .
Regarding the care for driving, it is important to keep in mind that with the completed work of the highway - at least up to the vicinity of the Paso de los Libres-Uruguayana international bridge - road safety was noticeably improved and the 14
was no longer considered " The route of death.”
National Route 14 in its narrow section of Corrientes, at the height of the bridge that crosses the Aguapey River.
However, it is not advisable to trust or ignore the instructions.
Route 14 is a
key route for Mercosur cargo transportation
and, in addition to trucks and cars, it is used by several long-distance bus companies.
For this reason, in much of the route, the
constant passage of heavy vehicles
on the weak pavement leaves a
pronounced imprint
, especially in the right lane.
This double ditch drawn by the wheels is usually covered with water on
rainy days
and causes confusion among the most hurried motorists.
The maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour on the highway is reduced to 80 km/h in urban areas and is established at 110 kilometers per hour beyond Paso de los Libres, where Route 14 becomes a narrow one-way road. only lane per hand.
Speed control with photo fines on Route 14, in Entre Ríos.
Photo Pablo Bianchi.
In 2019, a long series of crashes, mistakes and overturns,
added to the fact that it continues to be the Entre Ríos route with the highest mortality rate, pushed seven municipalities in Mesopotamia located along the Route 14 corridor to ask the Government national that declared the
“Road Emergency”
.
The most insistent complaints refer to the lack of controls on the weight allowed for trucks, deficiencies in signage and road maintenance, little reflective horizontal marking and the dangerous habit adopted by some truck drivers, who prefer to avoid the deteriorated pavement of the right lane and travel in the fastest one.
From Ceibas there are
wells covered with a soft material
, which disperses quickly with heat and rain.
Also harmful to motorists is the
shoulder, which has been very damaged
by the rainfall, on both sides, between kilometers 30 and 60, near Gualeguaychú.
The Entre Ríos Police based in Ubajay - near El Palmar - especially warns about the risk involved in the poor condition of the road at the
kilometer 212 curve
, as well as at the detour at km 205 to enter the town.
Roundabout access to Concordia from Route 14, in Entre Ríos.
Photo Telam.
In
Corrientes
it is
key to maximize precautions at kilometer 496
- the intersection with the route that leads to Paso de los Libres, where the highway becomes a narrow route - and at kilometer 505, the starting point of route 123 to Mercedes.
Further north, at kilometer 594 -between La Cruz and Alvear-,
the route and the bridge that crosses the Aguapey River are in poor condition
.
Furthermore, throughout the entire stretch from Paso de los Libres to the border with Misiones, the pavement has footprints, pits and non-existent shoulders.
Especially at night, it is common for
loose animals
(such as foxes and capybaras) to cross the route.
The road becomes much
more winding in Misiones
, so it is advisable to walk very carefully in the 20 kilometer stretch of the Itacurá mountain range, in the Cerro Azul area, between San José and Leandro N. Alem.
Just as at this time (September to March) there is abundant truck traffic due to the tea harvest, the rest of the year is the time to load and transport yerba mate.
Route 14 near Aristóbulo del Valle, in Misiones.
The
intense movement of heavy vehicles
requires maximum caution, especially in the surroundings of Leandro N. Alem, Oberá and Aristóbulo del Valle.
Once these necessary precautions are taken into account, the trip provides more than one reason to enjoy the journey and the arrival at the destination.
Where to stop and what to see along the way
Route 14 km 56: Gualeguaychú
Unzué Park, on the banks of the Gualeguaychú River, near the center of Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos.
A destination with many attractions to take into account.
Two
thermal complexes
(of which, Termas del Guaychú operates on the side of Route 14), the serene atmosphere of the Costanera - with restaurants specializing in dishes based on river fish -, the historic center of the city, walks and picnics in Unzué Park, the tourist circuit created in Pueblo Belgrano and the Ñandubaysal beach and spa - overlooking the Uruguay River - are the highlights of the varied proposal for visitors to Gualeguaychú.
Km 125: Concepción del Uruguay
The renovated Costanera exhibits magnificent panoramic views of the beaches, the Uruguay River and Cambacuá Island.
One of the internal patios of the San José Palace, very close to Concepción del Uruguay, Entre Ríos.
This walk joins one of the most complete
historical and architectural circuits
of Entre Ríos, which includes the Municipal Palace, the National College of Uruguay, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception - where the remains of Justo José de Urquiza are preserved -, the Malvinas Room Daniel Sírtori and the Delio Panizza and Artemio Alisio museums.
Other unavoidable sites in Concepción de Uruguay are the thermal complex and the
San José Palace
, 28 km away on Route 39.
Km 151: Colón
One of the destinations in Entre Ríos equipped with the best infrastructure and greater diversity of excursion and recreation options.
It has a corridor of
more than 5 kilometers of beaches
, an area of islands, a thermal complex, a very active shopping center and the recovered circuit of wineries and vineyards - winemaking activity began here almost a century ago -, led by the pioneering establishments Los Francos Suizos and Vulliez-Sermet.
Forclaz Mill, on the road from Colón to San José, Entre Ríos.
Photo: Secretariat of Tourism and Culture of Colón.
A few kilometers away, in San José,
fishing is abundant
and you can visit the Molino Aventura Air Park and the historic Molino Forclaz.
Colón can also be the starting point to spend a day in
Villa Elisa
(45 kilometers to the northwest), the very colorful "Garden City of Entre Ríos", with a thermal complex in the middle of a spectacular natural park.
Km 198: El Palmar National Park
Specimens of
yatay palm trees up to 18 meters
high stand out in every postcard of this National Park, which can be explored through interpretive pedestrian trails and roads for vehicles and bicycles that lead to Jesuit ruins and viewpoints of streams and the riverside jungle, populated by capybaras, river otters, corzuelas and magpies.
El Palmar National Park, near Ubajay, Entre Ríos.
Photo: Shutterstock
In the wetland areas you can see herons, teros and aquatic turtles, while the grassland is the habitat of vizcachas, rheas, foxes and corzuelas.
Parrots, woodpeckers and red hawks nest in the trunks and crowns of palm trees.
This place has picnic areas, a campsite and craft stalls.
Km 253: Concordia
Three thermal centers and guided tours of the
Salto Grande hydroelectric complex
are the best reasons to spend some time in Concordia and its attractions.
Towards the north of the city, an imposing stone mass rises on one of the hills of the wild landscape that decorates the coast of Entre Ríos.
The ruins of the castle of Saint Charles, on a hill in Concordia, where the French writer Antoine de Saint Exupery, author of "The Little Prince", landed.
The remains of the Castle of San Carlos - converted into a museum - protect a centuries-old history that merges true facts with countless legends, but they also rescue from oblivion the accidental presence of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry at the end of the 1920s.
The author of “The Little Prince” was piloting his Aeropostal plane to Paraguay in 1929, when an engine failure forced him to land abruptly in this place perched on the coastal ravine with an unbeatable view of the Uruguay River.
Km 296: Federation
Although its
main attraction is the very complete thermal park
, Federación also offers the healthy natural atmosphere of the
Chaviyú Reserve
- ideal for a picnic -, the circuit of the farms producing honey, sweets, cheeses and fruits, the coastal walk and the tour in a bus shaped like a train car through the modern city and the
remains of the Old Federation
.
Water Park in the Federation Hot Springs, in Entre Ríos.
Km 551: Yapeyú
One of the
must-see stops
on the Corrientes coast is Yapeyú, where the foundations of the birthplace of General José de San Martín and the Sanmartiniano Museum are preserved.
El Templete, the house where General José de San Martín was born on February 25, 1778, in Yapeyú (Corrientes).
Also here begins the
circuit of remains of the Jesuit missions
, which continues in the north of Corrientes and the south of Misiones.
The Padre Furlong Jesuit Museum is very complete and it is also worth visiting the Yapeyú Historical Museum and the Trunco Arch erected in tribute to the heroes of the 1982 Malvinas War.
Km 744: Governor Virasoro
In Gobernador Virasoro, the
Las Marías farm
organizes guided tours of its yerba and tea plantations and the drying and production sectors.
Las Marías yerba and tea farm, in Gobernador Virasoro, Corrientes.
This town is one of the places in the province of Corrientes where traces of the founding era are best preserved.
The historical circuit includes the Railway Station (from 1911), the first Post Office (recovered as the House of Culture) and Plaza Libertad, where an emblematic eucalyptus specimen, planted in 1921, is preserved.
A visit to Gobernador Virasoro should also not leave aside the Mate Monument or a frank fair of typical foods, vegetables, plants and local crafts.
Km 873: Obera
In recent years, the Termas de la Selva
complex was added to the
Collective Park
- the meeting point par excellence for residents and tourists in this city marked by the intersection of European cultures with the Guaraní roots of the original settlers
. which offers waters with a high content of mineral salts, indicated for hormonal, bone, muscle and respiratory conditions, as well as beauty treatments.
Panoramic view of Oberá, Misiones.
The thermal attraction is complemented by walks along the trails of Mount Misiones, which allows you to appreciate the abundant native flora and fauna.
You can also make your way through the jungle and visit the Berrondo and Pacá waterfalls.
Km 930: Aristóbulo del Valle
In the geographical center of Misiones, near Aristóbulo del Valle, the jungle covers one of its most attractive sites in the
Salto Encantado Provincial Park
.
Salto Encantado, in the middle of the Misiones jungle, near Aristóbulo del Valle.
The main attraction is a
64-meter-high waterfall
from the Cuña Pirú stream, although the toucans (there are five varieties in the area), the noisy concert of parrots and the rich diversity of plant species also capture the interest of visitors. , such as guayubirá, pindó palm, lapachos with fuchsia and yellow flowers, yacaratiá, güembé, carnations, orchids and bromeliads.
On the descent to the foot of the waterfall along a winding staircase of
375 steps
it is possible to meet hummingbirds, butterflies, monkeys and squirrels.
Route 12 Km 1521: Monte Carlo
A
varied range of intense colors
demands attention from motorists arriving at the “
City of Orchids”
.
The multiple versions of the
emblematic flower
of Monte Carlo can be admired in the Vortisch Park and in the Loma Alta orchid garden and museum, a tribute to the local musician, writer and poet Juan Carlos Martínez Alva.
In Caraguayay (Misiones), near Monte Carlo, a museum honors Che Guevara, who lived part of his childhood with his family in a house in the area, in the middle of the jungle, a few steps from the shore of the Paraná River.
About ten kilometers before reaching Monte Carlo you can visit the Che Guevara museum, located in the jungle near
Caraguatay
, in a house where the revolutionary born in Rosario lived with his family.
Km 1593: Wanda
The shine of
Wanda's semi-precious stones
comes from the side of the road, meters from the sales premises and about 40 kilometers south of the Falls.
But in order to investigate the origin and exploitation of these outcrops in the basaltic rock subsoil, it is advisable to detour to the left (in the direction of the river) and join a
guided tour
of the site.
Semiprecious stone deposit in Wanda, Misiones.
Where to stay
Gualeguaychú:
Berlin hotel: double room with continental breakfast, cable TV, wi-fi and parking, $43,800 (03446- 15638660 / 03446- 425-111/426-085 / hotelberlin@yahoo.com / www.hotelberlin.com.ar ).
Concepción del Uruguay
: apart Río Sol: apartment for 2 with garage, linen, cable TV, wi-fi, grill, microwave and infusions, $32,000;
bungalow for 2, $22,000 (03442- 15566060 / www.apartriosol.com).
Colón:
Rancho Unelén cabins: for two people with safe, grill, garage, bedding, children's games, wi-fi, heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, cable TV, kitchen with oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, dishes and hair dryers, $40,000;
for 5, $55,000 (155-8491051/consultas@ranchounelen.com.ar/www.ranchounelen.com.ar).
Villa Elisa
: Villa Mía bungalow: for two people with linen, cable TV, wi-fi, pool and garage, $20,000;
for 3, $25,000;
for 4, $50,000 (03447- 15522322 / villamiave@gmail.com).
Federation:
La Reserva cabins: loft-type cabin for two people with buffet breakfast, wi-fi, covered parking, grill, video library, children's and board games and cable TV, $55,000;
for 4, $75,000;
three-room cabin, $95,000 for 4, $115,000 for 6 and $135,000 for 8 (155- 3514364 / 153- 7636598 / info@lareservafederacion.com.ar / www.lareservafederacion.com.ar).
Governor Virasoro:
Grand Casino hotel: double room with garage, breakfast, wi-fi, cable TV and safe, $50,600;
quadruple, $67,000 (03756- 15481122/777 / 03756- 420-110/422-121 / www.atlasgh.com).
Campo Viera:
1.5 km from Route 14 and 17 km from Oberá, Paso de la Olla campsite: $1,000 per person;
Includes car, tent, wi-fi, grill and soccer and volleyball fields (03751- 15338586).
Puerto Libertad:
45 km from Puerto Iguazú, Puerto Bemberg inn: double room with breakfast, wi-fi, swimming pool, parking and library, $ 110,000 (03757- 15324894 / 03757- 15360210 / info@puertobemberg.com.ar / www. posadapuertobemberg.com).
Puerto Iguazú:
resort, spa and casino Iguazú Grand: Junior Suite double room with buffet breakfast, gym, pool and outdoor Roman bath, cable TV, wi-fi and parking, from US$ 255 (157- 0790589 / 08008884726 / 03757 - 15443973 / 03757- 498-050 / reserveigr@grand-hotels-lux.com / www.iguazugrand.com).
Where to get information
Entre Ríos
: (0343) 422-0722 / infoturismoer@gmail.com / www.entrerios.tur.ar
Corrientes
: (0379) 442-7200/448-7793 / (0379) 155048488 / turisticosinformes@gmail.com
Misiones
: (0376) 444-7539/40 / (03757) 154138114 / www.misiones.tur.ar