Buenos Aires AND Iguazu Falls?
 

I am planning a trip to Buenos Aires mid October. I will only have about 5 days there due to travel times. I am going specifically to go to Lujan Zoo, but want to make the most of my trip. Should I attempt to add Iguazu Falls to this trip? Any suggestions as to how to get the most out of this trip would also be greatly appreciated. If you could also help me dispel my fears....I am a single, mid life woman, traveling alone for the first time outside of the US (other than Canada)

"Should I attempt to add Iguazu Falls to this trip?"

Yes, yes and yes. This is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Don't miss it. 2-3 days is ideal, if your schedule permits. Stay at the Sheraton for maximum convenience. It is pricey, but so very convenient (right inside the park).

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

2-3 days, including time to travel in and travel out by plane, allows you to see the falls from both sides (Brazil and Argentina), visit the interesting bird park, and take a boat trip under the falls (from either side). The Brazilian side takes about 3 hours, the bird park about 2, the Argentine side can be seen quickly in about 5 hours, and it's about an hour to cross the border.
If you hold a US passport, you will need a visa to see the Brazilian side(where most of the iconic photos are taken, looking back onto the Argentine side), and the bird park and take the Macuco Safari trip under the falls.
If you think you'll never be back in South America again, perhaps try for a quick look at least.
But really 5 days is not enough to do justice to Buenos Aires itself, if you are into cities.

Also.....
Foz do Iguacu and Puerto Iguazu are not places where crime is a big concern, nor sexual harassment, so insofar as traveling solo as a woman, no problem IMO (as one who often does there).

Jodie316: Considering what I have read about the Luján zoo, you are probably into defending animal rights and, if so, as an animal lover, I'd like to help you with that.

If interested, e-mail me to: albertovgalloATyahoo.com

Should you have any worries (and you should, as a woman traveling alone) you can research me here and on Trip Advisor where, years ago, I used to post as http://tinyurl.com/ztjnlfm

An extreme (LOL) example: http://tinyurl.com/zy3cltv

About your Iguazú question, as said above, you need 2 or 3 days. So, you'll have to decide whether or not you can fit that into your schedule.

Can we help with anything else related to your travel plans for Argentina, Jody316?

For instance, yesterday I boarded a cab driven by a lady, which is quite unusual in Argentina and she seemed like a very good choice to have her meet you at our EZE international airport. Her fee was quite competitive.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll have a great (but short) time in my country, Jody316.

Thank you AVROOSTER. I will email you

Thank you to Vic and Samba also. Much appreciated input. Getting very excited for trip. May suffer mega Jet Lag, but definitely will see falls!

Great!

I'll check my mail all the time. LOL!!!!

avrooster my email to you came back. It said no yahoo account. Email me at [email protected]

I was clarifying that I am an animal lover not a rights activist. I support zoos and their missions to save the animals and educate the public.

The Zoo is my main reason for travel, but the falls is an added bonus as I love to take photos of falls. I am hoping to use photos to include in a travel article I will be writing and hoping to get published.

I would be very interested in getting the info for the cabbie. Does she happen to speak English? I know very little Spanish

Any suggestion on must see sight would also be appreciated. I am definitely going to see the falls, but to do it for the best use of time it looks like I will fly into Buenos Aires and take the next flight to Iguazu Falls. I am sure to have serious jet lag :) :) :) but it will be well worth it!

Jodie316: I'll e-mail you.

I have heard that people who use AOL sometimes have trouble e-mailing people in Argentina.

When we manage to get in touch, please tell me why the main purpose of your visit to Argentina seems to be visiting the Luján zoo.

It would be even better if you posted about it here, so all forum members understand.

I have never been to the Luján zoo. That said, most of what I have read about it and the kind of pictures taken suggests the animals MUST be drugged.

This is illegal and so is the close interaction of the animals with the human visitors, or so I understand.

Some links:

https://www.change.org/p/cierre-del-...an-prensalujan

http://tinyurl.com/jcm5y2m

http://www.zoolujan.com/?gclid=CP3I6...zoo-lujan/cqs2

https://es-la.facebook.com/CierrealZoodeLujan/

See the picture of the woman riding the lion!

https://www.veoverde.com/2013/04/zoo...jes-argentina/

http://www.lanoticia1.com/noticia/la...jan-82424.html

E-mailing you in a little while, Jody316.

Thanks for posting those links Avrooster. This Luján zoo looks like a truly appalling place. Why anyone would condone such treatment of animals by visiting is beyond comprehension!

Jody316: I don't think it is a good idea to post your e-mail address in a public forum, which is why I posted mine without the @

If you wish, you can write to the moderators [email protected] asking them to remove the post in which you included your e-mail.

You can also contact them via the ! sign in the triangle at the upper right of your post, telling them the same thing.

No matter what, you'll have a great time in my country, jody316. My only worry is: only FIVE days?????

Well, crellston, many people seem to enjoy it. Never mind the animals.

The most popular travel forum gave them their "certificate of excellence"!

The people who know me are fully aware of how I feel about THAT.

Have a great time in my country.

"Should you have any worries (and you should, as a woman traveling alone) "

I am assuming from prior posts, avrooster, that you are not female, and cannot comment from personal experience. As respectfully as possible, I find the comment more than a little patronizing, that we "should" be worried when solo because we are outside a more familiar sphere, rather than at home, and unhelpful to assume that we need someone external to emphasize such a point. As a woman who has often traveled solo for decades in "exotic" destinations as well as more familiar ones, I would contend that the worries are the same as, for example, walking to the car in a parking garage at home, and are a constant part of our lives as women in this day and age. We are vulnerable even in our own homes. The same situational awareness serves us women both in unfamiliar and more familiar situations. Rather than tell us how we "should" be feeling, worried, encourage 'us' to go into the world iconfidently.

SambaChula:

I certainly have no desire to get into an argument with you.

The OP said: "If you could also help me dispel my fears".

And I gave her MY point of view about the risks associated with contacting people met on the Internet.

If someone else (besides the OP) finds it "more than a little patronizing", there is nothing I can do about it.

The OP certainly did NOT have a problem with it.

Have a great time in my country, where SOME guys (such as yours truly) still open the door for ladies to pass first.

Jody316:

I e-mailed you and it came back as "undeliverable".

I'll try to contact you from a gmail address.

As an aside, the shares of the "most popular travel forum" are down 8% today.

Jody316:

My e-mail to you from a gmail address was NOT rejected.

Please acknowledge receipt.

OP said: "If you could also help me dispel my fears....I am a single, mid life woman, traveling alone for the first time outside of the US (other than Canada)"

Jody316: I think you are wise to have asked for help allaying your fear of first time travel outside your home base. We had the same type of concerns the first time we left home for a trip abroad.

I also don't think people are "looking down their nose" at you when they ask you to "watch your step". We tried to read as much information as we could find regarding the "standard" street crimes found in BsAs before we visited. Of course many of those petty crimes are encountered in major cities all over the world, but we still read up on them before we travel. The information we've gleaned has helped us stay safe in many places. (I could list those far-flung places here, but feel it unnecessary.)

Have a great time on your trip. You'll love Argentina and the wonderful people there.

The falls can be a stretch with only 5 days in Argentina, but if they are at the top of your must see list, by all means make the trip.

tptr

Avrooster.
Received email. Thanks. Tentative dates are 10/8 - 10/16 or 17. I have chosen Hotel Etoile in BA and Sheraton Parque Resort in Iguazu.
I learned about Lujan Zoo by accident on line. Thrilled with opportunity to be up close and personal with animals. I think it stems from my childhood, a show called Daktari that featured a tame lion named Clarence. :) The falls fascinate me as I grew up close to Niagara Falls here in the US. I love taking pictures of falls. Animals and falls...two of God's great creations.
From research so far here is a list of probable things I will do: Lujan Zoo, Iguazu Falls, 1/2 day small group photography tour, 1/2 day personal shopping tour, A tour that includes all major sites, a gaucho tour, a Tango show, and some great dinners. Have to find time to fit a Massage in there also.
Contrary to previous research I just found better pricing flyin on the weekend rather than mid week. This may have given me an extra day as well.

Great! I'm writing a LOOOONG reply to your e-mail. It will take me a while.

One thing worried me: Why on earth do you think I work for Fodor's?

I DO take quite seriously my hobby of advising here people who wish to visit my country, as tptr above (and many others) can confirm, but I certainly don't work for Fodor's.

"Have a great time in my country, where SOME guys (such as yours truly) still open the door for ladies to pass first."
Thanks, avrooster, I have the capability to open my own doors, and reject the suggestion that I need assistance from some big, strong, macho guy (or small, elderly, old-fashioned guy even) to get through a simple doorway. LOL.

And what I have seen of your country is quite pleasant.
-----
I repeat though: women need encouragement, not discouragement, to get out and see the world on their own.
The OP said: "If you could also help me dispel my fears".
and you answered "you should (have worries), as a woman traveling alone"
That is NOT my idea of encouragement or of dispelling fears, nor of a rational attitude toward the world in the 21st century.

OP, if you are an animal lover, you will probably enjoy the coatis that run rampant on both sides of the park. But watch out! I was sitting on a bench in the Argentine park, eating a popsicle, when one tried to climb up my back to get it. The park ranger scolded ME for feeding the coati! The coati's friends were meanwhile busy lapping up a spilled soda on a nearby table.

There are all sorts of butterflies everywhere, large and small, and some may land on you to drink the salt from your sweat.

The Bird Park is pretty amazing too, giving you the opportunity to be in a house sized cage with macaws and parrots, among other species in other cages. I picked up a small piece of wandering Jew plant(the common purple leaved houseplant) from the ground inside the habitat and all of a sudden, I was surrounded by these macaws (Arara in Portuguese), huge claws and beaks, long tails, up close and personal wanting a bite of that tasty plant (or one of my fingers, maybe).

Enjoy.

I'm relatively "small" (1,70 meters tall), I guess.

I'm 75, so I guess I'm "elderly".

And I'm as proudly "old-fashioned" as you can find in these times.

It may be "politically incorrect", but I'll go on opening doors for ladies as long as I have the strength to do so.

SambaChula, really. AVRooster is a decent and responsible Argentine gentleman who has become friends with many Fodors posters - male and female. My husband and I, and many friends, have benefited from his great ideas, above and beyond help and kind friendship.

You have been a fine poster with good suggestions as well, so I am puzzled by your reactivity to the above. Oh well. Regards.

Thank you, Marnie.

Jody316 (the OP) is wondering about the SUBE card and I don't know much about it.

Could you (or anyone else with recent experience) tell her about it?

Have a great time in my country.

Avrooster - I wouldn't take any notice of the comments of SC. my wife tells me you are a true gentleman and you can open the door for her anytime!

AND That ought to keep him too busy to even think of opening doors for those of us who find such behavior patronizing.

Well, Crellston, since I understand you'll be in BA soon, let me know where your wife is at all times, so I make sure I keep myself "too busy" opening doors for her "to even think of opening doors" for others "who find such behavior patronizing."

However, this thread is getting SO funny maybe I'll be too busy LMAO to open doors for ANYONE. LOL!

I hesitated to repoly about the Sube Cards as I have not been in BsAs since late March. But as of that time, one could buy a Card at many Post Offices, the Train Stations and Kioskos. They are very easily re-filled at neighborhood Kioskos.

It should be the same now.

Thank you, Marnie, on behalf of the OP.

@avrooster--
If you're not kept too busy opening doors, maybe you can function as a sidewalking escort, another quaint custom, walking on the curb side of course, so when the slops are thrown from an upper floor to the sidewalk, they hit the gentleman escort instead of the woman. :-)

After reading this hilarious thread, it should be quite OBVIOUS to EVERYONE that, when AV walks on the street with a lady, he takes the curbside.

In this century, the idea is to protect the lady from being splashed by a car hitting a puddle rather than from "slops ... thrown from an upper floor to the sidewalk".

LOL!

Have a great time in my country, where you can still find a few guys who are not ashamed to behave like gentlemen.

Avrooster, I trust you always walk with the lady on your left arm so as to keep your sword arm free so as to protect her from any rogues or vagabonds you may encounter on the streets of BA.

That isn't always possible, Crellston, but, as I'm ambidextrous, I would place my sword on the other side, if a lady took my sword arm.

Anyway, these days I carry a S&W .357 Magnum, with a silencer and a laser sight, instead of a sword and always tie down my holster on the street side.

This deserves a HUGE LOL!

Jody316 should soon post SEPARATELY a trip report about her visit to BA and our wonderful Iguazú Falls.

I understand she had a GREAT time in my country.

"AND That ought to keep him too busy to even think of opening doors for those of us who find such behavior patronizing."

I would sooner have a door opened for me than be literally shoved out of the way by a man racing to get the last seat on the train, which happened on a daily basis in London, along with young men happily sitting down without a care in the world while heavily pregnant women were left standing. If that is some men's idea of 'equality' then I'll happily take 'patronizing'.

The Lujan Zoo is shocking. I almost cried looking at some of those pictures. How can anyone possibly be entertained by stroking drugged up wild animals? :(

Clementine, about your: "If that is some men's idea of 'equality' then I'll happily take 'patronizing'."

I believe you mean "some WOMEN's idea of..."

Either way, AV....

Clementine, I agree with your post above; I have found Argentines and Frenchmen to be most polite and accommodating and helpful...especially in public transportation. Even the women are kind to pregnant women and seniors. I love that about them.

No avrooster, I meant men. Specifically the type of man who will sit down in a priority seat on the London Underground and then refuse to get up for a pregnant woman, stating 'you wanted equality, didn't you?'. Can't even count how many times I've witnessed that.

Marnie WDC, I agree. I don't think it's sexist or patronising, but simply considerate. I have yet to see an Argentine taking up a seat while someone who needed it more (pregnant woman, elderly person, someone on crutches) was left standing.