EDMODO DIRECTIONS

National Parks in Latin America ProjectName: Elizabeth1Research page #1Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile is open all year round, but the best time of year to visit is October to April. The cost upon entrance is $38 USD for foreigners, and $15 USD for Chileans. The park is most well known for the Torres del Paine (Towers of Paine), massive granite towers that dominate the landscape. Of course, there are sights besides mountains- lush forests and sparkling rivers fill the rest of the park. If you are lucky, you can see the Patagonian Puma, South American Grey Fox, and the Andean Condor.

Fernando de Noronha World Heritage Site, in Brazil, has waters full of fish, marine mammals, and turtles. There is also a resident population of dolphins. The archipelago is located 545 km from the coast of Brazil, and offers a wide variety of attractions such as diving, hiking, and surfing. Even though car rentals are available, the cheapest way to get around is to take the bus. It usually rains March through May, but is sunny almost year-round. In order to fully appreciate the bliss of Fernando de Noronha, plan to stay for at least five days. 2Research page #2Manu National Park, in Peru was founded in 1973, and included in the world heritage list in 1987. The park is home to over 850 cataloged bird species, estimated 1,000 total, giant armadillos, short eared dogs, and panthers, among many other species. The park is one of the largest in South America, covering around 4.5 million acres of Andes mountains, cloud forests, and jungle. To reach the park, you can go by boat, bus, or air. The less expensive option is to go by bus or boat, but it takes a day and a half, instead of twenty five comfortable minutes in a plane. Visit Manu if you search for a wide variety of wildlife and terrain.

The Galapagos Islands, in Ecuador, was first discovered by, Fray Tomas de Berlanga on March 10, 1535. The Galapagos National Park was created in 1959, and the peak seasons are June to September and December to January. Expect light rains around mid-day, and clear sunny skies. A popular activity in the Galapagos is diving, as well as snorkeling and kayaking. Wildlife native to the area include Giant Tortoises, Rice Rats, and Galapagos Hawk. There is also a large population of marine life, including Whales, Dolphins, and Burrito Grunt Fish. (haha)

Research page #3Iguaz National Park, in Argentina is best known for the 80 m high waterfall located in its center. The fall is shaped in a semi-circle, and is 2,700 m in diameter. The park is seperated by the Iguazu River, and in 1984 both sides were named world heritage sites by UNESCO. Walking the forest paths, you may come about large amounts of butterflies native to the area. Other wildlife include giant otters, ocelots, pumas, bracket deer, bush dogs, and giant anteaters.

Palenque National Park, in Mexico, is an old, but magnificent Mayan City with classic Mayan architecture. It is located in the Chiapas, and the climate is humid. The ancient city was used until the invasion of the Spaniards. Although the main attraction is the structures, you can also hike through the dense jungle while admiring the vast amounts of flora and fauna. Palenque is much smaller than some of the other larger parks, but it is definitely worth-while.Iguazu National ParkBy Elizabeth L.Why I chose IguazuI chose this park because of the lush flora and extensive wildlife. The waterfall was obviously the most eye catching and impressive of the attractions. I was curious about what activities there were that involved the falls. I heard there were many endangered species which also stood out to me, and I am interested in doing more research on that.LocationIguazu National park is located between Argentina and Brazil. 20% of the parks land is in Brazil, and 80% is in Argentina. The nearest city is Puerto Iguazu.

Main AttractionsThis site was designated a national park because of the falls, one of most spectacular of the world. The park was also named a Unesco world heritage site because of this reason.

The main geophysical scenes are the Iguazu Falls, the Iguazu River, and the dense jungle.

The fauna includes many endangered species including the Ocelot, Anteater, and Tapir. The flora is also plentiful, including coral trees, and Palo Rosa.

OcelotCoral Tree

8How to Get There..From San Francisco, you would fly to Miami, which is about a five hour flight on Lan Argentina Airlines. Next, fly from Miami to Buenos Aires, also on Lan Argentina Airlines. It is an eleven hour flight.Once in Buenos Aires, take an overnight bus which is supposed to be comfortable, and hot dinner is served along with drinks. Another way of transport is by Air, which is more expensive.

9Background InfoWhat to wear:Day 1- wear comfortable clothing and light layers. Be sure to bring your cameraDay 2- wear waterproof clothing, or a change of clothes. You will get soaking wet during the boat ride.Day 3- wear comfortable and flexible clothingDay 4- wear light layers during the day, but be sure to change into warmer apparel for our night-time excursionDay 5-

Where youll stay:You will stay at Hotel Cataratas, a luxury hotel in the heart of Iguazu National Park. The Hotel has pools, spas, and tennis courts to accommodate your every need. The hotel serves a variety of Traditional Brazilian food, as well as some more American dishes.10Discover Iguazu: Five Days Under the FallsBe warned- you are about to embark on a journey youll never forget.

Day #1. MondayWake up for an early swim and listen to the sounds of the birds, or simply sleep in before a warm breakfast prepared by the professional cooking staff at Cataratas. Today, you will get to see an overview of the park before you fully immerse your self in its paradise tomorrow. You get to see the waterfalls and surrounding jungles from a birds eye view- in a helicopter. The helicopter is a good way to step into the park, because of its more relaxed environment. Fly back to the hotel for lunch, then enjoy the rest of the afternoon swimming in the Cataratass many pools, or playing tennis at the tennis courts.

Day Two Tuesday

Today you will go on an exciting Macuoco Safari Boat Ride. The boat ride has native multi-lingual guides, who know lots of interesting trivia on the falls, and the parks history. You will get close enough to the mighty Three Musket Falls to get splashed and quite wet. You will also enjoy mile long wagon ride through the forest, and have the option of taking a short hike or swim in a small waterfall. The actual boat ride lasts about two hours, and before you depart, you will be served a full and delicious boxed lunch.

Day 3. WednesdayIn the morning, hike the lower Circuit and surrounding trails for an amazing up close experience. There are just over a kilometer of paths that will lead you under small waterfalls, and hopping over trickling streams. Go back to Cataratas to enjoy lunch and a relaxing break before heading out again to visit Campo de Desafios. This translates to the Field of Challenges, and includes several exciting challenges located in the Iguazu Canyon. They include canopy walking, climbing and thrilling rafting but dont worry, trained guides are always there to spot you if you need assistance. Come back to a hot dinner, and your luxury rooms.

Day 4. ThursdayIn the morning, visit Parque das Aves a large bird park with a huge variety of rare birds. The park is also known for the large Butterfly house full of colorful insects. Other animals in the park include marmosets, anacondas and alligators. Choose to visit a local school and meet the school children, or opt-out and head straight back to the hotel for lunch and a leisurely pool side afternoon. Take a double Decker bus to the Iguazu visitors center to have cocktails and a lively dinner while listening to live music, and mixing with fellow travelers. Once you have finished your five star meal, set off on the guided walk which winds its way up to the falls. At the falls, there is an elevator that lets you get even closer to the silvery rainbow that is visible hovering over the majestic falls on the night of the full moon.

Day 5 Friday

Sadly, your unforgettable journey is coming to a close- this is your last day here. Today, we will explore the nearest city, Puerto Iguazu. Our first stop is the Triple Border Milestone. This is the point where Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil all meet, and a great place to grab some souvenirs. This is the magic of scenic Puerto Iguazu- it has its own unique blend of culture that isnt replicated anywhere else in the world. Our next stop is The Orchid gardens, another local legend. The plants come in many colors and shapes that leave heads spinning with their beauty, and mystery. After a picnic lunch on the white beach, feel free to explore the center of the city up close before meeting up again at La Casa del Pionero a building that dates back to at least a few decades ago. Poke around inside this historic landmark before heading back to the hotel for a good nights rest.

Should You Go?If you are planning to visit Argentina or Brazil, I would recommend you visit Iguazu Falls. The falls are amazing and you should definitely see them first hand. If you do not spend a lot of time in the park, I would recommend taking the Macuco Boat ride, which seems like a lot of fun, and the moonlit tour, which sounds like a beautiful experience. If you like waterfalls, hiking, rafting, or photography I would highly recommend Iguazu Falls as the place for you to go. So come and experience Iguazus thrilling opportunities. Pictures and Videos

Bibliography(I know theres a lot dont ask) www.torresdelpaine.comwww.lonelyplanet.comhttp://animalwrites.hubpages.com/hub/Patagonia-wildlife-Torres-del-Paine-National-Parkhttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1000http://www.fernando-de-noronha.orghttp://www.eldoradocountyweather.com/climate/brazil/Fernando%20de%20Noronha,%20Pernambuco.htmlhttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/402http://www.manuadventures.com/aboutpark.htmlhttp://www.wasai.com/manu.htmhttp://www.galapagos.orghttp://www.andandotours.com/angermeyer/galapagos-islands-information.htmlhttp://www.in-quito.com/galapagos/activities.htmhttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/303http://www.argentour.com/en/national_park/iguazu_national_park.phphttp://www.eoearth.org/article/Iguacu_National_Park,_Brazilhttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/411http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/mexico/Aguascalientes-M-xico/Chiapas.htmlhttp://www.tropicaldiscovery.com/regions_mexico/palenque/vacations.phphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Iguazhttp://www.google.com/flights/?hl=en#search;f=SFO;t=AEP,EZE;d=2013-02-16;r=2013-02-20;sel=SFOMIA0AA2002-MIAEZE04M4521;q=flights+from+san+francisco+to+buenos+aireshttp://www.hoteldascataratas.com/web/ogua/restaurants_and_bars.jsphttp://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/latin-america-iguazu-falls-activities.htmlhttp://gobrazil.about.com/od/topnaturalattractions/tp/topiguassu.htmhttp://www.welcomeargentina.com/puertoiguazu/visit-puerto-iguazu.htmlhttp://www.rebelwpo.com/documents/sample_iguazu.pdf

3 sites per park19P.S. We will be turning these presentations into Spanish presentations before the end of the year!