'''Posadas''' is a pleasant, small, accessible city in Misiones province in the Mesopotamia region of Argentina. It makes a nice break on the long ride between Iguacu Falls and Buenos Aires.

Get in

Direct non stop half hour flights from Jorge Newbury Airport in Buenos Aires or you can take a comfortable overnight sleeper bus from Retiro Station in Downtown Buenos Aires, this trip lasts approximately 9 to 10 hours.

Travellers from Uruguay can, for instance, take the bus from Salto to Concordia. This trip takes approximately 1 hour and costs 69U$ (07/2008, 2.3EUR, 3.6US$). Immigration is done during this bus trip. From Concordia in Argentina take a bus or night bus to Posadas. This trip takes about 10 hours and can cost 79A$ (07/2008, 17EUR, 27US$).

Get around

In town you will find plenty of taxis and buses but the best way to get around is on foot.

See

Parque Republica del Paraguay, La Bajada Vieja, Botanic Garden, La Costanera riverwalk, Palacio del Mate, Anfiteatro Manuel Antonio Ramirez, and the local museums.

Do

There is a lovely walk along the river which can even be romantic in the evening. Depending on weather conditions it is possible to see the glittering lights of Encarnacion in Paraguay then. Don't forget to enjoy the Mate, Argentina's popular beverage. Although the first taste will be an unusual flavor for newcomers, it is a haunting taste that beckons you back time and time again. Same day Paraguay Visa: The Paraguay Consulate in Posadas, Argentina is located in a small, orange, old colonial house a couple of blocks from the town center at 179 San Lorenzo Street(the street numbers were changed but the locals still prefer the old numbers - the new number is on the 1500 block) between Santa Fe and Sarmiento streets. There is no sign on the building just a Paraguay flag(red, white, and blue broad stripes) hanging in front with the old street address number 179. I entered the air-conditioned consulate on a Monday morning and there were just a few people inside and I didn_Lt wait more than a minute, not like the chaos at the consulate in Buenos Aires. The man sitting at the desk immediately upon entering will tell you(I am an American citizen) in Spanish to get 3 photocopies for each of the following: 1. Passport Info Page 2. Argentina Entry Stamp(in Passport) 3. A credit card(only front side) 4. Roundtrip Transport(he asked me for it at first but didn_Lt require it later- it appears you can_Lt just buy a bus ticket to Encanacion from Posadas - in the unlikely event they do require proof of onward travel you could book a tour to the Jesuit Ruins just 30k inside Paraguay from one of numerous travel agents in Posadas)

In addition to the above you need to give them 3 passport photos which you can get along with the photocopies at a shop right next door for US$4.

A single entry visa cost US$45 and a multiple entry visa costs US$65 in cash only(they provide change). He didn_Lt like the serial number on my US$100 bill so I went to the money exchange about 5 blocks where the pedestrian streets cross at the town center and got 5 US$20 bills which he had no problem with(in fact he never even checked the US$100 bill a Canadian mother gave him so I think he was just playing with me - power corrupts)

You then fill out a simple one page personal info form(if you make a mistake and cross anything out like I did you will have to fill out a new form) After about an hour he will ask for your right thumb print on three pages which you will also sign.

Eventhough there was a Yellow fever outbreak in Paraguay there was no requirements or even notification. I got a free yellow fever shot at the hospital two blocks from the bus station in Encarnacion, after I crossed the river into Paraguay.

So I started the whole visa process at 10am and was done by noon and caught the frequent(every 10 minutes) and crowded local bus(clearly marked _NArgentina - Paraguay_N in front) for 3 Argentine pesos just a couple blocks south of the town center to Encarnacion, Paraguay.

Buy

Beautiful artesanal objects handmade by the Guarani Indians. You can find them at Plaza 9 de Julio in downtown Posadas.

Paraguay Visa

The Paraguay Consulate in Posadas, Argentina is located in a small, orange, old colonial house a couple of blocks from the town center at 179 San Lorenzo Street(the street numbers were changed but the locals still prefer the old numbers - the new number is on the 1500 block) between Santa Fe and Sarmiento streets. There is no sign on the building just a Paraguay flag(red, white, and blue broad stripes) hanging in front with the old street address number 179. I entered the air-conditioned consulate on a Monday morning and there were just a few people inside and I didn_Lt wait more than a minute, not like the chaos at the consulate in Buenos Aires. The man sitting at the desk immediately upon entering will tell you(I am an American citizen) in Spanish to get 3 photocopies for each of the following: 1. Passport Info Page 2. Argentina Entry Stamp(in Passport) 3. A credit card(only front side) 4. Roundtrip Transport(he asked me for it at first but didn_Lt require it later- it appears you can_Lt just buy a bus ticket to Encanacion from Posadas - in the unlikely event they do require proof of onward travel you could book a tour to the Jesuit Ruins just 30k inside Paraguay from one of numerous travel agents in Posadas)

In addition to the above you need to give them 3 passport photos which you can get along with the photocopies at a shop right next door for US$4.

A single entry visa cost US$45 and a multiple entry visa costs US$65 in cash only(they provide change). He didn_Lt like the serial number on my US$100 bill so I went to the money exchange about 5 blocks where the pedestrian streets cross at the town center and got 5 US$20 bills which he had no problem with(in fact he never even checked the US$100 bill a Canadian mother gave him so I think he was just playing with me - power corrupts)

You then fill out a simple one page personal info form(if you make a mistake and cross anything out like I did you will have to fill out a new form) After about an hour he will ask for your right thumb print on three pages which you will also sign.

Eventhough there was a Yellow fever outbreak in Paraguay there was no requirements or even notification. I got a free yellow fever shot at the hospital two blocks from the bus station in Encarnacion, after I crossed the river into Paraguay.

So I started the whole visa process at 10am and was done by noon and caught the frequent(every 10 minutes) and crowded local bus(clearly marked _NArgentina - Paraguay_N in front) for 3 Argentine pesos just a couple blocks south of the town center to Encarnacion, Paraguay.

Eat

Along the city's riverwalk, populary known as "La Costanera", there are plenty of great restaurants like Dona Chola, La Ruedita, Barlovento, just to name a few. Most of these restaurants have a wonderful view of the Parana river.

Drink

The most popular bars in the city are: Bocatto, Espanol, Bahia, Vittragge, Mentecato, Status and Barlovento.

Sleep

Hotel Continental, Hotel Posadas, Hotel Libertador, Hotel Julio Cesar, etc. Complejo La Aventura is for those who prefer to be in direct contact with nature.

Get out

Encarnacion in Paraguay is a frequent, crowded, and cheap(4 pesos - US$1) local city bus ride away wich you can catch from the town center.