This is a tour that takes you to subtropical grasslands, Chaco forests, Wetlands and Atlantic Rainforests of Northeast Argentina.
The Iberá Wetlands, located in the Argentinean province of Corrientes, offers an unparalleled experience to witness some of the world's largest protected wetlands. The area is rich in biodiversity, home to over 500 bird species, including the majestic Jabiru Stork, and the reintroduction and conservation of South America's iconic species like the Red-and-green Macaw and Bare-faced Curassow
Throughout 800 km, we will visit the different ecosystems that alternate in a mosaic of natural landscapes. Grasslands that are home to various species of seedeaters, grass-finches and iconic species such as the Strange-tailed Tyrant, give rise to lakes and subtropical wetlands with outstanding species such as the Jabirú, Crested Doradito or Black-capped Donacobius among Rails, Storks, Bitterns and Screamers. The setting of the Chaco humid forest, also allows to find species little known among observers, including Cuckoos, Flycatchers, Raptors or Tanagers.
The trip is crowned by the Iguazú Falls, in the middle of a lush Atlantic rainforest on the border of Argentina and Brazil. The park surrounding the falls offers a diversity of wildlife, trails and jungle viewing platforms, including the iconic Devil's Throat. There is also a host of incredible flora and fauna around to appreciate, including jaguar, ocelot, eagles and toucans, and many more magnificent birds.
Day 0
Arrive in Buenos Aires, welcome dinner and resting after the trip. Night in Buenos Aires.
Day 1
In the morning we travel 2 hours from BA to Ceibas, Entre Ríos. During these 3 days you will see different environments: grasslands, wetlands, and dry forests. This area is a very good area for photography, with a very rich wildlife.
The first day we’ll be mostly in the savanna with scattered thorny trees and patches of humid grassland. The forest is the kingdom of the passerines, with pretty good opportunities for Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, White-tipped Plantcutter, White-fronted Woodpecker, Red-crested Cardinal, Savanna Hawk or Brown Cacholote.
Miles of dirt roads allow easy birding, alternating walking and also spotting birds from the car. The area is abundant both in species and individuals, and with good levels of activity even in midday and every season.
Night in Ceibas
Day 2
This day in Ceibas we’ll visit the north side of one of the biggest deltas of the world: Paraná River Delta. The huge wetlands are a vast extension of marshes and streams, reedbeds and riverside forest. Diversity will be amazing, including herons, storks, ducks and target birds such as Yellow Cardinal, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Southern Screamer and Giant Wood-Rail.
After night could be possible and an Owling trip looking for nightjars and owls.
Night in Ceibas
Day 3
The third day in Ceibas will be focused on grasslands, allowing to find pampas specialities, like several species of Seedeater, Black-and-rufous Warbling-finches, Greater Rhea, Spotted Nothura and Firewood Gatherer.
Even when it’s hard to find it, the area preserves one of the last populations of Saffron-cowled blackbird, and we can try to find it!
We'll go back to Buenos Aires in the afternoon with more than 100 species and a lot of lifers.
Night in Buenos Aires
Day 4
In the morning, we fly to Posadas, North-east of Argentina, and from there to Iberá Wetlands.
Located in the Argentinean province of Corrientes, a combination of boats, vehicles
and walkways allow for intimate access of many species that would be difficult
to encounter in other parts of southern South America Locally called “Esteros del Ibera” is one of the most important protected wetlands in South America, with 15,000 Km2
(almost 4 million acres) as Provincial Park and 10% as National Park.
The first day we’ll go to one of the “portals”: Loreto. On the road, we hope to see the Streamer-tailed Tyrant, White Woodpecker, Jabiru, Plumbeous ibis, Large-billed Tern and Least Grebe, among a great diversity.
We’ll arrive on time to enjoy the birds at the feeders of Iberá Birding Lodge.
Night in Loreto
Day 5
During the second day on this edge of the Wetlands, we will be on a Humid Chaco "island" with Forests, lagoons and subtropical grasslands. The environment of this area allows you to see various species such as seedeaters, storks, ducks, flycatchers, tanagers and a long list, but the specialty is the Strange-tailed Tyrant.
From there we will enter the wetlands in one of two options: motorboat or kayaks, where birding from the water will give us the opportunity to see species such as the Crested Doradito, Black-capped Donacobius, White-headed marsh tyrant or.. who knows... perhaps the elusive Yellow-breasted Crake
Night in Loreto
Day 6
In the morning we will embark to navigate in the tributary streams of the Paraná River. It is a transitional environment that has species difficult to find elsewhere, such as the Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Black Skimmer, Common Potoo, Scaly-headed Parrot and the Black-tailed Tityra.
After lunch, we’ll enter one of the central portals of the Ibera Park: Cambyretá
Where the large list of birds includes the Green-and-red Macaw -reintroduced there-, Azara ́s (Least) Bittern, Long-winged Harrier and Buff-necked Ibis, among a list of 500 bird species, and large populations of Capybaras and Caimans.
Night in Cambyretá
Day 7
Full day inside the Ibera Park.
This day in the heart of the National Park, where you can feel the
depth and extension of this ecosystem, when we go 30 km inland. Staying at the
Wild Wetlands Lodge, birding alternates with wildlife observation such as Marsh
Deer and other mammals. The list of birds will increase and also photographers will have special scenery. The list of this day could have Scaled Dove, Ash-throated crake, Black-collared Hawk and Scarlet-headed Blackbird.
The experience is usually noted as a highlight of the trip.
Nights in Cambyreta
Day 8
We begin to travel by road from Corrientes Province to the following Province:
Misiones, changing from the flat and open environments to the hills covered by
Rainforest.
The first stop, leaving the flat wetlands, will be a stop in the first hills where grasslands are surrounded by rainforests and still new environments will provide us new species, such as Toco Toucan, White-eared Puffbird, Pearly-breasted Cuckoo, Fork-tailed Woodnymph or White-bellied Seedeater
Night in Santa Ana
Day 9
From Santa Ana we will go to the central mountains of Misiones, where the Salto Encantado Park protects the slopes still covered by jungle. The viewpoints combine sites with great scenic views with places for bird watching. In the are will look for the Guira Tanager, Green Ibis, Rufous-capped Motmot, King Vulture and Spot-winged Wood-Quail
Night in Salto Encantado.
Day 10
From Salto Encantado we’ll travel to Iguazú (200km), birding in the roads, and with time enough to visit the Hummingbirds Garden in the afternoon, where is possible to
find an amazing number of hummingbird species plus tanagers and others.
Night in Iguazú
Day 11
Full day at Iguazú National Park: Within the park on the Iguazú River, the renowned
Iguazú Falls encompasses many separate cascades, including the iconic Garganta
del Diablo (“Evil’s Throat”). The surrounding park features diverse wildlife, including mammals, plus trails and viewing platforms.
We will walk along the Macuco trail and the upper and lower boardwalks, looking
for Plumbeous Kites, Green-billed Toucan, Surucua Trogon, Reddish-bellied Parakeet, Red-rumped Cacique, or Red-Ruffed Fruitcrow. The forest also hosts a wide diversity
of mammals, such as the Coati, the Red Brocket-deer, and the Brown Capuchin
Monkey.
Night in Iguazú
Day 12
A full day in Urugua-í Park, one of the most beautiful and picturesque regions of Misiones. It is a key area because it is a large tropical jungle that connects other protected areas, becoming a corridor that animals use to survive. Best place to find elusive species as antshrikes, antwrens, tyrannulets, rainforest’s spinetails, raptors, and oropendolas. The star of the area is the Black-fronted Piping-Guan.
Night in Iguazú
This day you will also have the option to stay one or two night in a Rainforest’s lodge
Day 13
Last birding morning around Iguazú, choosing the place considering the interest of the birders and last species to find.
After lunch, a flight back to the city of Buenos Aires. Firewall Dinner (option Tango Dinner)
Night in Buenos Aires
Day 14
International flights.
