Argentina Wildlife: Tropical wetlands and Patagonia

Day 1

Arrive in Buenos Aires. Transfer to your hotel in the Recoleta district.

You will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel in the affluent Recoleta district by one of our local representatives.

Buenos Aires is an elegant, cultured and cosmopolitan city famed for its interesting museums and the fascinating port district of La Boca, with its cobbled streets and brightly painted houses. It was here that the tango was born, and Diego Maradona honed his footballing skills.

The centre of town is home to the colonial heartland, government buildings and churches, as well as chic shopping districts, which have a nostalgic Parisian feel. The bohemian quarter of San Telmo is full of quaint old houses interspersed with antiques shops, tango bars and classy restaurants. Slightly further out of the centre is the Recoleta district, even more evocative of the French influence, where Evita Perón was laid to rest.

Stay at - Loi Suites Recoleta

Day 2

Guided city tour.

Your guided city tour takes you along Avenida 9 de Julio, one of the widest boulevards in the world and studded by the Obelisk, an emblematic symbol of the city. Along this majestic highway is the 19th century Teatro Colón which, in terms of its architecture and design, as well as its excellent acoustics, is considered one of world’s best. On to the Plaza de Mayo, enclosed on 3 sides by the metropolitan cathedral, the town hall and the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace.

The tour continues to bohemian, arty La Boca, which was settled and built by Italian immigrants and has streets lined with brightly painted corrugated iron-clad houses. Visit the district of Recoleta.

Stay at - Loi Suites Recoleta

Day 3

Fly to Posadas in the northwest and continue to the Iberá wetlands.

Fly to Posadas in the northwest. From there it’s a 4-5hr drive to your lodge in the Esteros de Iberá.
This is a vast wilderness wetland in the province of Corrientes, about half the size of Wales. The open grasslands and marshes afford wonderful birding and wildlife viewing opportunities, especially near the lagoon. The region is home to caiman, capybaras, otters, howler monkeys and over 350 species of birds.

Stay at - Posada Aguape

Days 4-5

Guided expeditions in the Iberá Wetlands from the lodge.

Your lodge is on the shores of the Iberá Lagoon and is an ideal base in which to view a wide array of South American wildlife visible in the open country of the marshy wetlands. There are daily opportunities to go bird-watching on the lagoon. Excursions are made by motorised boat, canoe or on foot. Horse-riding with a wildlife guide can be organised at extra cost.

Stay at - Posada Aguape

Day 6

Transfer to Posadas airport and fly to Buenos Aires.

The 4-5 hr journey back to Posadas offers more opportunities for sightings along the way. You may catch a glimpse of a snake crossing the red-earth road, birds in technicolour flight or a stationary stork. The flight to Buenos Aires takes 2 hours; upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Recoleta for one night.

Stay at - Loi Suites Recoleta

Day 7

Fly to Comodoro Rivadavia in Patagonia; by road to Bahia Bustamante

Fly from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia, a naval port in southern Patagonia. Continue directly by road for around 3 hours to Bahia Bustamante.

Far off the beaten track, the remote settlement of Bahía Bustamante was founded in 1952 by a family who ear-marked this stretch of Patagonian coastline for extracting colloids from seaweed. The bay soon developed into a small village including a school, boatyard, garage and church. At its peak, it was home to 400 people whose lives revolved around the harvesting of seaweed. During the 1990s business slowed and most of the inhabitants moved away. However in 2004, a member of the original family returned and revived the settlement creating an eco-village of 40 residents, focussing on the area’s marine wildlife, self-sufficient in food and electricity, and the farming of seaweed.

Guest lodging is within oceanfront houses, originally workers’ cottages which have been remodelled as down-to-earth yet very comfortable guest accommodation. Two blocks away is the grocery store where meals are served based on local produce including lamb, guanaco, fish, seafood and of course seaweed. There is a games room, small museum, cosy bar and a living room with plenty of interesting books about Patagonia, local wildlife and the seaweed industry. Penguins and sea lions can even be seen swimming from the restaurant.

Stay at - Bahia Bustamante

Days 8-10

Guided excursions at Bahia Bustamante

Bahia Bustamante offers a taste of authentic Patagonia in one of Argentina’s long-forgotten corners. The area has an incredible biodiversity and is rich in seabirds and marine life including the endemic Patagonian steamer duck, Magellanic penguins and a large population of sea lions. 100,000 penguins reside on the offshore islands in peak season (penguins are present between late September and the middle of March). Maras, guanacos and choikes (rhea) are widespread.

It is very peaceful and a wonderful place for nature lovers. Activities which can be organised include boat trips to view sea lions and penguins, horse-riding, a trip to a petrified forest, visiting a Patagonian ranch (with opportunities in season to get involved in shearing, weaning and marking sheep), trekking and mountain biking. There are also secluded sandy beaches to enjoy. It’s very easy to fill a 4 night stay here and what makes the whole experience extra special is being a private reserve there’s practically no one else there.

Stay at - Bahia Bustamante

Day 11

By road and air to Buenos Aires

Farewell to the translucent shores and empty Patagonian steppe of Bahia Bustamante before your transfer back to Comodoro Rivadavia and flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival our local staff will meet you to transfer you to your hotel.

Stay at - Loi Suites Recoleta

Day 12

Transfer to the international airport in Buenos Aires.