Jabiru: Wildlife, wine and Jesuit Missions

Day 1

Arrival into Argentina.

Those passengers arriving on an international flight will be met at the airport by the tour leader or a local representative and escorted to the group hotel.

In the afternoon your guided city tour takes you to all the major sites of this fascinating city including a visit 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, before visiting the district of Recoleta, home to the famous cemetery where Eva Peron is buried.

Stay at - Kenton Palace

Day 2

Ferry to Uruguay.

Take the ferry across the River Plate to Colonia in Uruguay. Colonia has a UNESCO-protected historic centre where you can wander among cobbled streets lined with colonial houses. Once you have dropped your bags at your hotel you will be given a short, guided walking tour of the town which was founded by the Portuguese in 1680.

Day 3

Full day tour to Carmelo and its wineries.

Today you take a full day’s tour from your base in Colonia to Carmelo and its surrounding wineries. Situated 80km north of Colonia you will visit 2 local wineries to taste the typical wines of the regions and enjoy a 3 course lunch before returning to Colonia later that day.

Day 4

By road to Montevideo.

After breakfast it’s a 3-hour drive to this small country’s capital, Montevideo. In the lively waterfront city modern skyscrapers jostle with art deco façades and grand, monumental colonial buildings. The afternoon is free to relax at the hotel or further explore the city.

Day 5

Tour of Uruguay's capital.

Start the day exploring the main sights of the city on a half day tour. These include the historic centre, Constitution Square, cathedral and colonial Town Hall, Solis Theatre, Independence Square and Government House. Drive through the district of Prado to one of the oldest parks in the city and stop at Plaza Virgilio to take in the impressive views and visit a monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the navy.

Day 6

Fly to Asuncion in Paraguay.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to little explored Paraguay. Get a feel for Asuncion, the capital, where once crumbling, battle-scarred buildings from the Spanish colonial era in the historic centre have been given a facelift. Your tour will also visit the four main plazas which house imposing buildings such as the Panteón and the Casa de la Independencia as well as other important points of interest in this quirky city.

Day 7

Travel south to the Jesuit Missions.

Today you’ll be heading south and east to discover the marvellous ruins of the Jesuit Reductions, Christian settlements established to convert, teach and protect the native Guarani communities. These intricate and still impressive buildings are little visited but evocative of the extraordinary era in Spanish colonial times when the Guarani were taught architecture, music and craftwork.

Your first stop is Yaguaron a well-preserved Franciscan church. Continue across cattle country, passing through typical provincial towns with picturesque old houses and shady squares. Visit San Ignacio Guasú, the first of the Jesuit-Guarani Reductions (founded 1609) and an essential stop for its excellent museum with its collection of Jesuit-Guaraní statues, carvings and art.

From San Ignacio, continue through peaceful countryside to Santa Maria de Fe. The town’s museum has over 50 statues carved out of cedar by the Guarani and their teachers during Jesuit times. Visit the handicrafts co-operative on the plaza, run by the women of the town. Continue through sparsely populated countryside towards the border with Argentina and the town of Bellavista where you’ll stay overnight.

Stay at - Hotel Papillon

Day 8

Visit Trinidad and Jesus and then cross back into Argentina.

Today you’ll travel to the Unesco-listed ruins of Trinidad and Jesus, the once-great Jesuit-established communities.

Arrive at 18th century La Santísima Trinidad del Paraná, the jewel of the Jesuit ruins, nestled in the rolling palm-studded countryside and alive with the screeches of parakeets and southern lapwings. Among the highlights are the stone carvings: an intricate frieze of angels playing musical instruments survives in the ruined church, which has elaborately carved door porticos and pulpit.

The smaller ruins at Jesus de Tavarangue have a peaceful setting on high ground with panoramic views. Travel south to the city of Encarnación and cross the vast Paraná river to Argentina and the city of Posadas where you’ll spend the night.

Day 9

Travel south into the Iberá wetlands.

A 5-hour drive south-west from Posadas takes you into the heart of the Iberá wetlands. Once the haunt of hunters targeting the cornucopia of wildlife, this remote region of marshes, lagoons, floating islands and streams is now protected as a nature reserve. Wildlife has resurged, with caiman, otters, swamp deer, capybaras, wolves, howler monkeys and over 400 species of bird now thriving here. You will spend 3 nights on the banks of the wetlands at a typical Corrientine lodge.

Days 10 and 11

2 full days of excursions from your lodge.

Spend the next 2 days with the lodge’s expert guides who will talk you through the exciting nature of the Reserve, so that you can admire the infinite variety of species hosted by the marshes. Magical boat rides along the Iberá lake at daylight or night-time under a peaceful starry sky; unforgettable walks; canoe rides enjoying the assorted tunes of singing birds; horse-riding through the marshes and palm groves; these are just some of the thrilling activities you will experience in one of the richest wetlands on the planet for its natural wealth and biodiversity.

Days 12 and 13

Fly back to Buenos Aires

Travel back to Posadas for the short flight returning you to cosmopolitan Buenos Aires where you will have 2 more nights to further enjoy the buzzing capital.

Stay at - Kenton Palace

Day 14

Depart for for international flight home.