Birdwatching in Argentina
A number of sites in birding in Argentina in Northeastern combine a pleasant escape with the very best wildlife and scenery. There is no doubt that Iguazú and Iberá are the regional highlights.
Iberá, meaning "brilliant waters" in the local Guaraní tongue, is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world, spreading over 1,2 million hectares of which nearly half are protected by the combined surfaces of a provincial reserve and the recently proclaimed national park. Marshes, grasslands and woodlands are part of this huge natural paradise full of wildlife watching and photographing opportunities. Water lilies, water hyacinths, papyrus and cattails host an extraordinary variety of birds, including Jabirus, Herons, Jacanas, Screamers and numerous passerines.
Immediately North from there is Misiones province, named after the Jesuit missions established there in the 17th century. In contrast with the above mentioned open landscapes, here we'll find the Atlantic Forest, one of the richest biomes of South America. Iguazú National Park and its mighty waterfalls, a UNESCO world heritage site, is the undisputed gem of the area. Its name also derives from the Guaraní, meaning “big water” and it is easy to understand why. The roar and the steam columns produced by the splashing waters are heard and seven kilometres away. Here, a network of catwalks takes you along the very edge of the different falls, through the lush vegetation. Everything is thickly laden with orchids and bromeliads, and wildlife includes all you can imagine for this tropical paradise: Toucans, Parakeets, Hummingbirds, Tanagers, Antbirds, Manakins... Over 400 species of birds were recorded in the area. This added to nearly 500 species of other vertebrates, including 120 mammals makes the area one of the world's top wildlife destinations.
This tour can be taken in a reversed sequence, starting in Iguazú and finishing in Iberá.
Alternative Name: Birding Northeast Argentina: Iberá Wetlands & Iguazú rainforest
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