Argentina's probably not the first place you’d turn to for wildlife-watching - but the country does have a veritable cocktail of habitats ― and each of these landscapes is teeming with wildlife. There are 3 main areas to visit if you'd like to incorporate wildlife-viewing into your holiday to Argentina.
Peninsula Valdes
Tucked in the furthest northern reaches of Argentinian Patagonia, Península Valdés is arguably the best wildlife destination in the country. You can often see Magellanic penguins setting up camp on the peninsula’s beaches, while black–browed albatrosses streak across the sky and Commerson’s dolphins play in the water. Nearly all the fauna can be spotted from the coastline - and, with many of the region’s lodges scattered along the shore, you can spy huddling penguins and hear barking sea lions on your doorstep. The main draw here is whale-watching boat trips. The peninsula has two natural inlets which provide a sanctuary for breeding southern right whales and orcas, protected from the thrashing waves. Orcas are a lot trickier to track down due to their unpredictable nature, but southern right whales can often be spotted between September and December and orcas have been sighted as late as April. Visit between September and March to catch sight of the widest range of wildlife, different animals are more active at different times of year, and many can be seen all year round.
Ibera Wetlands
Birds, birds and more birds. The Iberá Wetlands, located in the northeast of Argentina, are a birdwatcher’s haven, with over 300 different species inhabiting this vast network of swamps, lagoons and marshland. The wildlife doesn’t stop there, though. Among all the kingfishers, snowy egrets, large-billed terns and golden-breasted woodpeckers are caimans, capybaras, giant river otters and anacondas. The Iberá Wetlands are often regarded as the little brother of Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands — and they’re a much quieter alternative. Fewer visitors, coupled with the small, sparse human population surrounding Argentina’s swathe of protected wetlands has allowed native flora and fauna to thrive. You’ll need a boat and a guide to take to the spongy green waterways and navigate through the densely packed reeds and irupé (waterlilies). Along the creeks and lagoons, vegetation shifts almost daily, blocking former channels and creating new passages. I was particularly taken with the capybaras when I visited the area recently - these very shy animals are the world's largest rodents - but don't let that put you off- they really are very cute!
Iguazu Falls
Nothing can quite prepare you for the sight of Iguazú Falls. Spanning nearly 3 km, hundreds of waterfalls noisily tear their way through the landscape — some so large they plummet into a permanent cloud of mist. If you can tear yourself away from the Falls, it's worth exploring the thick jungle of the surrounding Atlantic Forest. This eco-region is bursting with over 2,000 species of thick, leafy plants, including several rare and endangered ones. When exploring the trails on foot, it seems like the thunder of the falls is quickly replaced by the chaotic symphony of birds fighting to be heard above the watery din. You might find groups of howler monkeys, capybaras, ocelots, tapirs and giant anteaters lurking in the thick greenery. A few (extremely lucky) people have even reported sightings of a solitary jaguar hiding in the dense forest. One of the most magical moments on my recent trip was watching a toucan glide over the Falls at twilight. I'm not much of a twitcher, but even I recognized its characteristic bill silhouetted against the darkening sky!
Whether you’re looking for a wildlife holiday or would just like to incorporate an element of wildlife into your trip, this can be easily done with good planning. Get in touch and let’s chat about creating an amazing itinerary for your Bucket List trip to Argentina.
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