Argentina Wildlife Adventure

ITINERARY

Day 1 - BUENOS AIRES

Afternoon exploration of the Puerto Madero River, just a few minutes away. Accompanied by a local conservationist, walk through this beautiful wildlife habitat that has remained largely untouched by the city's expansion. Overnight at the luxury Awwa Suites. 

Day 2 - TRELEW PUNTA TOMBO

A local naturalist guide will meet us upon arrival in Trelew to drive to Punta Tombo, the most important breeding colony of Magellanic penguins in the world. Walk on trails among hundreds or thousands of penguins for excellent close-up photographs and observation. Kelp gulls, Skuas, Cormorants, Giant petrels, Dolphin gulls and Chubut steamer ducks are among the many seabirds that inhabit the reserve. Overnight at Hosteria del Nomade. 

Day 3 - PENINSULA VALDES

Full day excursion to explore Peninsula Valdes for the finest wildlife viewing in Patagonia. The plankton-rich Falkland Current provides food for the peninsula's large colonies of South American sea lions and Southern elephant seals.

Visit breeding grounds of sea lions and elephant seals, observe flocks of migratory shore birds and watch for guanacos, rheas, maras, hairy armadillos, Elegant-crested tinamous and fox running freely across the steppe. Overnight Hosteria del Nomade. Between February and April, orcas patrol shores near Punta Norte for young sea lions. 

Note: Add optional whale watching boat trip to see Southern Right Whales from July through December, approximately $75 per person.

Days 4 - 6 - EL CALAFATE

Transfer to the airport for flight to El Calafate, a small mountain town that serves as a base for explorations of the Patagonian Continental Ice Cap and Los Glaciares National Park. The ice cap runs 560 miles from North to South and is the origin of 47 major glaciers, including the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. 

Drive to a spectacular lookout of Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. We cross Lago Argentino by catamaran along the front wall of the glacier to the edge of the Patagonian Ice Cap. We disembark, walk through the beech forest and have a safety briefing before strapping on crampons and hiking up onto the ice pack. Watch for Andean condor and Buff-necked Ibis. Overnight at the Kau Yatun Hotel or similar. 

Days 7 -8 - IGUAZU FALLS

Transfer to El Calafate airport for morning flight to Iguazu. Stroll the streets on your own and take in the scene or enjoy the tropical weather poolside, overlooking the meeting point between the Iguazu and Parana Rivers. 

Explore the tropical rain forests and multiple waterfalls of Iguazu National Park with our naturalist guide. Iguazu Falls consists of 275 separate waterfalls along a nearly two mile long fall line along the Iguazu River on the border between Argentina and Brazil. Spectacular falls plunge 260 feet in a thunderous roar of mist and rainbows among giant ferns, vines and orchids.

Today will be our introduction to the rainforest ecosystem full of butterflies, monkeys, caiman, peccary, deer and abundant birdlife especially parrots, toucans, hummingbirds and guan. There are miles of trails, a train to the Devils Throat overlook, walkways with foot bridges, and a boat crossing to more trails. Overnight at Panoramic Hotel in River View Room. 

Days 9 - 11 - SAN IGNACIO AND IBERA WETLANDS

Traveling south through Misiones province to San Ignacio Mini we explore the ruins of a beautiful mission founded by the Jesuits in the early 1600s and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We explore the rich architectural complex with our resident guide before continuing into Corrientes Province and the Ibera Wetlands, the second-largest wetland in the world after the Pantanal in Brazil, often referred to as the Serengeti of South America. From the town of Posadas we transfer to Rincon del Socorro, a historic hosteria set amidst a 30,000 acre wildlife refuge and haven. Overnights at the Posada de la Laguna.

The Ibera Wetlands offer one of the most exciting spectacles of wildlife in South America. Howler monkeys, huge caimans, large groups of capybaras, anteaters and marsh deer are commonly seen, along with over 300 species of birds including Greater Rheas standing as tall as humans. The endangered maned wolf and Parana otter also find refuge here.

Days 12 - 13 - BUENOS AIRES

Transfer to the Posadas Airport for an afternoon flight to Buenos Aires. Airport reception and transfer in to the Awwa Suites hotel, well-located in the Recoleta neighborhood. The famous Recoleta cemetery, the Evita Museum (have lunch here!) and the zoological park and gardens are all within a few blocks. Overnight at the Awwa Suites in a balcony room.