Esteros del Ibera Natural Reserve
General Information
The Iberá Wetlands (in Spanish, Esteros del Iberá,
from
Guaraní ý berá "bright water") are the second-largest
wetlands in
South America. They are located in the center and
center-north of the
province of
Corrientes,
Argentina. The Esteros are a mix of
swamps,
bogs,
stagnant
lakes,
lagoons, natural
slough and courses of water of pluvial origin, with a total
area of between 15,000 and 20,000 km².
Since 1982, the
wetlands are part of a protected area (the Iberá Natural
Reserve), which comprises 13,000 km² (14% of the surface area of
Corrientes, the largest protected area in Argentina). Iberá is
also one of the most important fresh water reservoirs in the
continent.
The Natural Reserve hosts a large
biodiversity, including four species that have been declared
"provincial natural monuments": the
neotropical river otter, the
maned wolf, the
pampas deer, and the
marsh deer. It is also home to the two Argentine species of
alligator, the
Yacare caiman (yacaré negro) and the
broad-snouted caiman (yacaré overo), as well as the
capybara (the world's largest
rodent) and about 350
bird
species.
Most important things to do at Esteros del Ibera
Things you can not miss:
-
Boat trip to Arroyo Corrientes (you'll
get to see deer's, yacares and capybaras .
-
Walk to see the monkeys (At the "Centro
de Interpretation").
-
Boat trip to Rio Miriñay ( you will get
to see many bird species, snakes and marshes.)
-
Horse riding by the "Esteros"
-
The local cemetery of Colonia Carlos
Pellegini.
-
Trekking with a bird watching guide, see
the Strange-tayled Tyrant, the Yellow Cardinal the Jabirus and many of the
more than 300 species!
-
Have a beer at " La Cabaña" and meet the
locals.
-
Buy a hand made wooden birds!
-
Canoe trip by the lagoon.
-
See the stars at night (you wont believe
how many there are up there )
-
See the unforgettable sunsets!
-
Drink mate.
How to get to Esteros del Ibera (Colonia Carlos
Pellegrini)
There is no direct transport from Buenos
Aires to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini (Unless you take a car. The ways to get there
are form Posadas (Misiones) or from Mercedes (Corrientes) The recommended ways
to get to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini are:(5 * the best and most expensive and 2**
the less expensive and less recommended way)
*****: Fly to Posadas (Misiones) by regular
flight (U$ 130) and then take a private airplane from Posadas to Pellegrini
around U$ 400 (up to 3 pax).
****: Fly to Posadas (Misiones) by regular
flight (U$ 130) and then take a private transfer (4WD) from Posadas to
Pellegrini around U$ 180 (up to 4 pax)
*** Bus from Buenos Aires to Mercedes
(Corrientes) overnight bus around U$ 30 and a private transfer from Mercedes to
Pellegrini around U$ 60 (up to 4 pax).
** Bus from Buenos Aires to Mercedes
(Corrientes) overnight bus around U$ 30 and a then the public bus around U$ 10
x pax, (The time schedules are not appropriate and this option is not
recommended
to people that do not like to travel with animals,.....)
You can continue your trip to Iguazu but you
have to keep in mind that the only way to do the road Colonia Carlos
Pellegrini to Posadas is by a 4WD unless it did not rain for at least 4 days.
Getting to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini from
Iguazu:
**** Take a private plane from Iguazu to
Colonia Carlos Pellegrini U$ 900 round trip plus accommodation and food of pilot
(Up to 3 pax)
**** Take a 4 WD from Iguazu directly to
Colonia Pellegrini Arround U$ 420 up to 4 passengers.
***Take a taxi to Posadas a U$ 180 and a 4WD
from Posadas to Colonia Pellegrini U$ 180 Total U$ 360 up to 3 passengers.
**Take a bus from Iguazu to Posadas around U$
15x pax and then a 4WD U$ 180 to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini.
* You can take a bus to Corrientes, and then
another bus to Mercedes and then the bus to Pellegrini and do the whole trip for
less than U$ 50 but you will need to be patient, have enough time to combine the
buses and be the kind of people that enjoys traveling by bus.
Getting to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini from
Salta:
Where to stay at Esteros del Ibera
Colonia Carlos Pellegrini is the place you
need to go if you want to visit Esteros del Ibera, it is a small village (700
population) that has the right infrastructure for tourism. There are a few
Hotels and lodges that can cover all the budgets. Our recommendation is to stay
at Posada de Laguna (
www.posadadelalaguna.com ) a 6 bedroom lodge at the end of the town right by
the lagoon. This lodge is very well managed by the owner Mrs. Elsa Guiraldes, a
painter that got in love with this paradise 15 years ago and started this, the
1st accommodation available in the area. Its magical garden, right by the marsh
is the ideal place to start bird watching where you can find more than 100
species of the 350 that you can see in Ibera. It has its own port where you can
take the boat trips or free your self in the lagoon riding a canoe to see the
wild life almost from the water level.
What to take to Ibera
You DO need to take the following, Solar
protection, Bugs repellent, a Photo camera, (batteries and film if it use), there
is electricity in town 220 volts so you can charge any battery if you take the
chargers. A rain jacket will be helpful in the case it rains and rain
shoes will help you enjoy if it happens to rain.Links:
www.posadadelalaguna.com
www.esteros-ibera.blogspot.com