From Buenos Aires to Iguazú

Arrival at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport. Immediate transfer to our hotel in the San Telmo district to freshen up, drop off our bags, and visit one of South America’s most productive urban bird reserves. La Costanera del Sur, located on the northeastern edge of the Argentine capital, is wedged between the bustling city and the La Plata River. Over 340 bird species have been reported in the forests and wetlands of this urban birding paradise.

Return to the hotel before dinner in town and overnight stay in a comfortable hotel.

After breakfast, we will fly to one of the most emblematic sites in Argentina, Iguazú National Park, with its incomparable waterfalls. After a 2h00 hours fly, we arrive at the end of the day in Puerto Iguazú, located in the north-east of the province of Misiones. Immediate transfer to our rural accommodation and first bird watching in a private garden with an incredible variety of hummingbirds. The feeders here usually attract at least seven species of these flying jewels annually. A few accidental species expanding in the area have also recently been observed here. In addition to the hummingbirds, many colorful species of passerine birds flit around the garden, making it easy to take photos. Dinner and nightin a cosy accomodation. 

After breakfast, we will meet our local guide and driver. Then, we will take Highway 101 east to the Atlantic forests of Andresito, located along the Iguazu River. We’ll make several stops along this dirt road to look for some of the commoner species but also some rarities. Arrival in the early afternoon at our new lodge. After settling into our cabins and eating lunch, we will take one of the many trails to look for the local birdlife. We will explore the palm groves, home to some special wildlife, and take a moment to photograph birds around the lodge from the many observation platforms. We’ll take a night walk in the evening and search for our first owls.

The Surucua Reserve bird list is over 270 species. Today, we’ll focus on the species we’re still missing, with the choice of birding the riparian forests around the lodge and along the Iguazu River or the bird-rich bamboo forests. We can also explore some more remote trails in search of lekking manakins. A nice mix of forest trails and open clearings will allow us to alternate between birding and photography. These forests are teeming with life, and we should be able to spot many species of birds, orchids, mammals, and insects. Before dinner, we will have the opportunity to go for a final night walk around the lodge.

It’s time to return to the Iguazu area. We will take one of the roads leading west, stopping at Urugua-í. This reserve, located at 600 masl, is unique to the region, as most of the forests in the province are located at lower altitudes. This ecosystem counts on dense bamboo patches, which are attractive to several special species. We will spend the whole day exploring different reserve areas, including the vegetation along the Uruzú River. On the way back to Iguazu, in the early evening, we will also try to find nocturnal birds such as owls and nightjars.

This morning, we will walk the trails of Iguazu National Park and enjoy the viewpoints of more than 250 individual waterfalls. From the park entrance, a small train will take us to the beginning of the trails and the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), one of the most spectacular waterfalls on earth. In addition to waterfalls, unique orchids, small primates, rare bats, and a wide variety of mammals, these interior Atlantic forests are home to an abundance of attractive birds. We will take advantage of the various forest trails to look for noisy groups of parrots and toucans, mixed flocks of colorful tanagers, and, in the open areas, large flights of swifts and raptors. These magical forests echo with the song of the Solitary Tinamou and countless species of antbirds.

After breakfast and a final morning of birdwatching around our hotel, we’ll transfer to Puerto Iguazú airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. Once in the capital, we’ll immerse ourselves in the vibrant *porteña* culture with a brief cultural tour of the city, exploring some of its iconic sights and local atmosphere. Afterward, we'll have time to freshen up at the hotel before gathering our luggage and heading to Ezeiza International Airport for your flight back home.