The Iberá marshes, one of the most valued destinations in northern Argentina, are the most demanded option in Corrientes for lovers of ecotourism, who have the opportunity to discover the great variety of fauna and flora of the second largest wetland in the world, after the Pantanal, located in the Mato Grosso region of southern Brazil.
After a successful long weekend in which there was 100 percent hotel occupancy, the province’s Minister of Tourism, Sebastián Slobayen, announced that for winter holidays reservations amount to 80 percentwith multiple prices and services.
The Iberá Nature Reserve covers one and a half million hectares and includes the Iberá National Park, with 158 thousand hectares, the Iberá Provincial Park, with 592,700 hectares, and the Great Iberá Park, with 750,700 hectares.
Estuaries, rivers and lagoons, pastures, caranday palm groves and native mountains with large trees such as alecrín, higuerón, urunday, viraró, timbó and black laurel, make up the postcard of the natural scenery in Iberá.
On their tour of the protected area, travelers can discover black and overo alligators, marsh deer, capybaras, foxes and roe deer, among other species.
“Rheas and curiyú boas and occasionally maned-guazú, wild cats, anteaters, and collared peccaries can be easily sighted,” says the Rewilding Foundation, which works on the recovery of natural ecosystems, and adds that “more of 370 species of birds”.
Tours and excursions by kayak, canoe, bicycle or walks to appreciate in depth the wildlife of the Esteros del Iberá, are some of the activities offered to adventure tourism visitors.
where to stay
The stay options are among the most diverse and “can be around 10,000 pesos per day per person, at 35 or more than 40,000 pesos the most expensive, with the all-inclusive modality, also excursions,” explained the secretary of the Chamber of Tourism of Corrientes, César Zanone in dialogue with Télam.
A wide range of accommodation for all tastes and pockets, opens with boutique hotels, hostels and inns, cabins, lodges and campsites, depending on the access portal to the estuaries that is chosen, given that due to the wide extension of the park there are different entry points, including Carambola, San Nicolás, Laguna Iberá, San Antonio, Galarza and Cambyretá.
In all cases, the prices are per person and some include only breakfast and costs increase according to the tourist’s preferences, in terms of excursions and services, while others are promoted as all-inclusive, even guided tours of wildlife viewing site.
One of the novelties at the Iberá is accommodation in glamping, a form of luxury camping that allows you to spend the night in the middle of nature with all the comforts and services.
One of them -with three domes with capacity for four people each- is located on an island, 180 kilometers from the capital of Corrientes, between the towns of Santa Rosa and Concepción, where full board is offered (six meals), visit to the Iberá park, boat ride with a guide, talk about the biodiversity of the estuaries and a kayak ride, among other activities.
In Colonia Carlos Pellegrini you can choose to stay in lodges on the shores of the Iberá lagoon, cabins, and campsites with complete facilities, a popular alternative in the spring-summer season.
For example, the Iberá Municipal Camping has barbecue areas, grills and bathrooms with hot showers, for a price of 600 pesos per person and 500 pesos per vehicle, they informed Télam and clarified that they do not make reservations, but that they are paid at the entry.
Those who choose the camp, also have the San Nicolás portal campsite, 17 kilometers from the town of San Miguel, with free admission, which can only be reached with four-wheel drive vehicles.
Travelers who do not have vehicles of these characteristics “will be able to hire a transfer for 6,500 pesos, for the transfer of 4 or 5 people,” they explained to Télam at the municipal Tourism office.
Regarding services, they listed that it has quinchos with stoves and bathrooms with showers and although you can spend the night, there is no grocery store or drinking water, so you must enter with a supply.
It is located less than seven kilometers away is the Carambola stream, with availability of canoe rides to botadorkayak excursions, bird watching, horseback riding, hiking, biking and also offer visits to artisans in San Miguel, where there are also lodging alternatives.
The Iberá marshes invite you to a unique adventure in the rich biodiversity of the second largest wetland in the world, the opportunity to go through the water mirrors, see the wildlife, taste typical foods, meet the people of the small nearby towns and share the culture of the land with “payé”.
