Argentina Wildlife and Wilderness Escape
18 Days from £8,204 pp
This Argentina Wildlife and Wilderness Escape is an 18-day tailor-made journey through the country’s quieter wild places: Iguazu Falls, a private rainforest reserve in Misiones, the rewilded Iberá Wetlands, a traditional Pampas estancia and the remote wildlife coast of Bahía Bustamante. Prices start from £8,204 per person, including flights within Argentina, transfers, full board at the lodges in Misiones, Iberá and the Pampas, and guided wildlife excursions. Perfect for guests who’d rather watch capybaras and caimans than queue at viewpoints.
Trip Highlights
- Explore a private rainforest reserve in Misiones, by kayak and on night walks
- Look for marsh deer, caimans and capybaras in the rewilded Iberá Wetlands
- Ride out with gauchos from a historic Pampas estancia
- See sea lions, penguins and seabirds at Bahía Bustamante, on Patagonia’s Atlantic coast
Our Expert Tip
”For the best chance to see Southern right whale calves metres from the shoreline, plan your visit between August and September, when mothers and calves gather along the protected bays of Península Valdés”
Scarlett, Argentina Expert
Argentina Wildlife Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1-2: Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a city best seen on foot. Two nights at Cassa Lepage, an art hotel in the historic centre, put you within walking distance of its oldest streets. Spend a morning with a private guide among the antique shops and tango history of San Telmo, and another among the grand mansions and parks of Recoleta, before evenings in the city’s famous parrillas.
Day 3-4: Iguazu Falls
Fly north to Puerto Iguazú for two nights at Iguazú Jungle Lodge or similar, set in gardens by the Iguazú River a short drive from the falls. A guide takes you across to the Brazilian side for the big panorama, then gives you a full day on the Argentine side, where the trails lead out over the river to the brink of the Devil’s Throat.
Day 5-7: Misiones Rainforest
Two hours upriver, Yacutinga Lodge sits in its own private reserve of Atlantic rainforest, one of the last large stretches of this forest left in Argentina. Your three nights here are all-inclusive, with guided outings each day: walks to learn the plants and birds of the forest, kayaking on the upper Iguazú River, a night walk listening for frogs and owls, and an afternoon with a Guaraní guide on the medicinal plant trail, ending with a traditional yerba mate ceremony. You can even join the lodge’s team rescuing wild orchids.
Day 8-11: Iberá Wetlands
Drive south across red-earth farmland to the Iberá Wetlands, one of the largest wetlands in South America, for four full-board nights at Rincón del Socorro or similar. Twice a day, head out with the lodge’s guides by boat, on horseback or on foot to look for capybaras, caimans, marsh deer and hundreds of bird species.
Iberá is also one of the world’s most ambitious rewilding projects: giant anteaters, pampas deer and red-and-green macaws have been returned here, and in 2021 jaguars were released into the wild in Iberá for the first time in around 70 years.
Day 12-13: The Pampas
From Posadas, fly to Buenos Aires and head straight out into the Pampas to San Antonio de Areco, Argentina’s “cradle of tradition”, for two all-inclusive nights at El Ombú de Areco or similar, an estancia built around an 1880 house. Ride across the grasslands with the estancia’s gauchos and wander into town to meet silversmiths and leatherworkers who still practise traditional crafts. Evenings bring an asado with local wine.
Day 14-16: Bahía Bustamante
Fly south to Comodoro Rivadavia and continue to Bahía Bustamante Lodge, a former seaweed-harvesting village turned remote nature lodge beside the Patagonia Austral Marine National Park. Three full nights give you time to visit islands crowded with sea lions, Magellanic penguins and seabirds by boat, and to explore the petrified forest and empty beaches by bike or on foot.
Day 17-18: Buenos Aires
Fly back to Buenos Aires for a final night at Cassa Lepage or similar, with time for a tango show or a farewell dinner. Thinking of adding the vineyards of Mendoza? See our top wine destinations.
When to Go
Best time for an Argentina wildlife holiday
The best time for this trip is September to November. Spring brings mild weather in Iberá and Misiones, the penguins return to the Patagonian coast, and the sea lion and penguin colonies at Bahía Bustamante are busy. Iguazu Falls can be visited all year, and Iberá is good for wildlife in every season, though December to February is very hot in the north. Ask us which month suits your wildlife wish list.
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
