Landscapes & Wildlife
The Landscape Zones
- Andes: The 7,000 km long mountain range forms the western border of Argentina. From the subtropical northwest (Quebrada de Humahuaca) through the wine region of Mendoza to the glaciers of Patagonia. The Aconcagua (6,962 m) is the highest peak
- Pampa: The vast grasslands around Buenos Aires — Argentina's "breadbasket". Here, millions of cattle graze (hence the famous meat!), and the horizons are so wide that one can almost perceive the curvature of the Earth. Gaucho land
- Patagonian Steppe: South of the Río Colorado begins the wind-swept steppe — barren, lonely, endless. Guanacos, rheas (South American ostriches), and armadillos are the only inhabitants of vast areas
- Patagonian Andes & Glaciers: At the foot of the southern Andes lie the famous glacial lakes (Lago Argentino, Lago Viedma) and the glacier fields of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field — the third-largest ice surface on Earth after Antarctica and Greenland
- Tierra del Fuego: The island at the southernmost tip of South America, shared between Argentina and Chile. Subantarctic forests, the Beagle Channel, and the southernmost city in the world — Ushuaia
- Northeast (Mesopotamia): Subtropical jungle between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers. The Iguazú Falls and the Iberá Wetlands — one of the largest wetlands in the world
- Puna: The high plateau in the far northwest (over 3,500 m) — salt deserts, volcanoes, flamingos, and a silence that harks back to the beginning of the world
★★★ The Wildlife — What You See Where
| Animal | Where | Best Time |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Right Whales | Península Valdés | June–December |
| Orcas (Strand hunting!) | Península Valdés, Punta Norte | March–April |
| Magellanic Penguins | Punta Tombo, Isla Martillo (Ushuaia) | September–March |
| Elephant Seals | Península Valdés | Year-round |
| Condors | El Chaltén, Quebrada de Humahuaca | Year-round |
| Guanacos | Patagonia, Northwest | Year-round |
| Vicuñas | Puna, Salinas Grandes | Year-round |
| Flamingos | Puna, Salinas Grandes | November–March |
| Toucans | Iguazú National Park | Year-round |
| Caimans | Iguazú, Esteros del Iberá | Year-round |
| Capybaras | Esteros del Iberá | Year-round |
| Jaguars | Esteros del Iberá (reintroduced!) | Year-round (very rare) |
| Armadillos | Patagonia, Pampa | Year-round |
| Rheas | Patagonia, Pampa | Year-round |
★★ Esteros del Iberá — The Forgotten Paradise
The Iberá Wetlands in the province of Corrientes are one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world (13,000 km²!) — and Argentina's best-kept natural secret. Caimans bask on the banks, capybaras (the largest rodents in the world, as big as German Shepherds!) graze peacefully, marsh deer stand knee-deep in water, and since a groundbreaking reintroduction project, jaguars — the largest big cats in the Americas — live here again. Plus: hundreds of bird species, monkeys, anteaters, and a silence that recalls the dawn of the world. Far away from the tourist trails — an experience for true nature lovers.
Access via Colonia Carlos Pellegrini (600 km north of BA, flight to Posadas or Corrientes + car). Lodges with boat and canoe excursions: from €80/night. Best for 2–3 nights.