Argentina May 2024

Birds, Butterflies, and a lot of Culture!

Greetings Everyone!

I have added a May 2024 Argentina trip to the schedule. This will be a very small group for birding and culture. I am only taking 4-people

My first trip to Argentina was in January 2004, and I have been back many times since. It is always a pleasure to visit my favorite places again, and also explore a few new destinations.

The trip to Northern Argentina is one of our most mellow and relaxing trips and on the next trip we will visit Buenos Aires, Uruguay, Misiones, and Iguazu Falls (both the Argentina and Brazil sides). Argentina is a wonderful country to visit. Iguazu Falls and the surrounding jungle is an amazing paradise for birds, wildlife, butterflies and flowering plants. Check the website for photos from Iguazu

There is also an option to visit the Iberá Wetlands (Esteros del Iberá), which is the second largest wetlands in the world. If you opt for the 7-day add-on, you will also be able to visit Paraguay.

The name Argentina means "made of silver" in Italian. Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1500's and Buenos Aires was initially founded in 1536 by Pedro de Mendoza. Argentina has a population of 36.2 million and the capital city of Buenos Aires with 15.6 million in the metro area is nearly half of the total population. Buenos Aires means “good air” or “fair winds” in Spanish.

Argentina is a country of extreme and abundant diversity. Argentina's highest mountain is Aconcagua 22,831 feet and is the highest peak in the western hemisphere. The lowest point is Laguna del Carbón at -344 feet and is the lowest point in the western hemispheres. The north–south distance is 2,300 miles and the climate varies greatly; ranging from subtropical in the north to polar in the south. The weather is affected by the extreme changes in elevation, longitude and the warm Brazil ocean current and the cold Falklands current. Iguazu Falls includes 275 individual falls, making it the largest waterfall grouping in the world. It is a must see for everyone.

Argentina belongs to one of the largest ecosystems in the world with the greatest bio-diversity. Here are the stats: 15 continental life zones, 3 oceanic life zones including the Antarctic region, 9,372 vascular plant species, 1,052 bird species, 375 mammal species, 338 reptile species and 162 amphibian species. Argentina has 30 national parks helping to protect and preserve these habits and ecosystems for all life.

Buenos Aires is famous for the Tango, a musical genre and accompanying dance. The golden age of the Tango was from 1930 to mid-1950s and still today it is one of Argentina's international cultural symbols. We will visit one of the best Tango shows in Buenos Aires, and the band is fantastic.

This is not a budget trip, the things we do are top-notch: We stay at excellent hotels, eat at the best restaurants, visit tango shows and wineries, and have great local guides to hang out with and show us the way! You can find out more about the local guides by visiting the main website page link below:

You can find the itinerary with more details here:

Northern Argentina Tour: Iguazu Falls

You can find the list of birds that we have seen on this tour here:

Northern Argentina Bird List

National Bird: Rufous Hornero

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Great Food and Great People

Argentina is famous for its Parrillas, which are open fire grills

2012 Birding Buenos Aires city parks

The 2023 tour group with our guide Rafa at Colonia, Uruguay, a short ferry ride from Buenos Aires

Dusky Swifts at Iguazu Falls nest behind the falls and cliffs of Iguazu

January 2020 Birding Picnic

Friendship Bridge spanning Brazil and Paraguay, a short walk (or drive) across

Great Dusky Swift

Plush-crested Jay

Travel Dates & Information

Travel Dates: May 19 - 28, 2024 and May 28 - June 4, 2024.** Tours by request: Any time of year is good to visit northern Argentina, but November through March is best for birding.
Group Size: 4 travelers, spots left = 4
Trip Length: 10 - 17 days**
Rates: Rate per person = $4,350, based on double occupancy, $900 extra for solo traveler for the 10-day tour.
Rates include: Domestic transfers, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, scheduled group tours, park entrance fees and basic travel insurance.
Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.
Adventure level: Moderate, please check the “Welcome” page for definition

**If you would like to visit the Iberá Wetlands (Esteros del Iberá), which is the second largest wetlands in the world, it will add 7 more days and make for a 17-day tour. The price, based on double occupancy, is $3,150 per person, ($1,800 solo traveler fee). On this trip there will be an opportunity to visit Paraguay for a few hours. It is also possible to sign up just for the Ibera tour, which would an 8-day tour.

Special offer: Included with your trip (one per room) is a copy of the field guide “Birds of Argentina and the South-west Atlantic" by Mark Pearman and Juan Ignacio Areta. You will receive this when you reserve your trip so you will have time to study and know the beautiful birds of Argentina.