Iberá National Park

Iberá Overview

Iberá National Park, known as Parque Nacional Iberá in Spanish, is located in northeastern Argentina within the province of Corrientes. It spans approximately 2,936 square miles (7,584 square kilometers), making it one of the largest protected areas in Argentina.

The park was created to conserve the Iberá Wetlands, a vast expanse of marshes, lagoons, and grasslands that form one of South America’s most important freshwater ecosystems. This landscape is characterized by floating islands of vegetation, slow-moving rivers, and a patchwork of dense forests interspersed with open savannas.

The wetlands provide a striking contrast between shimmering blue waters and lush green vegetation, creating a paradise for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. Some of the park’s most striking features include the Carambola Lagoon, which offers serene, reflective waters, and the Paraná River basin, which supports a unique variety of flora and fauna.

Wildlife thrives in Iberá National Park, with an extraordinary range of species calling it home. It is one of the best places in Argentina to see large mammals such as capybaras, marsh deer, and howler monkeys. The park has also been a stronghold for jaguar reintroduction efforts, making it one of the few places in Argentina where visitors might catch a glimpse of this elusive predator. Other carnivores, such as maned wolves and ocelots, also inhabit the park’s diverse landscapes.

Reptiles are well represented, including the broad-snouted caiman and the yellow anaconda, both of which rely on the park’s wetlands for survival. Birdwatchers are drawn to Iberá due to its impressive avian diversity, with over 350 recorded species. Iconic birds include the jabiru stork, black-collared hawk, and the rare strange-tailed tyrant. The park is particularly famous for its population of scarlet-headed blackbirds, which add bursts of color to the reeds and marshes.

Among the most popular attractions in the park are its extensive waterways, which allow visitors to explore the wetlands by boat or kayak. Guided boat tours offer close encounters with wildlife in their natural habitat, providing opportunities to see capybaras lounging on riverbanks or caimans basking in the sun.

Hiking trails wind through the park’s forests and grasslands, offering a more immersive experience for those who prefer to explore on foot. Some visitors opt for horseback riding excursions, a traditional way to traverse the wetlands, particularly in areas where the terrain is too soft for hiking. The park’s remoteness and protected status also make it an excellent destination for stargazing, with vast, unpolluted skies offering brilliant views of the Milky Way.

Conservation efforts at Iberá National Park have been remarkable, with significant successes in species reintroduction and habitat restoration. The reintroduction of jaguars, which had been extinct in the region for over 70 years, has been a major milestone, thanks to collaboration between conservation organizations and the local government.

Similarly, the park has seen the return of other species, including giant anteaters, collared peccaries, and pampas deer, all of which were once severely reduced or locally extinct. Despite these achievements, conservation challenges remain, including the continued need to prevent habitat degradation from human activities and to ensure sustainable ecotourism practices.

Ongoing conservation projects focus on protecting the delicate balance of the wetland ecosystem while supporting local communities who rely on the region’s natural resources.

Park Map

Iberá National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Birds

Iberá National Park is one of Argentina’s premier birdwatching destinations, with over 350 recorded species. The park’s wetlands, grasslands, and forests provide vital habitat for a diverse range of birdlife, including many rare and endemic species. Here are some of the most notable birds found in the park:

Jabiru Stork (Jabiru mycteria)
The largest stork in the Americas, the jabiru is a striking bird with a massive black bill and a red patch on its neck. It is commonly seen wading in shallow waters, hunting for fish and amphibians.

Southern Screamer (Chauna torquata)
A large, noisy bird that resembles a goose, the southern screamer is an excellent swimmer and is often seen near wetlands, where it forages for aquatic plants.

Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)
A graceful and elegant bird, the black-necked swan is found in Iberá’s lagoons, where it feeds on aquatic vegetation.

Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca)
One of the most beautiful duck species in South America, the male rosy-billed pochard has a distinctive red beak and is a common sight in the park’s wetlands.

Great Egret (Ardea alba)
A large, elegant wading bird, the great egret is often seen patiently hunting fish and small amphibians in Iberá’s marshes.

Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus)
A striking blackbird with a bright red head, this species is often found among reeds and marsh vegetation, feeding on insects and small invertebrates.

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
A specialist predator, the snail kite feeds almost exclusively on freshwater snails, using its curved beak to extract them from their shells.

Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)
A powerful raptor with reddish-brown plumage, the savanna hawk hunts small mammals, reptiles, and large insects in the park’s grasslands.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
Easily recognizable by its long, forked tail, this agile bird catches insects mid-flight and is often seen perched on fence posts and small trees.

Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana)
This bird is perfectly adapted for walking on floating vegetation due to its long toes. It is commonly seen foraging for insects and small aquatic creatures in Iberá’s marshes.

Iberá National Park is a vital sanctuary for Argentina’s wetland wildlife, protecting some of the country’s most endangered species and offering one of the best wildlife-watching experiences in South America.

Iberá National Park, located in northeastern Argentina in the province of Corrientes, is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world. This vast area of marshes, lagoons, grasslands, and forests supports an incredible variety of wildlife, including many rare and endangered species. Here are some of the most notable mammals and reptiles found in the park:

Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)
The largest deer species in South America, the marsh deer is perfectly adapted to wetland environments. It feeds on aquatic plants and is often seen wading through the shallows.

Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
A rare and endangered species, the giant otter is an excellent swimmer and a top predator in Iberá’s waterways, hunting fish, crustaceans, and amphibians.

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
The largest rodent in the world, the capybara is a highly social, semi-aquatic species commonly seen resting near the water’s edge or swimming in Iberá’s lagoons.

Pampas Fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus)
A highly adaptable canid, the Pampas fox feeds on rodents, birds, insects, and fruits, making it a key predator in the park’s ecosystem.

Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
This long-legged, solitary canid is an omnivore, feeding on small mammals, birds, and fruits, particularly the lobeira fruit, which is essential to its diet.

Lesser Grison (Galictis cuja)
A small, weasel-like predator, the lesser grison is an agile hunter that preys on rodents, insects, and birds in the grasslands and wetlands.

Neotropical River Otter (Lontra longicaudis)
An excellent swimmer, this otter species is found in Iberá’s rivers and marshes, preying on fish, amphibians, and crustaceans.

Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris)
One of two caiman species in the park, the broad-snouted caiman prefers still waters, where it feeds on fish, amphibians, and small mammals.

Yacaré Caiman (Caiman yacare)
A common sight in the Iberá wetlands, the yacaré caiman is a top predator, helping regulate fish populations in the park’s extensive waterways.

False Water Cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas)
A large, non-venomous snake that mimics cobras by flattening its neck when threatened, the false water cobra preys on fish, amphibians, and small mammals.

Birds

Southern Screamer (Chauna torquata)
A large, noisy bird that resembles a goose, the southern screamer is an excellent swimmer and is often seen near wetlands, where it forages for aquatic plants.

Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)
A graceful and elegant bird, the black-necked swan is found in Iberá’s lagoons, where it feeds on aquatic vegetation.

Great Egret (Ardea alba)
A large, elegant wading bird, the great egret is often seen patiently hunting fish and small amphibians in Iberá’s marshes.

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
A specialist predator, the snail kite feeds almost exclusively on freshwater snails, using its curved beak to extract them from their shells.

Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)
A powerful raptor with reddish-brown plumage, the savanna hawk hunts small mammals, reptiles, and large insects in the park’s grasslands.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
Easily recognizable by its long, forked tail, this agile bird catches insects mid-flight and is often seen perched on fence posts and small trees.

Birds

Southern Screamer (Chauna torquata)
A large, noisy bird that resembles a goose, the southern screamer is an excellent swimmer and is often seen near wetlands, where it forages for aquatic plants.

Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)
A graceful and elegant bird, the black-necked swan is found in Iberá’s lagoons, where it feeds on aquatic vegetation.

Great Egret (Ardea alba)
A large, elegant wading bird, the great egret is often seen patiently hunting fish and small amphibians in Iberá’s marshes.

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
A specialist predator, the snail kite feeds almost exclusively on freshwater snails, using its curved beak to extract them from their shells.

Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)
A powerful raptor with reddish-brown plumage, the savanna hawk hunts small mammals, reptiles, and large insects in the park’s grasslands.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
Easily recognizable by its long, forked tail, this agile bird catches insects mid-flight and is often seen perched on fence posts and small trees.