From Predators to Penguins – Taking a Tour of Argentina’s Wildlife

Sometimes tourism isn’t about the cities, art and fine hotels. Sometimes the best part of visiting a foreign country is taking your camera and getting out in nature. Taking pictures, seeing and watching local wildlife is one of the most truly spectacular ways to take in what a foreign country has to offer. Argentina has many great opportunities for tourists to see the animals, birds and sea creatures that call this country home.

Subtropical Birds

In northern Argentina where the subtropical climate is hot and moist, you have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful birds on the planet. Toucans and flamingos are among some of the more exotic looking birds you can see here, but there are dozens of others that are equally interesting to birdwatchers.

Cats

If you’re interested in seeing some of the wild cats that Argentina is home to, then a trip through the Yacutinga Rainforest is a great idea. Guided tours will show through the nature reserve and take you to locations where you’re most likely to see some of the elusive creatures. Ocelots and pumas both call this park home, and while sightings are rare, if you spend enough time in the park you may get lucky. In addition, many more fantastic South American birds can be seen here.

Whales

If you visit Argentina sometime between September and October, you’ve arrived in prime whale watching season. Puerto Madryn is where the whale watching activity is centered, and the government license several companies in the area to take tourists on whale watching excursions without impacting their habitat or safety. The primary whales you’ll see on such a trip are Southern right whales, but killer whales are also present.

Penguins

When most people think of penguins, they of course think of Antarctica. Argentina is one of the best places to leave on a tourist expedition to Antarctica if you want to see Emperor penguins in their natural habitat. However, if you’re interested in seeing other types of penguins, you can see them without ever leaving Argentina. Throughout Tierra del Fuego in the southernmost regions of the country, you can find Magellanic and Macaroni penguin breeding grounds. Tours to these sites are available.

Ibera

The marsh of Ibera is doubly as large as the Everglades. Because of the connecting pools and streams a guide is recommended when traveling through this area, as the unwary traveler could very easily get lost. However, there are many benefits to be had for the wildlife enthusiast in this region.

There are birds, mammals and sea creatures in this area that are all rare and exotic. For the very lucky travelers, maned wolf or capybara may be seen in the marsh. The maned wolf looks more like a North American fox, than its namesake. The capybara, is the largest rodent in the world. While it is a relative of the tiny mouse, and the slightly larger rat, this rodent dwarfs them all. They grow to over 4 feet in length and can weight upwards of 150 lbs.

Entry Requirements

It is extremely important that travelers are aware of the Argentina Reciprocity Fee that is currently in place. This is mandatory for all US, Canadian and Australian citizens that want to visit Argentina for 90 or less.

For additional details on requirements for US Citizens, visit the State Department website or the Embassy of Argentina.

The Marvels Of Argentinian Beer

Before we dive in to the marvels Argentina has to offer, travelers need to know about the Reciprocity Fee. This is an entry fee that must be paid online and prior to departure. Fill out the online application at least three days prior to your travels. For additional details on requirements for US Citizens, visit the State Department website or the Embassy of Argentina.

With its long history as a wine-drinking nation, one might be surprised to hear that beer has made huge surge into the private refrigerators and taverns of Argentina. In recent years, the whole South American country has gone stark raving mad for a different type of alcoholic beverage than their standard vino, and they have gotten quite creative with it. Here are some of the things you can expect (or hope!) to experience with Argentinian beer and your photo ID on your next vacation!

For those of you who don’t know what a microbrewery is and have never gotten to experience the joyful fruits of such endeavors in your own countries, boy, does the Argentine variety have something wonderful in store for you. A microbrewery is basically what it sounds like, just a small-scale beer brewing operation capable of producing limited amounts of its own amber nectar. Argentina now has over two hundred and fifty microbreweries, and this number grows every year, folks.

One of the most amazing things about these Argentine microbreweries is that so very bars, which sell their own product, own many of them. It’s a huge amount, percentage wise, in comparison to the number of so-called ‘brewpubs’ of North America and the UK. Some of the most famous of these are located right in hotspot Buenos Aires, so if you’re down for a night of bar-hopping in this behemoth metropolis, make sure you add Buller and Cruzat to your list!

Craft beer, the by-product of microbreweries, has become the hot new way to enjoy a cold one in Argentina. In addition to these brewpubs, craft beers can be purchased locally from brewers who don’t own a tavern or at different retailers across the country. Argentines love to try out new craft beers on a regular basis, and friendly locals will often point to the label in their hand as a way to suggest a beer for you.

If you’re looking more for places to enjoy your ice cold cervesa, the cities have no shortage of popular nightlife locations for wine sippers and beer drinkers alike. Keep in mind that live music is very popular in Argentinian taverns still, even though music isn’t nearly so much a focus as it would be at a night club, and that, like where you live, most smoking takes place outside the bar’s four walls, both for courtesy and health considerations.

Of course, a good way to pack in a lot of beer and partying into one night is to take place in the Buenos Aires Pub Crawl tour. You’ll meet locals and international friends alike, and it’s available seven nights a week. Prices include all you can drink beer and wine with pizza for the first hour of the evening. You end your crazy night of pub crawling by going with your new buddies to a bumping nightclub to dance and sweat out all the alcohol. Fun times to be had all ‘round for vacationers in Argentina!