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 Map of birds in Argentina  Map of wildlife in Argentina Map of Peninsula de Valdés
Argentina Excepcion's opinion: the most extraordinary safari on the South American continent. The density of fauna in Esteros del Ibera is absolutely stunning. Combined with a stay on the beaches and gulfs of the Valdes Peninsula, the trip promises exceptional encounters for photographers and animal lovers alike. Having experienced these incredible adventures, once again immersed in your daily routine, you'll wonder if it's all just been a dream…
Temperatures: in Corrientes, depending on the time of year, the temperature varies from 15° to 30° C (59° to 89° F) during the day. In Valdes Peninsula, the average temperatures range from 1° to 15° C maximum (34° to 59° F). In July and August it is winter, but in this Atlantic zone temperatures are not as low as in Patagonian Mountains.
Necessary equipment: hat, long-sleeved shirt, sports shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip protection, mosquito repellent for Esteros del Ibera. The same equipment will be necessary in Valdes, but you should also take a windbreaker and a warm coat or jacket.
Security: all our boats in Corrientes and Valdes meet the parameters established by international security standards and are equipped with radio. You will be provided with a life jacket and raincoat.
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DAY 1 : INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
Dinner and night: on the plane.
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JOUR 2 : BUENOS AIRES
Description: you will be greeted at Ezeiza airport by your guide and driven to your hotel to settle in. You'll have the afternoon off, or if you prefer, an initial tour around Buenos Aires. At the end of the day, you'll be given a detailed briefing around a map by one of our Operations Representatives.
Lunch and dinner: not included.
Accommodation: Moreno Hotel or equivalent.
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DAY 3 : BUENOS AIRES / ESTEROS DEL IBERÁ / ESTANCIA RINCÓN DEL SOCORRO
 Description: after a 2h30 private flight, you will be greeted at the runway of Estancia El Socorro. The estancia is an old cattle breeding 12,000-hectare estate located on the shores of the Iberá wetlands. After lunch, you'll go on your first walking tour of the property, around the marshes inhabited by diverse species of birds such as capybaras and rheas. Then you'll set off on a nautical safari to take advantage of the last hours of the afternoon and enjoy the sunset, the time of day when wildlife is most active. The nautical safari starts at the end of the estancia, and is done with a boat with a max capacity of 6 people. The circuit lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours. This area is the natural habitat of a surprising number of animals, such as the marsh deer, the pampas deer, the capybara, the manned wolf, the broad-snouted caiman, the black caiman, the yellow anaconda and the South American marine otter, as well as a great diversity of birds. According to recent studies, land vertebrates in this region comprise around 85 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles and around 45 amphibians. Plus, no less than 250 species of bird have been spotted, 90% of which are autochthonous of the region.
Note: all meals at the estancia are prepared with fruit and vegetables from the organic farm on the property. The meat comes from animals bred under open grazing.
Lunch, dinner and accommodation: estancia El Socorro.
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DAY 4 : ESTANCIA RINCÓN DEL SOCORRO / ESTEROS DEL IBERÁ
Description: today we'll take you on a different nautical safari, this time early in the morning, offering a different experience to the previous day's evening expedition. After the boat trip, a delicious " asado" (barbecue) will be served in the quincho with a beautiful view, at the end of the pier. The afternoon will be devoted to trekking or horseback riding, the best way to discover the Esteros del Iberá ecosystem. Even for those who are not familiar with horses, you'll have no trouble with the horses as they are particularly docile and calm. The tours are always led by a guide.
Lunch, dinner and accommodation: estancia El Socorro.
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DAY 5 : ESTANCIA RINCÓN DEL SOCORRO / ESTEROS DEL IBERÁ
Description: you can spend the day doing another horse ride, mountain biking or visiting the neighboring Estancia Ibera, where you can get to know the local gauchos. This property is still fully-functioning and has 6,500 head of cattle. Those who prefer may also make use of the swimming pool and the estancia's amenities. Photographers and ornithology lovers will be able to indulge their passion observing the hundreds of bird species that inhabit the surroundings of the property.
Lunch, dinner and accommodation: estancia El Socorro.
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DAY 6 : ESTEROS DEL IBERÁ / BUENOS AIRES / TRELEW / PUNTA DELGADA
Description: after breakfast, you will be transferred in a private plane to Buenos Aires. There you will enjoy a delicious lunch facing the Rio de la Plata, and then you'll board a scheduled flight to Trelew. Your guide will be waiting at the airport and you will head to Punta Delgada, at the southern end of Peninsula de Valdés. You will stop at the center dedicated to the fauna of the area, located at the entrance of the peninsula. This surprising peninsula is separated from the continent by an isthmus which is 16 km (10 miles) long and 6.5 km (4 miles) wide at its narrowest point. You will then head to the estancia for dinner.
Distances: 2 hour 30 min flight between El Socorro and Buenos Aires, and 2 more hours to Trelew. From Trelew to Puerto Madryn, 66 km (41 miles) / 50 minutes. After lunch, 170 km (105 miles) 70 (43 miles) on dirt roads, up to Punta Delgada, approximately 2h30.
Lunch: in Buenos Aires, at Gardiner restaurant or similar.
Dinner and accommodations: Estancia Rincon Chico.
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DAY 7 : PENINSULA DE VALDÉS / PUNTA DELGADA / ESTANCIA RINCÓN CHICO
Description: after lunch, you will set off on your first 4x4 land safari through the estancia's paths. The excursion will take you to one of the private beaches of the property. All year round you'll be able to get close to the southern elephant seals, as well as observe numerous birds: cormorants, Chilean skuas, oystercatchers, neotropic cormorants, flamingoes, Antarctic terns, and different species of land fauna – guanacos, rheas (a type of small ostrich), foxes, hares and armadillos. In the afternoon, the estancia's guide will invite you to a second safari on another private beach, to enjoy the sunset, the best hour for photography fans.
Dinner and accommodation: Estancia Rincon Chico.
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DAY 8 : PUNTA DELGADA / PUERTO PIRÁMIDES / GOLFO NUEVO / PUNTA NORTE
Description: you will meet your original guide and together you will board an excursion to the Valdès Intel. With a length of 35 km (22 miles), this thin strip of land advances constantly. Scientists predict it might close in 2022, since land gains terrain over the ocean and not vice versa. Along the walkways of Punta Canor, in front of the inlet mouth, you will be able to observe some elephant seals, and further out, several colonies of Magellianic Penguins. It will then be time to head towards Puerto Pirámides to enjoy a tasty lunch at an inn and a nautical excursion onboard the Iris or Orion vessels. The second part of the afternoon you will sail out to open sea in the New Gulf, to get close to the southern right whales, undoubtedly the most impressive encounter of the trip. You will also be able to observe dusky dolphins. Whales inhabit the area from June to December to mate and give birth, mainly attracted by the high food concentrations and the warm water temperatures. Up to 600 whales have been counted during mating season in the two gulfs of the Peninsula Valdés. Each excursion is unique, but it is practically impossible not to spot several whales. The excursion ends at around 6 p.m. with the last light of the afternoon. After a brief tour, you will arrive at Punta Norte to enjoy an appetizer and then dinner. If there is still light (this depends on the time of year), the estancia's staff will invite you on a 4x4 ride and you can drink gin and tonic and visit the Punta Norte lighthouse.
Distances: 125 km (78 miles) to Puerto Piramides, passing through the inlet, plus 71 km (44 miles) for the return trip. The boat ride lasts about 2 hours.
Technical description: the Iris semi rigid vessel: 8.5 meters (30 feet) long, four stroke Yamaha engine (ecologic), 150 CV and replacement Yamaha engine 200 CV, capacity for 24 passengers. The Orion semi rigid vessel: 12.4 meters (40 feet) long, 2 four stroke Yamaha engines, 200 CV, capacity for 54 passengers, toilette.
Lunch: The Paradise Lodge.
Dinner and accommodation: Estancia La Ernestina.
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DAY 9 : PUNTA NORTE / PUERTO MADRYN
Description: after breakfast you can take a trip around the 14,000 hectares of Estancia La Ernestina, with its private beaches on which you can walk among colonies of Magellianic Penguins. Each year, between September and March, 50,000 penguins come to mate and nest on this beach. The excursion will continue within the grounds of the estancia, this time allowing you to photograph a reproductive colony of elephant seals and sea lions. Between October and November (as well as in February and March), if you're lucky, you will witness the attacks of the killer whales on the sea lions. They take advantage of the momentum of the waves and practically become stranded on the beach in order to capture their prey. After this spectacle you will return to the estancia to enjoy a delicious lamb asado. In the afternoon, you will head back to Puerto Madryn where you may enjoy the hotel's spa and an evening walk by the seaside.
Distances: 185 km (115 miles), 2h30 from Punta Norte to Puerto Madryn.
Lunch: at Estancia La Ernestina.
Dinner and accommodation: El Territorio Hotel.
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DAY 10 : PUERTO MADRYN / TRELEW / BUENOS AIRES
 Description: after lunch, your guide will drive you to Trelew Airport for the flight to Buenos Aires. Before leaving for Buenos Aires international airport, you´ll be free to discover Buenos Aires and/or, according to your preference, go shopping. The leather-goods and gaucho articles shops offer typical and original products. The city tour goes through 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world with its 65 meter (213 feet) obelisk and Avenida de Mayo, which is well known for its buildings of Galician architecture influence. At Plaza de Mayo you will discover the Casa Rosada, the president´s HQ. You will then visit the La Boca neighborhood, with its colorful houses made from materials recovered from ships, inspiration for painters and poets. You will then discover San Telmo, home of antique shops and traditional tango bars. Recoleta is a traditional residential neighborhood, where walking is a true pleasure due to its numerous parks and squares. To end the tour, you'll visit Puerto Madero, the old city port that has recently been completely refurbished.
Option: flight over Buenos Aires in a private helicopter. Get an unforgettable view over Buenos Aires from 200m in the air. A 30-to-45-minute tour covering approximately 100km (from USD 165).
Lunch: Gardiner restaurant or equivalent.
Dinner and night: on the plane.
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EXTENSION TO PUNTA TOMBO: it's possible to extend this tour one more day to include a visit to Punta Tombo and observe the biggest continental colony of Magellanic penguins in South America (half a million). The return to Buenos Aires will be that same night. 180 km (112 miles) between Puerto Madryn and Punta Tombo, and 110 km (68 miles) between Punta Tombo and the Trelew Airport. See rates for the extension below on "Includes - Does not Include".
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RATES : Safari Argentina 2. Whales Argentina Valdés Madryn. Photo Safari Esteros del Iberá
 Prices are in U.S. Dollars. Prices in £, € and ARS may vary according to daily exchange rate.
The prices shown below include practically everything, except the international flight.
Children of ages between 2 and 8 who share a room with 2 adults are eligible for a reduction. Feel free to ask for details.
Children who require a separate room, as well as children over 9 years of age pay as adults.
There is no additional cost for babies of up to 12 months.
Optional insurances - TMS CONTACT - Paris : Cancellation or Multirisks.
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Map of birds in Argentina
Map of wildlife in Argentina
Map of Peninsula de Valdés
Includes - Does not include
