Posada de la Laguna Lodge · Esteros del Iberá
Birding the Iberá Wetlands, starting from our private dock
An all-inclusive lodge on Laguna Iberá — guided excursions, home-cooked meals and 350+ bird species, just metres from the water.
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Why birders choose the Iberá Wetlands
The Iberá Wetlands cover over 13,000 km² in the northeast of Argentina — one of the largest and best-preserved freshwater wetlands on the continent, and a serious rival to Brazil's Pantanal for any birder planning a South American trip.
Over 350 bird species have been recorded here, from wetland specialists like the Jabiru and Roseate Spoonbill to endangered grassland birds found almost nowhere else — the Strange-tailed Tyrant, the Yellow Cardinal and the Black-and-white Monjita.
But what truly sets Iberá apart is detectability. Unlike dense forest destinations where you hear birds but rarely see them, the open marshes, lagoons and grasslands of Iberá mean you actually see what you came for. You leave with sightings, not just recordings.
The wetlands are also home to Latin America's most ambitious rewilding programme. Species that vanished from the region — Red-and-green Macaws, jaguars, giant anteaters — have been reintroduced by Fundación Rewilding Argentina and are breeding in the wild. For conservation-minded birders, Iberá is not just a destination: it is a place where things are going right.
And unlike the Pantanal, Iberá remains largely undiscovered by international visitors. You will often have the lagoon, the trails and the birds entirely to yourself.
Target species
Twelve of the birds that draw birders to Iberá — from wetland giants seen from the boat to endangered grassland specialists.
Southern Screamer
Chauna torquata
Black-collared Hawk
Busarellus nigricollis
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Whistling Heron
Syrigma sibilatrix
Green Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
Large-billed Tern
Phaetusa simplex
Great Black Hawk
Buteogallus urubitinga
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Yellow Cardinal
Gubernatrix cristata
Strange-tailed Tyrant
Alectrurus risora
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
Amblyramphus holosericeus
Rufous-sided Crake
Laterallus melanophaius
A day of birding at the lodge
Early morning
Boat excursion on Laguna Iberá
Your guide takes you out by boat from the lodge's private dock, straight onto the lagoon. No transfer, no drive — you step out of the garden and onto the water. The morning excursion lasts two to three hours and covers the marshes, floating islands and open water where most wetland species are active. Southern Screamer, Black-collared Hawk and Scarlet-headed Blackbird are regularly seen at close range — often just a few metres from the boat.
Mid-morning
Breakfast and rest
Back at the lodge for a full home-cooked breakfast. The middle of the day is yours: the pool, the garden, the dock for casual birding — or simply the silence.
Afternoon
Second excursion
A different route from the morning: a walking trail through grassland and woodland, or a second boat outing depending on conditions and the season. This is where the harder species tend to appear — Yellow Cardinal in the espinal scrub, Strange-tailed Tyrant in the tall grass.
Evening
Dinner and optional night walk
Dinner at the lodge, cooked fresh with local ingredients. When conditions are right, your guide can take you on a night walk — a chance at Sickle-winged Nightjar and other nocturnal species that most visitors to the region never see.
Everything is included
Your stay at Posada de la Laguna is fully inclusive. There is nothing to arrange, nothing to pay separately, and nothing to worry about once you arrive.
Accommodation
A boutique lodge with only eight rooms, right on the shore of Laguna Iberá.
All meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, freshly prepared each day with local ingredients. Dietary needs — vegetarian, coeliac, allergies — are accommodated with advance notice.
Daily guided excursions
Boat trips on the lagoon, walking trails, and night walks when conditions allow. Your guide knows the wetlands, the birds and where to find them.
A private dock on the lagoon
Your excursions leave from the lodge garden. No transfers, no shared departure points.
The lodge
Posada de la Laguna is a boutique lodge with just eight rooms, set in its own gardens on the shore of Laguna Iberá.
Two categories are available — Standard and Superior, the latter with direct views over the water. All rooms have private bathroom, air conditioning and heating.
The lodge has its own dock on the lagoon — the starting point for every boat excursion. A swimming pool, open garden and common areas complete a place designed for rest between outings.
Meals are prepared fresh each day by the lodge's own cook, using local ingredients. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Special diets — coeliac, vegetarian, food allergies — are accommodated with advance notice.
With only eight rooms, the lodge guarantees what most wetland destinations cannot: silence, personal attention, and the certainty that you will never share a dining room with forty strangers.
When to visit
Iberá offers birding year-round. The best season depends on what you want to see.
Sep — Nov
Spring
Peak birding. Breeding season — birds are highly active, plumage is at its best. Best window for the Strange-tailed Tyrant's spectacular aerial courtship. Migratory species arriving. 20–30°C, occasional rain.
Dec — Feb
Summer
Maximum biodiversity. The Iberá Seedeater — a species so rare it was only described in 2016 — is present only during these months. Heat up to 40°C.
Mar — May
Autumn
The most comfortable season for visiting. 15–28°C, little rain, dry roads. Migratory species still present. Ideal conditions for photography.
Jun — Aug
Winter
Fewer bird species, but reduced vegetation makes mammals and raptors easier to spot. 10–18°C, fewer visitors, guaranteed availability.
Getting here
Iberá is remote — that is part of what makes it special. Getting there is straightforward, and we will help you arrange every step.
By air via Posadas
Fly from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Posadas (PSS) — approximately 1 hour 35 minutes, with daily flights. From Posadas, a private transfer takes you to the lodge. We connect you with trusted local transfer services.
By overnight coach via Mercedes
An overnight sleeper bus from Buenos Aires (Retiro terminal) to the town of Mercedes — approximately 9 to 10 hours. Argentine long-distance coaches offer full-flat beds (cama suite) and are surprisingly comfortable. From Mercedes, a private transfer to the lodge takes 2 to 3 hours along a provincial road. No 4x4 is required.
By car
Buenos Aires to Posada de la Laguna: approximately 800 km, around 10 hours. No 4x4 needed. The final stretch is an unpaved road with no petrol stations and no mobile phone signal — plan accordingly.
Combining with Iguazú Falls
Posadas is roughly halfway between Iberá and Puerto Iguazú, making it easy to combine both destinations in one trip. We can help you plan the route.
Swipe to explore routes
What our guests say
When planning a bucket-list trip to Argentina, our research identified the Esteros de Iberá as a must-visit. We were not disappointed — if anything, it exceeded our expectations. Our guide treated us to sights and sounds that were explained and interpreted beautifully. The staff were superb, and breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner were top class. We would highly recommend the Posada de la Laguna, situated right on the glittering water.
We spent three nights to experience the renowned local wildlife. Even in the lodge grounds there were a great range of bird species. We especially liked the guided tours — the morning walk into grasslands to look for the Strange-tailed Tyrant, a rare bird species which our guide easily found. Excellent meals, spotlessly clean, and a very warm welcome.
This was our second visit to one of the best lodges in the Iberá Wetlands. We were warmly welcomed by staff who showed great care and attention throughout our stay. We both enjoy birdwatching and photography, and arrangements were made to meet our interests. We would return tomorrow.
The food was excellent. The excursions exceeded all expectations. We saw more animals than you would expect to see in a zoo — two species of deer, Rhea, Howler Monkeys, capybara, endless species of birds. Our guide knew the names of every species. All of the staff was very attentive.
Frequently asked questions
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