Mmcguire
Member
My husband and I are planning to attend a professional congress in Buenos Aires in early August, 2012. We are both avid nature viewers - I am an enthusiastic birder, and my husband enjoys nature photography. We may have to commit to the international flights part of the travel plans as early as this coming August. So I'm asking now for information that could help us plan a little bit of birding before, during, and (especially) after our conference.
I have already noted, in the responses to other postings, that the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur is near the center of the city, about 3.3 km from the likely venue of our meetings. That will probably keep us busy for any days when we have some free time during the congress. Other suggestions of nearby birding opportunities while staying in Buenos Aires would be very welcome.
After the congress, we will be heading for Brazil to visit friends in Belo Horizonte and to visit the Pantanal. However, we think it may be possible to fly to Iguazú Falls and continue on to Belo Horizonte (via Sao Paulo?). I have two questions about this possibility:
a) Iguazú Falls are listed on various websites as being good for birding, but I'd like to know more about where to go for good bird-watching (in addition to seeing the Falls themselves) and about how much time to allow for birding on both the Argentina side and the Brazil side of the river/border, and
b) What practical details do I need to know (other than the details of getting proper documents for entry to both Argentina and Brazil) about crossing the border there? Specifically, if my flight is on a Brazilian carrier, it will go from Buenos Aires to Foz do Iguaçu, so we would need to take a bus or some other local transport back across the Falls to enjoy the Argentina side for a day or two and then return to Brazil, before going on with our trip. What are our options and how difficult is each likely to be? Any suggestions about how to accomplish all this border-crossing smoothly? [I speak Spanish fairly well and can read - but not speak - Portuguese, at least well enough for travel purposes - not for scholarly tomes.]
We are looking forward to some future trip to Argentina to visit many other parts. On this trip, we are far too constrained by the time of year of the meetings and the family plans of our friends. However, I'm enthusiastic about those parts of the country we will be able to see and search for birds.
Thanks for any suggestions you can give.
I have already noted, in the responses to other postings, that the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur is near the center of the city, about 3.3 km from the likely venue of our meetings. That will probably keep us busy for any days when we have some free time during the congress. Other suggestions of nearby birding opportunities while staying in Buenos Aires would be very welcome.
After the congress, we will be heading for Brazil to visit friends in Belo Horizonte and to visit the Pantanal. However, we think it may be possible to fly to Iguazú Falls and continue on to Belo Horizonte (via Sao Paulo?). I have two questions about this possibility:
a) Iguazú Falls are listed on various websites as being good for birding, but I'd like to know more about where to go for good bird-watching (in addition to seeing the Falls themselves) and about how much time to allow for birding on both the Argentina side and the Brazil side of the river/border, and
b) What practical details do I need to know (other than the details of getting proper documents for entry to both Argentina and Brazil) about crossing the border there? Specifically, if my flight is on a Brazilian carrier, it will go from Buenos Aires to Foz do Iguaçu, so we would need to take a bus or some other local transport back across the Falls to enjoy the Argentina side for a day or two and then return to Brazil, before going on with our trip. What are our options and how difficult is each likely to be? Any suggestions about how to accomplish all this border-crossing smoothly? [I speak Spanish fairly well and can read - but not speak - Portuguese, at least well enough for travel purposes - not for scholarly tomes.]
We are looking forward to some future trip to Argentina to visit many other parts. On this trip, we are far too constrained by the time of year of the meetings and the family plans of our friends. However, I'm enthusiastic about those parts of the country we will be able to see and search for birds.
Thanks for any suggestions you can give.