If you want to know what the opulence of nature is like, you should visit
Bañado La Estrella
once in your life.
The
second largest wetland in South America
after the Brazilian Pantanal and the Iberá Wetlands, in Corrientes, has an approximate area of 400,000 hectares, and is formed from the overflow of the Pilcomayo River.
Arriving at this wonder of
Formosa
is not an easy task, but it is worth every kilometer traveled, because at the end of the road, the prize is supreme.
The vast majority of travelers arrive in the capital of the province and then, by land, start the road to Las Lomitas: almost 300 km along National Route 81. Then you have to take Provincial Route 32, and about 70 km -the The road is unpaved - there is a small hamlet called
Fortín La Soledad
.
“From my house we are 400 meters from the jetty.
About 120 families live in Fortín La Soledad”, says the guide Francisco Ruiz, whom everyone in town knows as “Chilo”.
Most of the excursions are embarked
and leave very early, at sunrise or sunset.
It can be with light aluminum motor boats, boats or canoes.
The La Estrella marsh is in north-central Formosa.
Photo: Telam
“There are people who prefer
to row and enjoy the silence
.
In that case they are shorter walks, about two hours.
There are others who choose the journeys in canoes of three or four days.
In those cases, we go deep into the marsh and camp on an island,” says Ruiz.
When they ask "Chilo" what the landscape is like in his place, he says one word:
impressive
.
He repeats it a couple of times, as if the amazement was intact, as if he was seeing it for the first time.
"You have no idea how impressive the sunset and
full moon nights
are , all full of palm groves," he says.
An ecosystem of life and intense colors
The palm groves you mention are a small part of this
great ecosystem
.
It is enough to get on a boat to notice it.
There, after a few minutes, wonders appear: flooded areas, estuaries, swamps, lagoons of crystal clear water, in a Chaco environment.
“You can also see many champales”, illustrates “Chilo” about that beautiful formation of vines, mosses and algae on dead trees.
Bird paradise: about 300 species inhabit the marsh.
Photo File Clarín
Those vines are dense.
They climb dry standing trees, which still serve as habitat for large numbers of birds.
El Bañado La Estrella is a
great destination for bird lovers
.
Throughout the country there are about a thousand species, of which about 500 inhabit Formosa.
And about 300 in this area of the province.
“The ones that appear the most are herons, spoonbills, chajás and biguás.
Not in the marsh, but in the mountains you can see owls.
There are also animals such as foxes, guazunchos, peccaries and anteaters”, says the experienced guide.
When evening falls, the color palette of the place comes to life, intensifies.
The sun falls on the quebrachal forests, the distant -and magical- song of a chajá is heard, the palm groves resemble large patches and the grasslands move like a mane in the wind
in
this magical place, which acquires the physiognomy of a savannah like those of Africa.
An ideal destination for nature lovers.
Dinner is another detail to take into account: it is
always homemade
: jerky empanadas, roast and some cheese for dessert.
"Chilo" proudly repeats that the bathed is an "impressive" place.
And has all the reason in the world.
Miniguide
How to get there
Aerolíneas Argentinas is the only company that has a direct flight to Formosa.
Roundtrip ticket from $27,200.
From Formosa, the Godoy company has a service to Las Lomitas.
The one-way ticket costs $3,320 (www.empresagodoy.com.ar).
In Las Lomitas you can hire private vehicles to Fortín La Soledad.
Great destination for bird watching.
Photo Shutterstock
Where to stay
In Fortín La Soledad, providers usually offer a complete service that includes accommodation, full board and excursions.
Like Francisco Ruiz, who offers two navigations or one navigation and a walk through the mountains.
The price is $20,000 per person per day (370 460-8983, Instagram @turismo_chiloruiz).
How much it costs
A half-day excursion from Las Lomitas, which includes transportation to Fortín La Soledad, costs $17,000.
Navigation is paid separately.
It leaves at seven in the morning and returns at 13. Consult Carlos Brito at 371 540-1268.
Where to find out
www.formosahermosa.gob.ar
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