Hard against the Paraguayan border, Formosa is perhaps the Argentine province least visited by tourists. A rather remote area without major tourist landmarks, it has a subtropical climate that can be extremely hot and humid, especially in summer. The province also has fewer high-end hotels, developed tourist routes and infrastructure catering to visitors than other parts of the country. That said, for birders, Formosa has some hidden gems if you know where to look for them, and one of those is the Bañado La Estrella, Argentina’s second largest wetland after the Esteros de Iberá.

This vast seasonal floodplain forms when the Pilcomayo River overflows into low-lying areas, and for birders and nature lovers it is a hidden treasure and an ecological paradise. Bañado La Estrella has been declared a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, highlighting its global ecological significance, and is often compared to the Pantanal in Brazil for its size and wildlife diversity. It has also been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), for its global importance for the conservation of bird populations.

In the dry season the land is dotted with shallow lagoons but come the wet season it becomes an endless mirror of water. The landscape is stunning, filled with submerged forests where dead trees stick out of the water, creating a surreal, almost ghostly world. Birds perch on the branches in abundance, or swim around the trees, seemingly undisturbed by birding visitors. With few visitors and only scattered settlements, birders who make the journey are likely to have the place to themselves during their visit.

General view of the wetlands

Bañado La Estrella is home to mammals such as capybaras, howler monkeys, marsh deer, giant........

© Buenos Aires Herald