If you love birds, wildlife and breathtaking landscapes then Parque Laguna Nimez in El Calafate, Santa Cruz province, should definitely be on your list. This peaceful wetland reserve sits right on the shore of Lago Argentino, set against a stunning snow-capped Andes background. One of the first nature reserves in Argentina, in 2005 it acquired the title of IBA (Important Bird Area) from Birdlife International, a global partnership of non-governmental organizations dedicated to bird conservation. It’s a perfect spot for both hardcore birders and casual nature lovers to enjoy Patagonia’s wildlife.

Most people who visit El Calafate go there for the Perito Moreno Glacier, some eighty kilometres from the town. This very accessible glacier is indeed very much worth a visit, especially if you’re there at the time of a major rupture; unlikely in fact, but you’ll be sure to see and hear smaller bits of ice calving (breaking off) and falling into the lake below. There’s also a fascinating glaciarium (glacier museum) on the road back to El Calafate where you can not only learn more about these exciting natural phenomena but also have a drink in the only bar in the world constructed wholly from glacial ice.

But back to the birds. Parque Nimez........

© Buenos Aires Herald