Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Argentina. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING ARGENTINA: United States citizens will need a valid passport to enter Argentina. A visa is not required when entering Argentina as a tourist. Citizens of other countries should consult their nearest Argentine consulate for entry requirements. No vaccinations certificates are necessary in order to enter Argentina.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Argentina in the University of Texas series here To adjust the size, click on the map’s lower right corner. You can review the U.S. Department of State information on Argentina here.
PACE OF TOUR: Because of the tropical heat at Iguazú, we’ll break our days up into two birdwatching sessions. We’ll normally have an early breakfast (5:30 am), then leave the hotel around 6:00 (dawn) to be birding on the trails shortly thereafter. After walking on trails or roads all morning, we’ll return to the hotel for lunch around noon, then take a siesta until mid-afternoon, when we’ll venture forth again for a few more hours of birding until dusk (6:30 pm). We’ll then have a break of an hour before dinner, followed by checklist over coffee. Almost all of our time at Iguazú will be spent on foot, sometimes within walking distance of the hotel (allowing those who wish to return early), though on some days we’ll use transport to reach a few of the more distant trails.
Please be warned that Argentinean eating hours and habits are rather different from British or American ones. Breakfasts tend to be rather skimpy: often just coffee, toast or a croissant, and butter and jam. Lunches won’t be a problem as many will be picnics. Dinners, however, can be a minor problem. Argentineans eat late. Most restaurants don’t open until 8:00 pm or later, and few Argentineans enter them before 9:00. Meals are regarded as social occasions, where friends and family eat slowly and discuss the day’s events, so service is often slow, as that is what most people want. The leaders will always explain to restaurant staff that our group wants to eat early and quickly and this usually works (often we leave the restaurant just as other diners are starting to appear) but be prepared for the occasional slow meal or late finish. The best approach is to relax, have a drink, and chat with your neighbors. There is, of course, always the option of skipping desert and coffee and going off to bed!
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control currently recommend inoculations against hepatitis A and typhoid and it is probably a good idea to have current protection against diphtheria/TB, tetanus and polio as well. As some of these inoculations cannot be given concurrently please contact your doctor well in advance of the tour to start your course of treatment. The CDC also recommends having a yellow fever vaccination, although it is not required to enter the country.
There is a very small risk of malaria in the northwest of the country, though according to our ground agent (who lives there) there haven’t been any recent cases. The areas that we will be visiting during the main two weeks of the tour are free of malaria. However, on the pre- and post-tour extensions there is theoretically a small risk of catching malaria. The prophylactic drug of choice is chloroquine, but check with the CDC before you go. You can review the CDC latest advisories here.
CLIMATE: Northern Argentina is sub-tropical, and rain can occur throughout the year.
DRESS: Dress will be informal throughout the tour. The Argentine people tend to dress very fashionably, especially when going out to dinner, so shorts are not appropriate in most hotel restaurants in the evenings.
TRANSPORT: Throughout the tour we’ll travel in minibuses or small coaches with local drivers. When we use more than one vehicle there will always be a leader in each vehicle.
SMOKING: We request that you do not smoke in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group.
ACCOMMODATION: We’ll be staying in good quality hotels or lodges. All rooms will have a private shower and toilet.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Argentina will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Updated: May 2013