29th September – 6th October 2024
The Return of the Jaguar
A once in a lifetime opportunity to engage with one of the world’s most ambitious conservation projects firsthand, the creation of the 7.5 million acre Iberá National Park.
Hosted by Sofía Heinonen and the Fundación Rewilding Argentina (FRA) team, this journey offers firsthand engagement with the reintroduction of endangered species, immersion into the flora and fauna of the Iberá Wetlands, and fireside chats with the experts behind this remarkable rewilding initiative, to learn from their life changing stories and indomitable vision.
What to expect
The journey begins with a night soaking in the colourful and intoxicating city of Buenos Aires before flying north to Corrientes province, the gateway to the Iberá wetlands. The following six nights you will be immersed in the wilderness staying in locally-run lodges in the heart of the reserve. Days are spent alongside the biologists and FRA Executive Director, Sofía Heinonen, tracking and monitoring wildlife, including giant anteaters, deer, jaguar and macaws. You will explore the vast plains by kayak, foot and on horseback, with early mornings spent birdwatching and evenings enjoying hearty asados at sunset, sharing stories with fellow guests, sundowner in hand.
Conservation Impact
Often called “the Argentine Pantanal,” Iberá is one of the planet’s largest freshwater wetlands, covering more than 3.2 million acres of grasslands and marsh in Corrientes Province of northeastern Argentina. It is home to 30% of the country’s biodiversity including endangered species such as the pampas and marsh deer, the maned wolf, anteater and grassland birds like the strange-tailed tyrant. FRA have successfully created a national park that preserves over 700,000 hectares.
Your Host
Sofía Heinonen will be your host for this journey, and you will also have opportunities to meet Conservation Director, Sebastián Di Martino, and other members of the wider team to learn from differing perspectives and experiences. Sofía was Doug Tompkins' first hire when he embarked on this project, and has since spent 30 years leading the line on FRA's rewilding mission across Argentina.
YOUR HOST
MEET YOUR HOST:
SOFIA HEINONEN &
FUNDACIÓN REWILDING ARGENTINA
Executive Director of Fundación Rewilding Argentina
BBC 100 Most Inspiring and Influential Women 2022
Sofía Heinonen is the Executive Director of Fundación Rewilding Argentina. She was instrumental in securing the support and collaboration of local communities at the project’s inception and continues to spearhead FRA's rewilding and restoration initiatives across the country.
A lifelong activist, Sofía Heinonen led some of the first efforts to bring rewilding to South America more than 15 years ago with the restoration of the Iberá wetlands, the largest wetland ecosystem in Argentina, alongside Doug and Kristine Tompkins. As a biologist and leader, she has spent more than 30 years designing strategies for the creation of protected areas in Argentina, and leads the line in the continents most ambitious initiatives for reversing the species extinction crisis.
What she and her team have achieved, from the reintroduction of jaguar to the region following a 70 years disappearance to the creation of 7.6 million acres of national park across Argentina, is a remarkable achievement.
Sofía has been recognised in BBC’s Most Influential Women of 2022.
US $14,225 PER PERSON
Based on two people sharing
Small group experience
Limited to fourteen guests
Boutique Hotel
Airport Transfers
Full-board
Beverages
Internal Flights to Corrientes
Transfer Flights over Iberá
Daily Experiences at Iberá
29th September – 6th October 2024
ARRIVE TO BUENOS AIRES
DEPART FROM BUENOS AIRES
EXTENSIONS IN ARGENTINA AVAILABLE
A GLOBALLY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
ON CONSERVATION IN ACTION
Experience Argentina
Our flagship journeys offer unprecedented access to today's most exciting and ambitious conservation projects. They provide an opportunity to get into the wild, learn from global leaders, and explore ideas for safeguarding the future of the planet, among fellow curious and likeminded people. Complete the form below and a member of the team will be in touch via email or phone.
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Journeys with Purpose offers conservation travel experiences based on the model of ‘Seven Worlds One Planet’. We provide unparalleled opportunity for our guests to discover conservation action of pioneering projects run by people with purpose. Our leading, bespoke experiences take guests to witness the majestic jaguar in the Ibera Wetlands of Argentina hosted by Kris Tompkins and Rewilding Argentina, the wolves, bears and lynx in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania with Foundation Conservation Carpathia, Kenya’s Great Karoo in the Samara Conservation Reserve, home to lions, zebras, giraffes, leopards and more, the unrivalled wildflower meadows and behemoth bison of Great American Prairie with Sean Gerrity, the rewilding success story of the Scottish Highlands and many more wild wonders of this world.
This journey is hosted by Kristine Tompkins. Journeys with Purpose offers transformative journeys based on the model of ‘Seven Worlds One Planet’. We provide unparalleled opportunity for our guests to discover conservation action of pioneering projects run by people with purpose. Our leading, bespoke experiences take guests to witness the majestic jaguar in the Ibera Wetlands of Argentina with Kris Tompkins and Rewilding Argentina, the wolves, bears and lynx in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania with Foundation Conservation Carpathia, Kenya’s Great Karoo in the Samara Conservation Reserve, home to lions, zebras, giraffes, leopards and more, the unrivalled wildflower meadows and behemoth bison of Great American Prairie with Sean Gerrity, the rewilding success story of the Scottish Highlands and many more wild wonders of this world.