Esteros de Farrapos Voyage Tips and guide

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Esteros de Farrapos (officially, Parque Nacional Esteros de Farrapos e Islas del Río Uruguay) is a protected natural area in the Rio Negro department of the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. In addition to being part of the Uruguayan national parks system, the park is a Ramsar wetland.

The park covers an area of more than 20,200 hectares.

The park stretches along the Uruguayan side of the Rio de Uruguay, the river that separates Uruguay from Argentina. In addition to miles of marshy riverfront, the park has numerous swamps, inlets, marshes and channels that create 24 sedimentary islands. The islands are covered in grasslands and riparian forests with peat bogs and freshwater ponds.

Grassy plains and grassy marshes constitute much of the vegetation with thick sedges, false papyrus, and reeds. The riparian forests include willows, sarandí and guava.

The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, particularly birds and species that thrive in rivers and wetlands. More than 30 mammal species inhabit the park, including the maned wolf, capybaras, mountain foxes, and several species of bat.

Birdwatchers could spot any of over 200 species of bird in the park, mostly aquatic birds from the great heron to the little snowy heron. Vultures lurk in the tree tops and can be seen soaring the air currents over the river.

A number of reptiles and amphibians can be found in the park's expansive wetlands. Residents include several species of frog and toad, as well as turtles sunning themselves along the river banks. Keep an eye open for the Argentinian black and white tegu, a large lizard that inhabits this area.

Anglers can find a number of kinds of fish, particularly catfish, with species including the White catfish, Yellow catfish, Toad catfish, and the Buenos Aires catfish. Surubí and dorado can also be caught here.

Spring (September to November) and fall (March to May) are ideal times to visit the park when temperatures range from 12°C to 25°C. A light jacket or sweater will be all you need and rain is infrequent.

Getting to the park might be a bit of a challenge since it's in a remote area. The nearest city with good tourist infrastructure is Paysandú, though the village of San Javier is close to the park entrance and has some restaurants and hotels. Paysandu is served by bus routes from Montevideo and larger cities throughout Uruguay. From Montevideo, the bus takes about 6 hours.

The park is 60 km by car from Paysandú. To drive to the park, head southeast on Ruta 3 for about 10 km, then turn south (left) on Ruta 24 for another 30 km. When you reach the village of Tres Quintas, turn left (west) onto Ramsal 5 for about 10 km. Watch for the sign to the park entrance on your left. If you continue straight on Ramsal 5 you will reach the village of San Javier, which is the closest place to get a meal or a bed for the night.

There is no fee to enter the park and permits are not needed.

Boats can be hired in San Javier.

• Kayak down the river, navigating serpentine channels around islands and estuaries

• Hiking: The main trail is called Sendero de los Senderos and it has several side trails that lead off it to points of interest. It is a flat, easy trail that is about 5 km in length and takes about 2-3 hours to hike.

Restaurants can be found in San Javier.

The closest lodging is in the village of San Javier, about 5 km from the park entrance.

Backcountry camping is allowed.

• Paysandú
• Salto
• Mercedes