Russian Capybaras — Argentina’s True National Treasure
Forget steaks, football, or even eccentric President Milei - the real highlight of Argentina is that you can see capybaras in the wild (or even in the suburbs). Here's where to find them, from lazy city spots to remote marshlands.
Ecoparque Buenos Aires — A Single Capybara on City Display
🎡 Ecoparque Buenos Aires: 1 capybara. The lazy option. In the heart of Buenos Aires, you’ll find one lonely capybara living in an enclosure. The park closes at 5 PM, and the capybara presumably goes to sip mate.
Nordelta — A Suburban Gated Community with a Few Locals
🏡 Nordelta: 3–4 capybaras. A semi-private residential area with lagoons, about an hour from Buenos Aires. Head to Centro Comercial, and bring your ID — security checks documents. A few capybaras roam freely here, and if you're lucky, you’ll catch them on their afternoon stroll.
El Palmar National Park — Capybara Families in the Palm Forest
🌴 Parque Nacional El Palmar: A full capybara squad lives here, three hours from Buenos Aires. They travel in families, soak in puddles post-rain like it’s a spa, and often block the road at night just to mess with tourists.
Iberá Wetlands — The Capybara Capital (with Caimans!)
🐊 Parque Nacional Iberá, 0 hours from Buenos Aires, the last two on dirt roads. Bring a 4x4 and fill your gas tank. Iberá is a stunning wetland reserve packed with not just capybaras, but also caimans, ostriches, and birds galore. (Didn’t expect to become a birdwatcher — but if you don’t even have to leave your car, I’m in.) Plan a multi-day stay, book a nice ecolodge, and take guided hikes with park rangers. Google Maps doesn’t show the right trails — trust the locals.
A Note of Caution — Capybaras Can Bite
They’re fast. They bite. Don’t annoy the capybaras.
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