Capybaras, the world’s largest rodent, weighing up to 74 kg (163 lbs) live in small herds in the Reserva Esteros Del Ibera and are as cute as they are ugly.

The Ibera is an enormous wetland reserve that lies in the northeast corner of Argentina just below Paraguay. The reserve is a collection of lakes and estuaries with shallow waters and dense vegetation which accumulate into floating islands.

It is home to a stunning array of wildlife. Even before arriving at the village of Colonia Pellegrini, the jumping off point into the reserve, the wildlife started emerging: egret, heron, capybara, deer, fox, cayman, ostrich, eagle and “what the heck is that?”

The road into and out of the reserve will test the resolve of any car or driver with deep ruts, huge puddles and thick mud. The sound of the birds (with some 350 species) was cacophonous. We slowly drifted with our guide through a maze of waterways through a small portion of the reserve and were wowed at every bend by the array of wildlife. A visit to this wetland is definitely worth the challenge of getting there.