7 Best Places to See Wildlife in Latin America, According to a Travel Expert

23.09.2024 - 13:15 / travelandleisure.com / Latin America

Latin America is a wildlife enthusiast's dream, home to many diverse ecosystems teeming with unique flora and fauna. Here are some of the best places to go wildlife spotting in the region.

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The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland. Although it's less well-known than other areas in South America, it's one of the continent's best wildlife viewing locations. Through a guided safari, visitors can spot jaguars, capybaras, giant otters, caimans, and an abundance of bird species. The best time to spot the region’s iconic and rare jaguars is during the dry season, from June to October.

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These volcanic islands are world-famous for their diverse wildlife, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and penguins. It's one of the most pristine ecosystems on earth, with 97 percent of the land designated as a protected park, offering unparalleled opportunities for up-close wildlife encounters, both on land and underwater.

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This peninsula is one of the most biologically rich regions on the planet. Located in the far southwest of Costa Rica, it's home to the primary rain forest of Corcovado National Park and the waters of the Golfo Dulce. This is a truly remote wilderness and a great place to spot rare mammals such as white-faced capuchins, margays, ocelots, and tapirs, an animal related to the rhinoceros species.

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Argentina's Iberá Wetlands are a vast network of marshes, lagoons, and waterways that provide habitat for capybaras, caimans, marsh deer, and more than 350 species of birds. Jaguars have been reintroduced here as part of a groundbreaking conservation effort involving conservation NGOs, government agencies, ecotourism hotels, and local communities. The aim of the project is to restore biodiversity, rebalance the region's ecosystem, and create a sustainable environment for life to thrive.

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Here, the spotlight is on marine life. You can see southern right whales, sea lions, orcas, Magellanic penguins, and elephant seals, among other species. The orcas are renowned for their remarkable hunting technique, often beaching themselves to attack sea lion pups in the shallow water.

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This national park in southern Chile was established in 2018, and encompasses diverse landscapes, including mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, and wetlands. It's home to a wide variety of wildlife, including guanacos, condors, and Andean deer. Visitors also get to observe pumas in their natural habitat.

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Located in the Peruvian Amazon, Tambopata is a remarkable natural area with high levels of species. The reserve is an important site for