Ansenuza National Park: a guide to seeing flamingos at Mar Chiquita
Destination guide · Updated November 2026 · By Centinela Explora
In short
Ansenuza National Park protects Mar Chiquita lagoon, in northeastern Córdoba, the largest salt lake in South America, and one of the best places in Argentina to see flamingos. It is about 2 hours from the city of Córdoba. The best time to see all three flamingo species is winter (June to September), although the Chilean flamingo is there all year round. There are sites you can visit on your own, boat trips from Miramar and a photography hide. We went in July 2025 and March 2026, and this is what we learned.
Quick facts
| Where | Northeastern Córdoba: Mar Chiquita lagoon and the Río Dulce wetlands |
|---|---|
| How to get there | Fly to Córdoba, then about 2 hours by road, in good condition |
| Area | 661,416 hectares between the national park and national reserve (created in 2022, Law 27,673), surrounded by the Bañados del Río Dulce and Laguna Mar Chiquita Provincial Multiple-Use Reserve (1994), of around one million hectares |
| Best time for flamingos | June to September (all three species) |
| Main towns | La Para, Miramar de Ansenuza, Balnearia, Brinkmann and Morteros, among many others |
| How many days | Three or four days let you see several sides of the lagoon |
What is Ansenuza?
It is one of the largest national protected areas in Argentina: it includes Mar Chiquita lagoon and the Río Dulce wetlands, a wetland of international importance (Ramsar Site) for the huge number of birds it receives. Ansenuza is the name of the goddess of the lagoon in local legend.
When is the best time to see flamingos?
- June to September: the best season, because in winter the region's three species gather: the Chilean flamingo, the Andean flamingo and James's flamingo.
- All year: the Chilean flamingo is always there.
- September to March: courtship and breeding season.
- December to March: flamingos plus the arrival of migratory shorebirds.
What other wildlife can you see?
Besides flamingos, herons and a huge variety of waterbirds, we saw an armadillo walking along the shore at Villa Mar and a fox prowling around the photo hide. We did not see it ourselves, but there are amazing recent records of maned wolves with their pups in Ansenuza, thanks to monitoring by Aves Argentinas.
Which places are worth visiting?
La Para and Laguna del Plata
A good starting point, on Laguna del Plata, with plenty of birds just steps from town. Free access.
Marull Bay
Bays with flamingos and huge sunsets. Free access; if you enter the Marull campground there is an inexpensive fee (about ARS 5,000 in 2025).
Rancho Viejo
You need to book in advance. Its access road is low-lying and, after rain, it takes days to become passable again. If you are staying several days, try to go at the start of your trip so you have room to reschedule. Rain kept us from visiting Rancho Viejo in July 2025.
Miramar de Ansenuza
The largest town on the shore, with beaches on the lagoon and the ruins of the old town, which went underwater in the great flood of 1977.
Lomas de los Indios trail
An easy walk along the lagoon, among reed beds and herons.
The north: La Rinconada and the Río Dulce wetlands
The wildest and most beautiful part of the lagoon is in the north, but it is also the least developed. It is for adventurers with a tent or camper: in the wetlands you see not only birds but also mammals.
What are the boat trips from Miramar like?
There are several options. Some are more family-oriented, even on a pirate ship. Others use small boats that approach the birds at a prudent distance to take photos or simply enjoy them. They are also a good chance to see the ruins of the flooded town.
Is there a hide for bird photography?
Yes. It belongs to a local operator who has it in his backyard. It is best to book, so it is not full and he can get ready to welcome you. It is very pleasant: we took beautiful photos and even saw a fox prowling around. If you want the contact, write to us.
Where to stay?
It depends on what you are looking for:
- La Para: on our trips we always stayed at Complejo Ansenuza. The rooms are decent and comfortable, without luxuries. In its favor: it is designed for birdwatchers, with telescopes and feeders in the garden, and it sits on Laguna del Plata, so you can walk and watch birds in your free time. The food is delicious and the staff are very friendly.
- Miramar: more restaurants, supermarkets and shops, nice lagoon beaches for swimming when it is hot, and a wide range of hotels and cabins. The downside: in summer and on weekends it gets crowded with local visitors, and mass tourism can make birdwatching harder.
- Combine: another option is to spend one or two nights each in La Para, Miramar, Brinkmann or Morteros and see different sides of the lagoon.
How do you get there?
From Buenos Aires you can fly to Córdoba. From the city of Córdoba it is about 2 hours by road, in good condition.
If you want to travel with everything organized
If you want to travel with everything organized, check out our group trips.
