Rooms

Being on the Esteros broadens the mind and heightens the senses; it's meditative. Gazing up at the wooden beams in our room after a glorious siesta, it was clear that the space had been carefully designed to sit in harmony with the open vistas outside.

Natural materials bring authenticity: uneven, whitewashed, hand-stuccoed walls; brick patios where hammocks are slung; handmade tiles on the floors; and high ceilings lined with local wood. The rooms have windows in 2 directions, and shutters are handmade in the traditional way. It looks like an old traditional estancia of the region, but with the added advantages of being clean and modern, with sparkling contemporary bathrooms.

Beds are supremely comfortable, with pristine white linens. Wicker furniture and restored antique pieces give a sense of history, and warmth and detail is added with quirky sculptures of birds and an array of paintings. WiFi is available throughout. A great virtue of Elsa’s design is that the guest bedrooms are in a separate house from the sitting and dining rooms, so you won’t be disturbed by other guests if you have an early night.

The 7 rooms are all doubles or twins (request your preference) and all have private bathrooms stocked with L'Occitane goodies. Outside you have your own stretch of veranda from which you’ll spot birds, as the garden goes right down to the lagoon. The effect is subtle but appealing: you have your own private space to utterly relax, and unlike the other hotels in the area, there’s no sense of an agenda to fit in with.

Features include:

• Fan
• In-room treatments available
• WiFi

Eating

Elsa takes great care to ensure that meals at the Posada are balanced and healthy. As is usual in an estancia, menus are set rather than à la carte, but dietary requirements can be catered for. Vegetarians will be very happy.

Breakfast is a simple affair of juice, home-baked breads and toast with local jams. Cereals are on offer, too. Lunch can be taken with you on your activities or eaten in the cool of the terrace.

Dinner is more of an event, with guests invited to gather for a convivial glass of wine on the comfortable white sofas beforehand. The dining room is spacious, and rustic without being twee: checked tablecloths, white linen, impeccable taste. Each pair of guests has their own table, but single travellers can eat with Elsa and her son Alejandro if they choose. There are 3 courses, with fresh vegetables and salads, along with locally reared meat or homemade pasta. Traditional Argentine recipes are used and puddings are a speciality. Argentine wines are served, though these aren’t included in the price.

Features include:

• All meals included
• Bar
• Organic produce
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Head out on a boat trip into the lagoon. Setting out early in the morning or after tea (stunning), you’ll spend 2 hours with the Posada’s guide, who knows all the flora and fauna. Elsa or Alejandro will accompany those who don’t speak Spanish, to translate. You’ll see an astonishing number of birds, as well as capybaras swimming with their young and alligators basking on rocks. Climb onto the islands, where marsh deer and otters scamper, to discover that they’re wafer-thin and spongy!
  
  
• Once you’ve done the main boat trip, set out in a canoe to see even more wildlife at your own leisure
  
  
• Several different horse rides are offered, suitable for novices and the more experienced. Try a 1-hour ride around Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, a 2-hour ride across palm forests, or an all-day ride to Camba, visiting a typical Correntino farm for lunch
  
  
• Borrow bicycles and meander around the estate
  
  
• Take a cultural tour of the area, to meet local farmers and see more of the region. You can also learn basic Guaraní from a teacher in the village (ask at reception)
  
  
• The nocturnal walks are highly recommended. You'll see and hear another set of creatures, and they're great for kids
  
  
• Go swimming in the estancia's pool, which is tranquil with wonderful views
  
  
• Visit in February and experience the local Gauchito Gil festival
  
  
• Elsa's brother Francisco (Pancho) González Alzaga is a well-known chef who owns a restaurant called Bar6 in Buenos Aires; he organises training courses at the Posada

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Language courses
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Safaris
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking
• Wildlife

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, and those under 2 stay for free when sharing their parents' room. Babysitting, cots and extra beds are available on request. Older children will love the space, the pool, the grounds, and the boat trips and horse rides.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 4 hours

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Posada de la Laguna is located in the small village of Colonia Carlos Pellegrini in the Esteros del Iberá nature reserve. It's 120km from Mercedes (the nearest large town) and a 2-hour flight plus a 4-hour transfer from Buenos Aires.

By Air:
Posadas (185km away) is the nearest airport. It’s served by domestic flights from Buenos Aires’ Jorge Newbery Airport. If you're arriving into Buenos Aires from abroad, bear in mind that you'll fly into Ezeiza International Airport, and will need to transfer between the two.

Click on the links below for information on airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
You can take a private plane from Posadas to Mercedes but it's expensive (please enquire at the time of booking). The Posada can put you in touch with a company that offer transfers from Posadas Airport or Mercedes. It's a 4-hour drive from Posadas, and a 2-hour trip from Mercedes along dirt roads.

By Bus:
Another option is an overnight coach service from Buenos Aires, which arrives in Mercedes around 6am the following morning. The coaches are comfortable, with reclining seats and toilets - click on the links below for details of coach companies. When you arrive in Mercedes, you’ll be met by a driver and taken to the Posada. If you’re coming from Iguazim, you can take a bus to Mercedes and then take another transfer to Posada.

By Car:
It’s really not advisable to hire a car to visit the Esteros. The roads are unconsolidated earth for long stretches, and a heavy bout of rain turns them into mud baths. Once you’re stranded, there’s no one passing to dig you out, and you could be there for hours. It’s far better to arrange a transfer.

Combining with the Iguazú Falls:
If you’re arriving in the Esteros after a trip to the Iguazú Falls, you’ll approach from the city of Posadas. Again, you can arrange a transfer.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

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