San Nicolas (Reserva Iberá) | Established Campground

March 10th, 2024 by bicitours.blogspot.com

No Wifi now and no cell reception. Otherwise lots of birds, deer and capibaras. Road is not easy for a van like ours but we made it.

August 3rd, 2023 by vermonsterrv.com

We had a great time here. Can't believe it's all free. Stopped at the visitor center in San Miguel before and got phone numbers for boat guides. Set up a tour for the next day. I added a photo of the list of canoe guides. We asked the tourist office to call for us because our Spanish is so bad. 30 km sand road in was good but might be hard for 2WD because of depth of sand ruts. There are 2 narrow, short bridges but we crossed them ok in our 11 ton truck. The grounds are beautiful, like a green oasis. We rode our bikes the 7 km to the port for the canoe ride. 1500 per person. About 45 minutes and we saw caymans, capybaras, birds, an otter. There are 3 walking trails that are pretty. All of the campground facilities are listed already. One thing we weren't expecting was wifi and it worked really well. This is a nice quiet way to visit this park with very few people there.

May 17th, 2023 by buf

As described. Awesome place, peaceful, quiet, lots of space. Bathrooms are clean, the ranger even brought fire wood.
We loved it here!

October 18th, 2022 by hippysquared.com

A true gem! So peaceful at the campsite and plenty too see in the park both of animals and birds. You will most likely stay longer than you originally plan. No costs to enter or camp and the boat trip is not expensive.

If you have high clearance 2wd, the road should be no issue. It is a relatively easy drive and not as tough as described previously.

October 14th, 2022 by mmq-photography.com

Beautiful camping in the middle of nowhere. Very quiet. You can do several walks, go kayaking etc. The rangers are very friendly. And it is for free! All amenities as described. The road is okay, we expected something really off-road, after having read all those descriptions here. In fact about 10 km is sand road, but in real good condition, I wouldn't hesitate to go with a 2WD if the conditions are dry. The other part is non paved road, very easy to drive.

May 18th, 2022 by bsg9854

For people considering enter with a 2WD in DRY conditions :
We have a small 2WD van (clearance +- 15cm).
If you know your van, you are confident and are prepared of the possibility of getting stuck, go without hesitations !
Well only the first 10km in the sandy forest are tricky, during half part of this 10 km there are two tracks, one on the left close to the forest and one on the right. Try to keep left as the right side has some deep sand (30-40cm) because of working trucks, especially one part almost at the end for 40-50 meters. We got stuck on this part on our way in because we kept right side and not the left... Some cars pass during the day, it's not a big deal being towed ! Your vehicul gonna touch all the way but it's just sand, and the most important thing, don't lose speed !
And for cyclists, there is like a track in the forest part nearby the road, workers use it to go to work with scooters !
For the camping part, all as described before, warm shower, nice place and the road to the harbor is like a safari, go slow and watch ! Enjoy !

February 19th, 2020 by lauradalaison

Para nosotros es un excelente lugar. Es un Parque Nacional es decir que tiene su reglamentación. Pasar el día y acampar es gratis. Para llegar es recomendable con un auto alto porque el camino en sectores es de arena. Nosotros entramos con una Camioneta doble tracción y no tuvimos problema.
El Parque es muy limpio y ordenado hay baño ducha fría (caliente cuando prenden el generador de electricidad). Tiene quinchos grandes excelentes con mesas parrilla y todo lo necesario para usarlas. No hay electricidad en todo el camping pero a la noche prenden un generador q datos luz a los baños por dos horas. recomiendo que si van a pasar una noche se lleven TODO desde agua potable hielo comida y carbón. No hay proveeduría solo las casas de los guarda parques.
Los chicos del parque son muy amables y te dan todas las recomendaciones para moverte en el Parque sin molestar a la fauna.
Ya hemos ido varias veces la fauna es alucinante.
Lleven Binoculares!!!

April 6th, 2019 by rok.hocevar

The campsite is nice, clean, lovely staff. No mobile signal, not so many animals in the campsite. perfect for a nature getaway. More people on weekends.

Tour operators are just rude, the boat ride is not worth it. Just drive around and you will have caymans cross the street. Its super nice :)

Okay, the way there is a different story. We went after heavy rain. we had to use wipers for the front windshield to see through, also some what looked to be bigger water crossings, which turned out to be nothing if in high clearance car. we went back after two days of sun, the road was waaay better. I would not do it without a 4x4 anyways. 4x4 like a 4Runner, Hilux, LC etc. A VW van with 4x4 does not count as 4x4, please. Maybe its doable with 4x2 in super dry conditions, but super irresponsible with lots of oportunities to get stuck. Otherwise an adventure with lots of capybaras(we saw+200) , caymans, macaws, spiders in the grass, mosquitos, foxes in the evening and mornings etc.

March 25th, 2019 by intrepidfor10minutes

Great location but the generator running from 7 to 11ish at night spoils the atmosphere somewhat, but clean toilets and no charge! Road is quite sandy and although mostly dry there were some massive water filled craters to go through and a lot of deep sand. Some small cars were making it OK but I would not risk a heavy 2 we van/motor home!

March 24th, 2019 by c_hodgetts

This is a beautiful camp group, lots of wildlife. Highly recommend

March 22nd, 2019 by To where the road ends

Lovely place. After the trains they had earlier in the year, it's still an adventure to get in despite being dry for me. 4x4 was essential I think. Lovely staff. Great nature,sunset, and sunrise.
Maybe not essential, but as you enter San Miguel you can register at the tourist office on the right hand side. If you want to do any boat or kayak tours, you have to arrange this in the town before you head to the park.

November 5th, 2018 by timbo559

road only sandy the first 10kms, when dry you only need good clearance (20cm+). drove here easily with our 2wd 308d. when wet 4x4 is a must have. lot's of birds, caimans, nandus... really nice and friendly. but TONS of moskitos, sandflies and horseflies!! You're in a swamp ;)

October 21st, 2018 by Adriaan&Isabelle

We found it unbelievable to see a large tended lawn with nice buildings literally in the middle of nowhere! This place is great for all who would like to get close to nature. Any number of birds, carpinchos, caymans, frogs, snakes and ... horseflies!

Even though we travelled all around Parque Ibera (from Mercedes) to get here (and the 30 km sandy road to top it off), we left the next morning (after a good hike on the 'sendero' that starts just 500 meters after this place) because of the onslaught by the horseflies.

Price: free.

August 25th, 2018 by arnold.in.de.zandbak

Access road could be adventure after heavy rain. normally easily to do with high clearance. rangers are all very kind. very nice grassy campground with toilets, bathroom and cold shower. You can do two short walks, and drive on for 7 kms to go deeper into Ibéra.

July 4th, 2018 by laure1000

Beautiful place and tranquil. Lots of animals to see and facilities are clean and well maintained. Didn't pay due to season and we were the only ones there. Some of the walks were blocked off due to lots of water. Need 4x4 and with good clearance.

July 4th, 2018 by Saint Paul de Vence Ushuaia

Very beautiful campground with a lot of animals. It was free. Showers with hot water, BBQ and all is very, very clean. 4*4 is obligatory, sand and mud on 27 km

April 18th, 2018 by Break-A-Way

Really beautiful place with lots of animals around. Very nice ranger gave us a lot of informations. Watch where you park, the generator is really annoying in the evening, loud and stinky. The infrastructure is very good, everything clean. Didn't pay anything, because of offseason.
Important information: in offseason, the gate (the one after the 15 km sign) is locked, the key is under a trunk 5m to the right of the gate. Its ok to open according to the tourist information in San Miguel. Check in there before you enter the long and adventurous road into Reserve San Nicolas. Very recomended place!

September 27th, 2017 by Aussieiszy

Beautiful well kept place. Found the gate locked, but asked a backhoe driver how to get in and he showed us where the key was. look on the post beside the gate. Only got charged 100 peso for 2 people for 2 nights including a motor home. Tranquillity!

September 5th, 2017 by TDOverland

Great track to get here a lots of fun when its rainy. Awesom place to spend a few days. They guys whos running the place is very friendly. Toilets are clean showers does the job. Wild life around and quiet. We love it

July 9th, 2017 by hana.grundmannova

We can confirm that this is really nice place. Coming to San Miguel village you can see then sign San Nicholas Reserva, then turn left on the Avenida San Martin and continue on the dirt sandy road which is on maps.me a bit west from the village, is white and has a lot of left,right,left 90° turns. There are few other signs but it might be tricky. We also saw a lot of capybaras right on the road. We stayed one night and nobody asked for payment, but this might be different in another season.

December 11th, 2016 by wetravel4x4.com

An excellent campground, pleasant place to spend some days without electricity and internet.
There is no place to buy anything, so bring all you will need.

June 24th, 2016 by dutchonwheels

It's an adventure to get to this part of Iberá but definately worth it!! : a 30 km sandy road (depart from the town San Miguel, we saw cars without 4x4, but we wouldn't recommend it...after heavy rainfall it's impossible without 4×4). The road is not on the maps, because it's a private road. You'll pass several wooden fences which are "locked" to keep the cows out of the reserve. Just get the chains of the fences and drive further. You will pass hundreds of carpinchos, who refuse to get out the way! After 1 or 1,5 hour, you'll arrive at San Nicolas, a beautifull campingspot next to the rangers'house. It's one of the best spots during our trip so far. Thousands of animals , who come to the campground to eat from the orange-trees. An astonishing place which hasn't been discouvered by tourists at all, inspite of the campground at Carlos Pelligrini/Laguna Iberá. During the 4 nights we stayed here, we were the only ones.
You can do 3 walks, one of them is also possible to do by bicycle (14 km return), which in our opinion is the best one.
The ranger (Mattias) we met was really friendly and helpfull, he spoke good English. He can tell a lot about the reserva and all the effort they put into it. But also about the difficult and long process for the American owners of the reserva to convince the locals to visit and appreciate it and that it's also in their interest to maintain this beautifull area.
The campground itself is basic. They have a generator and solarpanels, so electricity and hot (actually a little bit "warm") water is limited to a couple of hours a day. Costs are 50 pesos p.p. a night. If you stay 4 nights, you only pay for 3.
Take plenty of food with you because you don't want to drive the road again just to get some grocary and you will probably stay longer than you had in mind! In case you do forget something, the ranger asked us a few times if we needed something from town, when some of his colleagues went up there.