FORMOSA

Area: 72.066 Km²
Population: 485.700 inhabitants
Density: 6,7 inhabitants per Km²
Capital: Formosa

How to get there

By air: Flights from Buenos Aires to Formosa. By bus: From the Buenos Aires to Formosa and to Clorinda. Also services to Asunción del Paraguay.

Distances from Formosa: Buenos Aires 1,181 Km, Córdoba 1,037 Km, Resistencia 169 Km.

Where to stay

Number and category of accommodation. Formosa: 1 (4*), 1 (3*), 3 (2*). Clorinda: 1 (3*).

Other accommodation in: Ingeniero Juárez

Things to do

FISHING FOR ENORMOUS CATCHES. In the rivers of the region, the Paraguay, the Bermejo and the Pilcomayo you can fish enormous catches like the surubí and manguruyú. As the river Paraguay meanders along the bends create numerous islands of different sizes, among which is the Isla de Oro at Formosa, an excellent fishing spot for dorado, pacú and surubí.

LIFE ON THE ESTANCIAS. From the estancias you can go on excursions on foot, by canoe or on horseback to look at the fauna.

What to visit

FORMOSA THE CAPITAL. Formosa lies on the west bank of the River Paraguay. Its name comes from the Spanish word "fermoso", meaning beautiful. Its Museo Histórico Regional has collections related to local natural science, history and anthropology. The Casa de Gobierno (Government Building) has been declared a National Historical Monument and houses the Governors Gallery.

THE PARQUE NACIONAL RÍO PILCOMAYO. Its 47,000 Ha include an area of marsh and swampland and savannahs of the white palm or caranday. On the highest ground you can find mounts that look like islands jutting out of the terrain and the shores of the Pilcomayo are covered by dense jungle. The marshlands and flooded areas have the densest and largest variety of birds of the eco-system: the spoonbill, the white heron, the chajá and the jabirú or tuyuyú. Two species of yacarés or south American alligators live here and among the mammals is the largest species of south American deer, the swamp deer. Males of the species, with their thick and branching antlers, can grow to more than 1 m high and weigh more than 100 Kg. The carpincho or capibara is the world's largest rodent, and it spends the hottest part of the day submerged in water.

Other places of interest: the Reserva Natural Formosa, a semi-desert area typical of the eco-system of the western Chaco region. The Bañado La Estrella, hundreds of thousands of hectares of nature reserve, which can only be explored by canoe. To the south of Formosa is the town of Herradura, with lush and jungle vegetation, home to colonies of carayá monkeys.

Shopping

Pottery, basketwork, wood carvings and linen or wool cloth from which sashes, nets and shoulder bags called "yicas" are made. These can all be found in the Instituto de Comunidades Aborígenes in Formosa.

Further information

Formosa. Dirección de Turismo de la Provincia de Formosa: José M. Uriburu 820. Tel./Fax: (03717) 420442.

Buenos Aires. Casa de la Provincia de Formosa: Hipólito Yrigoyen 1429. Tel. 4381-7048.

E-mail: turismo@casadeformosa.gov.ar 

Formosa National Parks and Reservation

At the National Park