A Natural Heaven Steps from Downtown Buenos Aires

Located a few blocks from the city’s downtown financial and administrative madness, La Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (Ecological Reserve) is a green space of 360 hectares with unique features within the City of Buenos Aires. This natural reserve gives the city some fresh air, same as the Palermo Woods, but with the possibility of contact with nature.

Its grounds were gain to the river by numerous rubble dumping. Over the years a large number of plants as well as a variety of fauna established spontaneously. That’s when the area was declared a natural park and Reserve area. A number of trails were created leading to the river where anyone can have a walk or jog or ride a bicycle or just stop to observe the different ecosystems that exist at any of viewpoints.

From the trails you can see a wide variety of trees, shrubs and herbs typical of the Litoral (up-river coast) and the Riviera Rioplatense (the Delta and the River Plate). Vast grasslands alternate with woodlands of Sauce criollo trees. On the very coast of the river grow small groups of Ceibos (its salmon-color flower was designated as the national flower), whose seeds were brought by the waters from upstream.

Marshlands full of totoras and small lagoons are inhabited by a variety of wildlife, which is dominated by bird species typical of the pampas. Difficult to observe but also present are several species of fish, amphibians and reptiles as well as some mammals and countless insects and other invertebrates that can be discovered in the water, between the vegetation or crossing the roads.

Everyone is welcome to come for a walk and enjoy the silence and tranquility offered by this reserve. It is something different to do.

Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur

Av. Tristán Achával Rodríguez 1550 (map)

Ciudad de Buenos Aires – República Argentina

reserva_cs@buenosaires.gov.ar

Photo credit: blmurch on Flickr