One of only two portals in the Gran Parque where sport fishing is permitted. The point where 1,300,000 ha of the Iberá drains into the river.
180 km from Corrientes via RN12 and RN123; 67 km from Mercedes via RN123.
Activities: boat trips, snorkeling, catch-and-release fishing and horseback riding.
Historical circuit: the place where Belgrano passed through on his campaign to Paraguay (1810) and the setting of the Battle of Caa Guazú (1841). Capybaras, neotropical otters and a great diversity of waterbirds in the marshes.
How to get there
From Corrientes capital (180 km): RN 12 + RN 123. From Mercedes (67 km): RN 123. Chavarría is 6 km from the portal.
What to do
- 🛥️ Boat trips
- 🎣 Catch-and-release fishing
- 🤿 Snorkeling
- 🦜 Riverside birdwatching
- 🏛️ Historical circuit
- 🍵 Mate by the river
What to see in Chavarría
- ⚔️ Belgrano's crossing (1810)
- 🏛️ Battle of Caá Guazú (1841)
- 🌊 Drainage of the Iberá into the Corriente River
- 🗺️ Chavarría historical circuit
Wildlife you will see
- 🐟 Golden dorado
- 🐟 Surubí catfish
- 🐟 Pacú
- Capybara
- Neotropical Otter
- Heron
- Kingfisher
- Riverside birds
Where to sleep and eat
Chavarría (6 km): eateries, rotisseries and lodging.
Featured places to stay
- Hospedaje Chavarría
Simple apart-style guesthouse with covered parking, in the support town of the Río Corriente Portal.★ 5.0 - El Polaco Chavarría
A classic lodging and dining complex in Chavarría, run by its owners Daniel and Nilda. A good stop or a restful break, with its own restaurant and bar (breakfast with coffee, medialunas and toast). Known for its quiet, its garden and the warm welcome.★ 4.7 - Pirá Lodge
Pioneering dorado fly-fishing lodge (operating since 1999). Seven rooms for up to 14 guests, on a channel with direct access to the Corriente River, an hour and a quarter from Mercedes. Catch and release; seasons September-October and January-April.★ 4.7 - La Posta de Yola
Cozy lodging in Chavarría, Corrientes. Stop, rest and carry on. Comfortable rooms and excellent service in the heart of rural Corrientes.★ 4.7 - Aguas del Iberá - Campsite
Campsite on the bank of the Corriente River, in the Southern Portal of Iberá. A simple, authentic option to sleep by the water, with a fire pit, bathrooms and sunsets over the wetland. Ideal to combine with the fishing outing.★ 4.3
Best time to visit
Autumn and spring for sport fishing (golden dorado and surubí catfish active from March to June and from September to November). Riverside birdwatching all year round. Snorkeling is best in the clear waters of the dry season.
The portal in photos
Portal Río Corriente: history, fishing and the outflow of the Iberá
Portal Río Corriente is one of only two entry points of the Great Iberá Park where catch-and-release sport fishing is allowed. The fishing spot is the source of the Corriente river, where the Iberá wetland system pours its waters southwards: an outflow of 1,300,000 hectares that carries dorado, surubí and pacú towards the river. For fishing enthusiasts this portal has an appeal no other one offers, the combination of marsh ecosystem and active river on the same route.
The portal also has a historical circuit that tends to be overlooked. Belgrano's Army of the North crossed here on its campaign to Paraguay in 1810, and the Battle of Caa Guazú was fought right here in 1841, one of the most important engagements in the history of the Litoral provinces. The town of Chavarría, 6 km from the portal, has a historical interpretation centre and canteens with typical Corrientes cooking.
Access to the portal is straightforward: from the city of Corrientes it is 180 km along RN 12 and RN 123, and from Mercedes it is 67 km along RN 123. The final stretch to the portal is gravel but passable. There is no general store inside the park, so it is best to stock up on water and food in Chavarría before going in. The portal works for a day trip or for camping on the riverbank: the sound of running water at dawn, with Neotropical Otters on the shore, is part of the experience.
The best time for Portal Río Corriente
The sport fishing season peaks in autumn (March to June) and spring (September to November), when the dorado and the surubí are most active. Riverside birdwatching is exceptional all year round: the area concentrates species typical of the river environment that are not seen at the more open marsh portals. The combination of fishing, history and nature makes this portal an especially interesting option for travellers who already know Carlos Pellegrini and are after a different experience of the Iberá.
If fishing is the reason for the trip, the basin does not end in Corrientes: the same team behind this guide publishes Pira Experience, the sport fishing guide to Paraguay, with the areas of the Paraná and Paraguay rivers, its calendar of seasons and closed season, and daily river levels.
Other portals of the Iberá
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