Tours

Paraguay – the Undiscovered Gem in the Heart of South America

Paraguay is a small country located in the heart of South America, nestled between Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. A little smaller than the American state of California, Paraguay is often overlooked when travelers tour through the Southern Cone of the continent. Its larger cousins, Brazil and Argentina, get a lot more attention from tourists, but Paraguay is beginning to be discovered by those who love nature and the opportunity to experience it in unspoiled surroundings.

Paraguay has five distinct eco-regions – Chaco, Cerrado, Pampas, Pantanal, and Atlantic Forest – each of which can be accessed easily by land or by air. For any birder looking to add a few hundred species to their list without having to search wide and far through vast wilderness, Paraguay offers the solution. Our tours have been designed specifically with birders in mind. Those new to South America, with keen eyes could easily add up to 400-450 species to their lists in just a couple of weeks because of the ease of travel between sites.

The western region of Paraguay, known as the Chaco is an arid, sparsely-populated region characterized by Mennonite colonies with vast ranches that offer opportunities to view some of the seven tinamou species found throughout the area. It is also a regular stopover place for many migratory birds, including the Chilean Flamingo. Heading further west and further north, the Chaco turns into unspoiled wilderness where one may see the Black-legged Seriema wandering close to the road, or the Crowned Eagle soaring overhead. Of course, the Chaco is also home to various mammals, as well. Travelling along the famous Transchaco Highway, the visitor will see foxes, deer, armadillos, Chaco Maras, even the Chacoan Peccary, know only from fossils, until described in 1975.

To the north and east of the Chaco, the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland begins. It is a stark contrast to the westernmost, arid region of the Chaco, as one travels up the Río Paraguay to the Río Negro where Guyra Paraguay has its Three Giants Biological Station. The Giant River Otter, the Giant Anteater, and the Giant Armadillo call the Pantanal home, and may occasionally be seen basking along the banks of the river or deep in the heart of the surrounding palm and gallery forests. Travelling by horseback, canoe, or on foot, one will see aquatic birds, such as screamers, cormorants, terns, and herons searching along the river for their latest prey. The Pantanal is also home to the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, the Toco Toucan, and the Mato Grosso Antbird, among the 280 species recorded so far. Iguanas bask in trees along the river, caimans patrol the water, and anacondas slither silently throughout this nature-lovers’ paradise.

Located in the center of eastern Paraguay, we find the Cerrado habitat along the banks of the private reserve Laguna Blanca. The Cerrado can also be found in Brazil and Bolivia, but Laguna Blanca is one of the best-preserved patches found this far south. Whether relaxing along the white sand beaches of the crystal-clear lake, exploring on horseback or on foot, any birder will be excited to observe the mix of Cerrado, grassland and forest species that are on display. Tanagers, such as the White-rumped and White-banded Tanagers, the Red-legged Seriema, the Black-masked Finch, and the Curl-crested Jay are but a few of the species commonly seen in the Cerrado. The Cock-tailed Tyrant, the Sharp-tailed Grass-tyrant, and the Bearded Tachuri are threatened grassland species found here, as well. There are also some of the forest species including the Helmeted Woodpecker, the Surucua Trogon, and numerous parakeets. Night-birding spotlights the numerous nightjars, as well as the Common Potoo, that can be found in the area.

Turning to the southeast, one finds the largest remaining portion of the Atlantic Forest found in Paraguay – the San Rafael National Park. Guyra’s Kanguery Biological Station is located on a hill overlooking the natural grasslands, with trails leading into the forest and to the habitat restoration and reforestation projects that have been undertaken by Guyra Paraguay. However, the real stars of Kanguery are the birds, where, although only a small portion of the San Rafael National Park, there are more than 400 recorded species. A wide range of tinamous, seedeaters, finches, pipits, and tyrants are commonly observed in the grasslands, including the Cock-tailed Tyrant and the Saffron-cowled Blackbird, both threatened species. In the Atlantic Forest, one may observe the Helmeted Woodpecker, the Blue Manakin, and the Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, amongst many other colorful species. Once again, night-birding offers the chance to see some of the many species of nightjars, as well as the Common Potoo, and the chance of owls.

Guyra Paraguay is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of the rich biodiversity of Paraguay, with an emphasis on birds and their habitats. It looks to promote the sustainable use of Paraguay’s natural resources, the preservation of its natural habitats, and encourage the exchange of ideas between non-governmental and governmental institutions throughout the country and the world. In offering these tours, Guyra Paraguay hopes to show the world what Paraguay has to offer to anyone who loves nature and wants to see it preserved for future generations. Tour expeditions and birding trips are proposed to generate incomes for the conservation of these areas declared for conservation in perpetuity.