Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA · CC BY 2.0Reserva de Recursos Manejados San Rafael
The last great Atlantic forest in southern Paraguay, source of the Tebicuary and Pirapó rivers, with nearly 400 bird species.
What to see and do
- The country's first Important Bird Area (IBA), with some 392 species recorded
- Bare-throated bellbird, black-fronted piping guan and toucans
- The headwaters of the Tebicuary and Pirapó rivers, streams and waterfalls
- Forests of lapacho, cedar, laurel and incienso
- Mbya Guaraní communities
Access
About 450 km from Asunción, between northern Itapúa and southern Caazapá. Almost all the land is private, with Indigenous communities and NGO reserves such as Guyra Paraguay's. To visit, arrange your trip with local organizations such as Pro Cosara, in the south of the reserve, or with Guyra Paraguay. It was declared a national park in 1992 and became a managed resource reserve in 2002.
Nearby
Alto Verá · Itapúa
Reserva para Parque Nacional San Rafael
One of Paraguay's last great Atlantic forests: tree ferns, hundreds of bird species and jaguar tracks.
Tavaí · Caazapá
Cenote de Tavaí (Cerro Morotĩ)
A half-open cave with ice-cold pools at the foot of Cerro Morotĩ: extreme adventure in Caazapá.
San Juan Nepomuceno, Tavaí y Abaí · Caazapá
Parque Nacional Caazapá
A remnant of Atlantic Forest with almost no tourists, home to toucans, monkeys and river headwaters.
San Juan Nepomuceno · Caazapá
San Juan Nepomuceno
Caazapá's most populous town: shops, the Ykua Kurusu spring and a gateway to the Atlantic Forest.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.