Satdeep Gill · CC BY-SA 4.0Chilean flamingo
Phoenicopterus chilensis
Pink flocks on the salt lagoons of the Central Chaco, an unexpected spectacle in the heart of Paraguay.
What it is
A flamingo with pale pink plumage, grayish legs with pink joints and a curved, black-tipped bill that it uses to filter tiny organisms from the mud. It is very social, living, flying and feeding in groups. In Paraguay it appears on the salt lagoons of the Central Chaco, fed by ancient channels of the Pilcomayo River. Numbers vary greatly with the water level.
Did you know…?
The lagoons where you can see it (Capitán, Campo María, Chaco Lodge and others) lie just a few kilometers from the Mennonite colonies.
Where
Laguna Capitán (a reserve run by the Chortitzer cooperative), Laguna Chaco Lodge (a Ramsar site) and Campo María. Arrive at dawn and arrange your visit with the landowners.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.