sunoochi · CC BY 2.0Native orchids
Orchidaceae (varias especies nativas)
Hidden jewels of the humid forest, growing on trunks and branches; exhibitions let you see them up close.
What it is
The humid eastern forests and the hill ranges of the Eastern Region are home to many orchids, most of them epiphytes: they live on trunks and branches alongside bromeliads and ferns without parasitizing the tree. They are vulnerable to logging and illegal collecting. Never pick them: an orchid taken from the forest rarely survives in a home.
Did you know…?
The Encarnación Orchid Society organizes Expo Orquídeas in Encarnación (its 26th edition was in September 2019), with native and hybrid plants, workshops and sales of cultivated specimens.
Season
Many native species bloom in spring and early summer. Flowering times vary by species.
Where
The forests of the Tatí Yupí Reserve, Ñacunday National Park, Ybycuí, Mbaracayú and San Rafael. For Expo Orquídeas in Encarnación, check each year's dates before you go.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.