Rodney Damián · CC BY-SA 3.0Fortín Toledo y Proyecto Taguá
A Chaco War fort that is now a refuge for the taguá, the peccary once thought to be extinct.
What it is
About 40 km from Filadelfia, Fortín Toledo brings together memory and conservation. The Toledo Museum shows objects found on site, period photographs, military items and busts, and a trail leads to the trenches and to the cemeteries of Paraguayan and Bolivian soldiers. Next door, the Chaco Center for Conservation and Research (the Taguá Project) breeds and studies the taguá, or Chacoan peccary, an endangered species and an emblem of the dry Chaco. Seeing these animals up close and listening to the people who care for them is an experience that's hard to forget.
What to see and do
- The Toledo Museum, with wartime objects and photographs
- Trail to the trenches
- Paraguayan and Bolivian cemeteries
- Taguás at the Taguá Project and a talk on their conservation
Did you know…?
The taguá (Catagonus wagneri) was described in 1930 from fossils and was believed extinct; its discovery alive in the Chaco was published in 1975.
Soldiers from both sides of the Battle of Toledo rest in its cemeteries.
History
The fort was founded on January 21, 1927 by Captain Federico Wenman Smith to guard the border and protect the Mennonite colonies; it's named after Colonel Felipe Toledo, a hero of the War of the Triple Alliance. Between February 26 and March 10, 1933 it was the scene of one of the great battles of the Chaco War, which left more than a thousand dead on both sides.
Tips
- By prior reservation only, through the Fernheim tourist office (Filadelfia) or on +595 985 820 746.
- Bring water and sunscreen; there are no shops on site.
- Don't feed or touch the animals.
By prior reservation; ask about times and the suggested contribution (check before you go).
Best time: May to September, early in the day, when the animals are most active and the heat eases off.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
Filadelfia · Boquerón
Filadelfia (Colonia Fernheim)
The Mennonite capital of the Chaco: wide streets, pioneer and cooperative museums, and the best base for exploring the region.
Filadelfia (desvío a Filadelfia) · Boquerón
Centro de Interpretación del Gran Chaco Americano (CIGCHA)
The best introduction to the Chaco: history, wildlife and Indigenous peoples in a bioclimatic building ringed by samu'u trees, with SENATUR tourist information.
Neuland · Boquerón
Neuland (distrito de Boquerón)
The youngest of the Mennonite colonies: a pioneer museum, preserved native forest and the gateway to Fortín Boquerón.
Mariscal Estigarribia (comunidad Santa Teresita) · Boquerón
Arete Guasu en Santa Teresita
The great festival of the Western Guaraní: masks, drums and circle dances that bring the living and their ancestors together at Carnival.
Mariscal Estigarribia · Boquerón
Mariscal Estigarribia
The “military town” at the heart of the Chaco, a crossroads toward Bolivia and home base of the Transchaco Rally.
Loma Plata · Boquerón
Loma Plata (Colonia Menno)
The oldest Mennonite colony in the Chaco, birthplace of Trébol dairy and of the big livestock fairs.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 6 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.