Parque Nacional Caazapá
A remnant of Atlantic Forest with almost no tourists, home to toucans, monkeys and river headwaters.
What it is
Caazapá National Park protects one of the remaining patches of Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest in the country's southeast, on hills that divide the Paraguay and Paraná river basins. It's a destination for patient travelers: there's almost no infrastructure, but you'll find trails, lookouts, birdwatching — some 150 species have been recorded, including five toucans — and camping areas. Its forests are home to howler and capuchin monkeys, coatis, deer and collared peccaries, and its hills feed streams in the Tebicuary, Monday and Ñacunday basins.
What to see and do
- Trails through Atlantic Forest and hill country
- Birdwatching: toucans and species endemic to the Atlantic Forest
- The headwaters of streams and of the Tebicuary River
- Camping allowed, arranged in advance
Did you know…?
According to MADES, it harbors some 32 species of mammals, nine of them threatened to some degree.
According to MADES, the area includes Cerro Tupasy, a hill about 200 meters high with rock caves where an image of the Virgin is venerated; from the top you can see across the park.
Among its five toucan species is the saffron toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni), native to the Atlantic Forest.
History
It was created by decree in the 1970s and expanded in 1990; today it is managed by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES), which lists it at 12,699 hectares, although other sources cite about 16,000. The area is part of the ancestral territory of the Mbya Guaraní and Aché peoples, who live in neighboring communities. It faces pressure from illegal logging and fires, so visiting with a local guide and treading lightly also helps protect it.
Tips
- Arrange your visit with MADES or the park rangers before you go: there's no visitor center and signage is incomplete.
- Hours reported by MADES: daily from 7:00 to 17:00 (check before you go).
- MADES reports that roads are in good shape most of the year, but they're dirt: after heavy rain, ask before you set out.
- Bring water, food and insect repellent, and don't go alone: the area is remote with little phone signal.
Daily from 7:00 to 17:00, according to MADES (check before you go).
Best time: Fall and winter (April to August) for hiking with less heat, fewer mosquitoes and less rain; spring (September to November) brings plenty of bird activity.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
San Juan Nepomuceno · Caazapá
San Juan Nepomuceno
Caazapá's most populous town: shops, the Ykua Kurusu spring and a gateway to the Atlantic Forest.
Abaí · Caazapá
Abaí, el pueblo del aserradero y la terminal del ramal Fassardi
A village founded by a timber entrepreneur that had a railway terminal until 1988 and has been a district since 1960.
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.
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.
General Eugenio A. Garay · Guairá
Cerro Tres Kandú
The roof of Paraguay: 842 meters and a demanding trail through Atlantic Forest and rock.
Colonia Independencia · Guairá
Cerro Amor, uno de los picos más altos del Paraguay
A peak in the Ybytyruzú range, next to Tres Kandú, frequented by campers and hikers.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.