Parque Nacional Defensores del Chaco y Cerro León
Paraguay's largest protected area: dry forest, jaguars and Cerro León rising above the endless plain.
What it is
Covering some 720,000 hectares across Alto Paraguay and Boquerón, Defensores del Chaco is the country's wild frontier. Its xerophytic forest of white quebracho, palo santo, guayacán and cacti shelters jaguars (jaguareté in Guaraní), pumas, giant anteaters, tapirs (mborevi) and Chacoan peccaries (taguá). In the middle of the plain rises the Cerro León massif, some 40 km across and 600 m high, with sunsets over a sea of forest. This is the ancestral territory of the Ayoreo people, including groups living in voluntary isolation.
What to see and do
- Climbing Cerro León and watching the sunset from the top
- Tracking jaguar and puma prints with the rangers
- Starry nights at the Madrejón campsite
- Dry forest with palo santo, quebracho, cacti and air plants
Did you know…?
At about 720,700 hectares, MADES describes it as the largest protected area in the country.
The climate is extreme: occasional frosts in winter and over 40 °C in summer.
Ayoreo people living in voluntary isolation inhabit the park: their territories must not be entered.
History
It was created on August 6, 1975 by Decree 16,806 to conserve the Gran Chaco ecosystem and honor the veterans of the Chaco War. It is part of the Chaco Biosphere Reserve and is looked after by a small team of rangers from the Ministry of the Environment (MADES), based at the Madrejón and Agua Dulce stations. For the Ayoreo it is sacred ancestral land.
Tips
- A 4x4 is essential (ideally in a convoy or with a tour operator), and you must notify MADES in advance: there are no public opening hours and access is managed by the rangers.
- Bring everything: drinking water, extra fuel, food and spare parts; Madrejón offers the bare minimum for camping.
- Never try to contact Ayoreo groups living in isolation, and always follow the rangers' instructions.
Free access, with no set public hours; arrange your visit with MADES and the rangers (check before you go).
Best time: May to September, in the dry season when temperatures are kinder. Avoid the rainy season: the dirt roads become impassable.
Activities
Where to stay
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 6 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.