Parque Nacional Paso Bravo y San Carlos del Apa
More than 100,000 hectares of protected cerrado on the banks of the Apa River, on the border with Brazil.
What it is
Paso Bravo is nature in its purest state, right on the Brazilian border. More than 100,000 hectares of cerrado, savanna, yatay palm groves and woodlands of incienso and palo blanco trees run alongside the Apa River and pristine streams such as the Quien Sabe, the Paso Bravo and the Blandengue. Here you can see flocks of gua'a hovy, the hyacinth macaw, as well as red-and-green macaws and small deer on the savannas. It's an expedition destination: no formal tourist infrastructure, dirt roads and enormous distances. Nearby, the village of San Carlos del Apa keeps alive the memory of the old colonial fort of San Carlos.
What to see and do
- Watching hyacinth and red-and-green macaws in the cerrado
- Savanna landscapes with yatay palm groves
- Crystal-clear streams and beaches on the Apa River
- A visit to the border village of San Carlos del Apa and its historic fort
Did you know…?
It's one of the few places in the country where the gua'a hovy, the largest flying parrot in the world, can be seen in flocks.
In 2023 a bill to build a road between San Carlos del Apa and Vallemí raised alarm because it would have split the park in two.
The Apa River, which borders it, is the natural frontier with Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil).
History
It was declared a reserve for a national park by Decree No. 20,712 of April 20, 1998, and Law No. 4,337 of 2011 consolidated it as a protected wildlife area covering 103,018 hectares, according to MADES. In 2021-2022, SENATUR, MADES and CONADERNA backed an ecotourism and culture project funded by the UNDP Small Grants Programme in the park and in San Carlos del Apa, including the heritage of Fuerte San Carlos.
Tips
- Organize your visit with MADES and local guides: there's no visitor center and no services.
- A 4x4 is essential, along with extra fuel, water and supplies for several days.
- Avoid the rainy season (December-March): the dirt roads get cut off.
- Ask in Concepción or Vallemí about safety and road conditions before setting out.
No formal visiting hours; arrange your visit with MADES. Check before you go.
Best time: May to September, the dry season: passable roads, less heat and wildlife concentrated near the water. Dawn and dusk for birds.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
San Carlos del Apa · Concepción
Parque Nacional Serranía San Luis
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Beaches on the Apa River facing Brazil, and an emerald 'ojo de mar' hidden in the woods.
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Turquoise water over a limestone bed: the 'Paraguayan Bonito', where you float among the fish.
Puerto Pinasco · Presidente Hayes
Puerto Pinasco
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Puerto Casado (Puerto La Victoria)
A tannin town on the Paraguay River, with the old Carlos Casado factory and the railway that opened up the Chaco.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 6 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.