Routes · 6 days
Birds and Nature: Asunción Bay, Laguna Blanca, and Mbaracayú
Six days of birdwatching across three very different habitats. In Asunción Bay, shorebirds that migrate all the way from North America gather right in front of the historic center. At Laguna Blanca, clear water surrounded by cerrado savanna. And at the Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve, over 64,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest home to some 400 bird species, jaguars, and tapirs, with lodging inside the reserve and skies free of light pollution.
Birds right in the capital
≈ 36 km
At sunrise, binoculars ready at the Costanera's birdwatching lookout: herons, cormorants, and, in spring, shorebirds that have flown all the way from the Arctic, gathering on the bay's sandbanks. Mid-morning in the forest of the Botanical Garden, and an afternoon at Parque Guasu Metropolitano, with trails and forest-edge birds. About 35 km by car.
Overnight: Asunción: Hotel Guaraní, Casa Corbellani, or El Viajero Hostel.
Heading north: Laguna Blanca
≈ 286 km
About 285 km on Routes PY03 and PY08, with an unpaved final stretch on Route PY11: 4.5 to 5 hours. Arrive by mid-afternoon to explore the shoreline and patches of cerrado savanna at dusk, when the birds become active. A quiet night by the lagoon.
Overnight: Laguna Blanca: Ecotur Laguna Blanca (cabins and camping, reservation required).
A day at Laguna Blanca
Sunrise with birds of the cerrado and forest, kayaking on the clear water, and a hammock nap under the trees. Outside of summer, the lagoon is nearly empty and perfect for calm observation; in high season, get an early start. A free afternoon for photography and one last swim.
Overnight: Laguna Blanca: Ecotur Laguna Blanca.
On to the Mbaracayú Forest
≈ 218 km
About 220 km and 4 hours or more to the northeast, via Curuguaty, with the final kilometers unpaved: check road conditions first. Arrival at Mbaracayú Lodge in the afternoon, followed by a first walk along nearby trails as the Atlantic Forest comes alive at dusk.
Overnight: Mbaracayú Lodge (cabins and camping run by the Fundación Moisés Bertoni, reservation required).
Trails, canoeing, and starry skies at Mbaracayú
A full day in the reserve with guides from the Fundación: interpretive trails at dawn, canoeing on the Jejuí-mí River, waterfalls, and, with luck, tapir tracks. At night, a sky untouched by light pollution. Bring insect repellent, long sleeves, a flashlight, and binoculars.
Overnight: Mbaracayú Lodge.
Return to Asunción
≈ 314 km
One last birding outing at dawn, then the return trip via Curuguaty and Route PY03, about 315 km and 5.5 to 6.5 hours of driving. Leave before noon to reach Asunción while it's still light, and if needed, break up the trip with a meal stop in Curuguaty, the nearest major town to the reserve.
Overnight: Asunción: Hotel Guaraní, Casa Corbellani, or El Viajero Hostel.
Tips
- Arrange your Mbaracayú visit in advance with the Fundación Moisés Bertoni: it's not a place to pass through quickly, and at least two nights are recommended.
- Banco San Miguel has informal settlements: observe from the Costanera or join guided outings run by specialized organizations.
- Cell signal is limited at Mbaracayú and Laguna Blanca: download offline maps and let someone know your itinerary.
- Possible extension: the salt lagoons of the Central Chaco (Laguna Capitán) for flamingos, from May to September.