Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve

Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve is a large protected area of humid subtropical forest with deep valleys, waterfalls, and streams that feed into the Jejuí River. The landscape varies from steep hillsides to flat areas, creating different habitats throughout the reserve.

The reserve received official protection in 1991 through an agreement between Paraguay's government, the Moisés Bertoni Foundation, the United Nations, and The Nature Conservancy. This partnership established the legal framework that has kept the forest from being cleared or damaged.

Indigenous groups who live in and around the forest maintain their traditional ways of life within this protected space. Their presence shapes how the land is used and understood by those who visit.

Getting to the reserve requires arranging transportation from Salto del Guairá in advance, as it is located in a remote area. Interpretive centers at the site offer guidance about the forest ecosystems and available trails to explore.

Parts of the forest stay permanently flooded, creating a special habitat where caimans and other water creatures thrive in conditions found nowhere else in the region. These waterlogged areas support a completely different ecosystem than the rest of the reserve.

Location: Canindeyú

GPS coordinates: -24.12211,-55.44703

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:46