Paso Bravo National Park

Paso Bravo Overview

Paso Bravo National Park, known locally as Parque Nacional Paso Bravo, is a remote and rugged protected area in the Concepción department of Paraguay.

Covering approximately 637 square miles (1,650 square kilometers), this park lies within the vast Gran Chaco region, a semi-arid expanse known for its extreme climate, dense thorny forests, and rich biodiversity. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, deep ravines, dry riverbeds, and a mix of xerophytic vegetation, including quebracho trees, palo santo, and cacti. The Río Apa, a crucial water source in the region, runs along the northern edge of the park, creating a stark contrast to the otherwise arid surroundings.

The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including some of South America’s most elusive species. Mammals such as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and tapirs roam the dense forests, while giant anteaters and armadillos are often spotted foraging in the undergrowth.

Paso Bravo is also an important birdwatching destination, with species like the red-legged seriema, harpy eagle, and toco toucan thriving in its diverse habitats. The region supports a range of reptiles, including caimans and various snake species, as well as an abundance of insects adapted to the harsh environment.

One of the park’s most striking features is its remoteness, offering a sense of pristine wilderness rarely found elsewhere. The challenging terrain and lack of major infrastructure make it an ideal destination for adventurers seeking solitude and a deeper connection with nature.

Visitors can engage in off-the-beaten-path hiking, wildlife observation, and photography, but due to its isolation, proper planning is required. The park’s rugged beauty, combined with its ecological importance, makes it an underrated yet significant conservation area within Paraguay’s protected park system.

Paso Bravo faces several conservation challenges, primarily due to illegal logging, poaching, and habitat fragmentation. The harsh climate and limited accessibility make conservation efforts difficult, yet the Paraguayan government and environmental organizations have made progress in protecting the park’s biodiversity.

Conservation efforts have focused on habitat preservation, wildlife monitoring, and community involvement to curb deforestation and illegal activities. While challenges remain, the park continues to serve as a critical refuge for some of Paraguay’s most endangered species.

Park Map

Paso Bravo National Park Highlights

Wildlife

Birds

Paso Bravo National Park is also an excellent destination for birdwatching, offering a wide variety of species adapted to dry Chaco forests and grasslands.

Red-legged Seriema
A tall, ground-dwelling bird, the red-legged seriema is known for its loud calls and its ability to hunt snakes and small rodents.

Toco Toucan
Easily recognizable by its large orange bill, the toco toucan is often seen in the park’s forests, feeding on fruit and small insects.

Crowned Solitary Eagle
A rare raptor of the Chaco, this eagle hunts small mammals and birds, playing an important role as a top predator.

Spot-winged Falconet
One of the smallest raptors in South America, the spot-winged falconet is a skilled hunter of insects and small birds.

Blue-crowned Parakeet
A vibrant and social bird, the blue-crowned parakeet is commonly seen in noisy flocks, feeding on seeds and fruit.

Many-colored Chaco Finch
A brightly colored finch endemic to the Chaco, this species is often found foraging in the dry forests and open areas of the park.

Chaco Chachalaca
A turkey-like bird with loud, repetitive calls, the Chaco chachalaca is commonly seen foraging for fruits and leaves in the park’s forested areas.

Burrowing Owl
Unlike most owls, the burrowing owl is active during the day and nests in underground burrows, often using abandoned armadillo dens.

Great Rufous Woodcreeper
A large, distinctive woodcreeper, this bird climbs tree trunks and probes into bark to find insects.

Black-bodied Woodpecker
A striking bird with black-and-white plumage, this woodpecker is well adapted to dry forests, where it searches for insects in tree bark.

Paso Bravo National Park’s remote landscapes, rugged terrain, and diverse wildlife make it one of Paraguay’s most important conservation areas. As a haven for rare Chacoan species, the park plays a crucial role in protecting some of South America’s most threatened ecosystems, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore the wild and untamed beauty of Paraguay’s northern Chaco.

Paso Bravo National Park, located in northeastern Paraguay, and is part of the Gran Chaco and features a mix of dry forests, thorny scrublands, and rolling hills, creating a challenging but ecologically rich environment. Due to its isolation, it serves as a crucial refuge for many endangered and elusive species, including some of Paraguay’s most iconic wildlife.

Jaguar
As the top predator in the park, the jaguar roams the dry forests and riverbanks, hunting capybaras, peccaries, and deer.

Puma
Highly adaptable to different environments, the puma is a stealthy predator that preys on smaller mammals such as rodents and armadillos.

Chacoan Peccary
An endangered species unique to the Chaco, the Chacoan peccary is a pig-like mammal that forages for roots, fruits, and dry vegetation.

Giant Anteater
Using its long tongue and sharp claws, the giant anteater consumes thousands of ants and termites daily, playing a key role in insect population control.

Lowland Tapir
The largest land mammal in the park, the lowland tapir is an essential herbivore that helps disperse seeds throughout the dry forests.

Maned Wolf
Recognized by its long legs and reddish fur, the maned wolf is a solitary omnivore that feeds on small mammals, birds, and fruit.

Ocelot
A nocturnal wild cat, the ocelot is an agile hunter that preys on small mammals, birds, and reptiles in the forest undergrowth.

Crab-eating Fox
A highly adaptable canid, the crab-eating fox thrives in the park’s open areas and woodlands, feeding on fruits, insects, and small vertebrates.

Black-and-white Tegu
One of the largest lizards in South America, the black-and-white tegu is an opportunistic predator of eggs, insects, and small animals.

Plains Viscacha
A large nocturnal rodent, the plains viscacha is commonly found in burrows and serves as an important prey species for carnivores in the park.