Salto Guaraní
A fall among green rocks.
Diego Fernando Quint… — CC BY 3.0 · Diego Fernando Quint… — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Diego Fernando Quint… — CC BY 3.0 · Diego Fernando Quint… — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lokote100 — CC BY-SA 3.0
Ybycuí National Park is a protected area in Paraguarí Department, about 150 km from Asunción, preserving a remnant of humid subtropical Atlantic Forest, one of the most biologically rich regions on Earth. It combines hills of around 400 m, streams forming waterfalls and calm pools, and a rare historic industrial site. It covers more than 5,000 hectares of forest with guatambú, cedar and rosewood among the main trees. Inside is La Rosada, Paraguay's first iron works, built in the 1850s and destroyed in May 1869 during the War of the Triple Alliance. Part of it was rebuilt on the original plans and foundations, opening in 1975, and it is now a national monument. You can see old stone walls, the dam on the stream, the huge water wheel and a small museum explaining the site's history. In the forest, paths lead to waterfalls such as Salto Guaraní, where water drops over rocks clad in green, and to pools good for a rest. The forest runs up to the hilltops, which give wide views over the trees. It is 17 km in a straight line from Salto Cristal, so both fit one trip. A local newspaper has reported the park open daily from 7:00 to 16:00, and the La Rosada museum open Tuesday to Saturday for shorter hours, so check ahead. Bring suitable shoes, water and insect repellent, and note that rocks by the waterfalls are slippery.
A fall among green rocks.
Iron works and water wheel.
A rare remnant.
Paraguarí Department, southeast of Asunción
A 19th-century iron works destroyed in 1869, partly rebuilt, with a museum.
Yes, it is a day trip from Asunción, but start early.