Lonely marauder of the American tropical and subtropical jungles, the ?yaguareté? is the unchallenged king of Paraguayan fauna. You will be lucky to come across one of these specimens or at least to say you were close when exploring the Paraguayan Chaco region, which according to its natural features has come to be considered South America?s second lung.
Regarded as an ecological paradise, this flatland of 246.925 km² (61% of the whole country) harbors extensive swamps, lagoons, rivers, creeks, palm grooves, forests and dunes. Several other species co-exist here with the yaguareté, caimans, over a hundred species of butterflies, monkeys, armadillos, cougars, tapirs, deer, ocelots, falcons, parrots, rheas, owls, vipers, snakes, iguanas and turtles. Orchids, jacarandas, cedars and palms make up its flora.
The Paraguay and Pilcomayo Rivers mark the borders of this region. They converge in the region of the Low or Wet Chaco, the place to find the impressive Estero Patiño.
Not everything has to do with fauna and flora in El Chaco. Many settlements exist, founded in this area by the Mennonite religious community. They are basically center of agricultural and cattle production, key to the commercial development and traditions inherent to this group of immigrants, who also count on an accommodation and gastronomic infrastructure. Filadelfia constitutes the main settlement, capital of Boquerón District, followed by Loma Plata and Neu-Halbstadt.
Don?t leave outside the itinerary the aboriginal settlements at Pozo Amarillo, Yalve Sanga and Cayin to learn about their culture and crafts.
