A visit to Ybycui National Park

Paraguay's most visited national park is located 150 kilometers from Asunción (2 1/2 hour drive). It is 5,000 hectares  (about 12 acres) and is one of the best protected parks in Paraguay. The name "Ybycui" means 'sandy' in Guarani.  We also visited the ruins of an iron foundry called "La Rosada."  The foundry worked in times of Carlos Antonio López , where parts were manufactured for war, plus parts for marine vessels of the Paraguayan fleet. It worked for about 19 ​​years, from 1850-1869, when it was destroyed by the Brazilian and Uruguayan troops during the Triple Alliance War

.We traveled here for two nights, hoping to camp, but were rained out.  We stayed a really great hotel instead and had a great time being outside and hanging out with friends.  It's a rare treat to get to be outside and enjoy the temperature, so this was a fantastic trip!

Spiral staircase at the iron foundry

Water wheel at the foundry

 

Paraguayan farmers

If you go: Camping is a great option if it's not raining. The park has running water (only cold) and indoor bathrooms).  There is also a covered area to camp, but it's concrete.  The road to the park is about 3 km on a very rutted sandy road.  It's not recommended if you have a small car and you are there after it's been raining a lot.  Lucky for you, 3 km isn't that far to walk!  Come prepared to do a little river wading if you are here at any season that's not summer or after it has rained.

If you decide not to camp, Complejo Villa America is a great option.  It's about 5 km before the town of Ybycui, about 25 km from the park.  You can hire a taxi from town to the park if you are traveling by bus. They have many sorts of rooms/cabins, a pool, a volleyball court, a soccer field, and breakfast is included.  The bungalows don't have a kitchen, but they do have a quincho if you come prepared with dishes and cookware. We rented 2 bungalows for 5 people each at 400 mil Guaranis a night (about $85 US).

Exploring Pilar by car

Getting a car here has been quite an adventure with the seemingly endless bureaucracy involved.  We finally got the car and are legal to drive it, so we decided to take off to the south of the country for an adventure.  Our destination was Pilar, a small town on the Paraguay river about 4.5 hours from Asuncion.  Matt had been to the area before to fish, but I never had.  The town itself is nothing super special, but does have a nice river boardwalk and some restaurants with great traditional food like chupin, a fish stew.  Although there was "nothing to do" in this small town, the experience of driving country dirt roads was fun for us.  We saw amazing wildlife and had the chance to see small time ranching in the country side.  The whole department (like a county) was flooded badly, which is not good for ranchers and farmers, but made for some incredible bird watching.

Our car! It's a 2001 Toyota Vitz.

The fields were so flooded that many of the animals were living in the deep water.

"Chupin" or "Cazuela" a catfish stew with tomatoes and cheese.

A Jabiru stork; the largest stork on the planet.  They are fairly rare here.

Our camera is not great for wildlife, but this is a Roseate Spoonbill.  They are pink like flamingos and related to the ibis.

Matt drinking terere by the river

If you go: Hotel Monumental I and II are nice options, but the breakfast is just bread and coffee.  The price was 100 mil/night for a double room with cable and AC.  Eat at Jasy I and II right around the corner-great food!  Be sure to walk along the river boardwalk and check out the Catholic Church.