Chaco Wildlife Tour: Jaguars, Pumas & Tapirs in 3 Days

Three days tracking big cats and endemic birds most travelers never see

A three-day guided wildlife tour from Asunción into Paraguay's Great Chaco, with accommodation, all meals, 4WD transport and a live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or German. The route covers salt lakes, palm savannah and Médanos del Chaco National Park, where you watch for jaguars, pumas, tapirs, giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries: a species rediscovered alive in 1972 after being known only from fossils. A five-day option extends into the drier Chaco. Pickup from your hotel is included. Beverages with meals, snacks and bottled water are provided.

The experience

The tour leaves Asunción at 5 a.m. on day one, heading 40 kilometers to Benjamín Aceval for early birding in the Humid Chaco before the heat sets in. You'll scan for Plumbeous Ibis, Black-collared Hawk, Red-legged Seriema and a dozen woodpecker species in the first few hours, then drive to Laguna Capitán and watch wildlife until dark. Day two focuses on the salt lakes around Campo María, where thousands of Chilean Flamingos gather alongside Coscoroba Swans, Brazilian Teal and shorebirds that shift with the season. The morning brings Chaco endemics (Cream-backed Woodpecker, Crested Gallito, Black-capped Warbling-Finch) species you won't find outside this ecoregion.

On day three, you bird either at Chaco Lodge or Filadelfia Reserve depending on where activity concentrates and weather allows, then return to Asunción after lunch. The guide adjusts the route based on what's moving and where, so the itinerary shifts day to day. A five-day option adds a fourth night and explores the drier Chaco with its own set of birds and mammals. All ground transport runs in a 4WD vehicle; accommodation is at lodges or hotels of reasonable standard in the area; meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) come with drinking water and one soft drink or beer per meal. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or German, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Asunción.
• accommodation for two nights at lodges or hotels in the Chaco.
• all meals from breakfast on day one through lunch on day three.
• drinking water and one soft drink or beer with each meal.
• 4WD transport for all ground movement.
• a live guide fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese or German.
• entrance fees to reserves and parks in the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 47 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Wildlife Paraguay

Is this one for you?Choose the three-day tour if you want to sample the Chaco's wildlife and return to Asunción by day three. Pick the five-day option if you have the time and want to explore both the humid and dry Chaco with a second night in the dunes of Médanos del Chaco National Park.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

What's the chance of seeing jaguars or pumas on this tour?

The Great Chaco holds populations of both jaguars and pumas, and the itinerary is built around wildlife watching at dawn and dusk when these cats are most active. Sightings are possible but not guaranteed. The guide will position you at the best locations based on recent activity and animal movement patterns.

What birds can I expect to see that don't live anywhere else?

Chaco endemics include Quebracho Crested-Tinamou, Black-legged Seriema, Black-bodied Woodpecker, Cream-backed Woodpecker, Crested Gallito and Black-capped Warbling-Finch. The salt lakes also attract thousands of waterbirds (Chilean Flamingos, Coscoroba Swans and shorebirds) that concentrate seasonally.

How much walking is involved each day?

The tour involves a moderate amount of walking, mostly at dawn and dusk when you move slowly through habitat watching for birds and mammals. Most travel between locations happens by 4WD vehicle. The guide will pace the walking to the group's fitness level.

What's the difference between the three-day and five-day options?

The three-day tour covers the Humid Chaco with its salt lakes and palm savannah. The five-day option adds a fourth night and explores the drier Chaco and Médanos del Chaco National Park, where the arid vegetation and dunes hold different bird and mammal species.

Are meals included, and can you accommodate dietary needs?

All meals from day one through day three (breakfast and lunch on the final day) are included, along with drinking water and one soft drink or beer per meal. Inform the operator of any specific dietary requirements when you book.