EcotourismThere are 11 national parks and protected areas, the largest of which are in the
Chaco region in the north of the country. Birdlife is particularly abundant, and there is also a wide variety of animals, including the Chacoan peccary, once thought to be extinct. Visitors should take plenty of insect repellent with them when visiting remote areas. A good way to view flora and fauna is from boats which run along some of Paraguay’s rivers. Trips can sometimes be arranged on cargo vessels if there are no passenger services. The trip along the fast-flowing River Paraguay
from Asunción via Concepción passes through fascinating landscapes, eventually leading as far as the huge marshlands in the north and over the Brazilian border. For more information on Paraguayan national parks, contact the Dirección de Parques Nacionales y Vida Silvestre, Madame Lynch 3500, casi Primer Presidente, Asunción (tel/fax: (21) 615 812; e-mail:
biodiversidad@seam.gov.py).
FishingThe
dorado, found in the Paraguay, Paraná and Tebicuary rivers, can weigh up to 29kg (65Ib). International fishing contests are held near Asunción. There are many other smaller fish that are peculiar to Paraguay such as the
surubí,
pati,
pacu,
manguruyus,
armados,
moncholos and
bagres.
OtherThe national sport is football. There are tennis facilities at hotels and in Asunción. The Asunción Golf Club has an 18-hole golf course. Water-skiing facilities are available in some places. Some large hotels have swimming pools.
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