Short answer
This guide brings together 4 waterfall sites and 6 national parks described by the Secretaría Nacional de Turismo (SENATUR). The Saltos del Monday, 10 km from Ciudad del Este, are more than 40 metres high; the Salto Ñacunday is 40 metres high and 70 wide. The largest park, Defensores del Chaco, covers about 780,000 hectares. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
The waterfalls
| Waterfall | Where | What SENATUR says |
|---|---|---|
| Saltos del Monday | Presidente Franco, 10 km from Ciudad del Este | More than 40 m high, 3 main falls; trails, treetop course and zip line |
| Salto Ñacunday | Parque Nacional Ñacunday, Alto Paraná | 40 m high and 70 m wide; park open every day from 7 am to 5 pm |
| Saltos Mina and Guaraní | Parque Nacional Ybycuí, Paraguarí | Marked trails and the ruins of the old iron foundry |
| Salto Suizo | Reserva del Ybytyruzú, Guairá | A fall surrounded by vegetation, in a reserve of more than 24,000 ha |
The Saltos del Monday drop near the mouth of the Monday river on the Paraná; SENATUR presents them as a full-day trip from Ciudad del Este. For Ñacunday, it recommends entering before 3:30 pm.
SENATUR publishes no entrance fee for these 4 sites and gives opening hours for Ñacunday only: confirm hours and price before you leave.
The national parks
| Park | Department | Area | What it protects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defensores del Chaco | Alto Paraguay | About 780,000 ha | The country's largest protected area: dry forest, savannah and Cerro León; free access, no booking |
| Tte. Agripino Enciso | Boquerón | More than 40,000 ha | Dry Chaco: dry forest, scrub and wildlife including the giant armadillo, the puma and the jaguar |
| Caazapá | Caazapá | More than 16,000 ha | One of the last remnants of inland Atlantic Forest; birdwatching |
| Ñacunday | Alto Paraná | About 2,000 ha | Paraná forest and the Salto Ñacunday |
| Ybycuí | Paraguarí | Not published | Subtropical forest, the Mina and Guaraní falls, ruins of the iron foundry |
| Cerro Corá | Amambay | Not published | Hills, rivers and waterfalls; a site of the War of the Triple Alliance |
These are the 6 national parks SENATUR presents on its site, with the area it states. Activities mentioned: hiking, bird and wildlife watching, camping at Ybycuí and Cerro Corá.
The highest point
Cerro Tres Kandú, in the Reserva de Recursos Manejados Ybytyruzú (Guairá), rises to 842 metres above sea level: it is the highest point in Paraguay. The visitor reception is 3 km from the summit and the walk takes 2 to 3 hours, according to SENATUR.
Planning the visit
- Season: the climate guide gives temperatures and rainfall month by month.
- Car: the rental guide covers licence, deposit and insurance.
- Contact: SENATUR's pages give a phone number for the 6 national parks and for the Saltos del Monday.