National park · Paraguay
Serranía San Luis National ParkParque Nacional Serranía San Luis
Enter Serranía San Luis: pay the entry fee (check), drive 4 h on 4×4 from Concepción, hike the marked trails; best April‑October; camp only in the primitive site.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
103 km² (40 sq mi)40 sq mi (103 km²)
approximate
Established
1991
Best months
Apr–Jun, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 9Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Paraguay ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Paraguay's migration authority or a Paraguayan consulate; get your passport stamped at land borders, as some crossings let you pass without it.
- Paraguay ↗The Chaco is remote with few services; travel with a guide or experienced operator and carry water and fuel.
- Paraguay ↗Paraguay can require a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from risk countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia — check the current list and vaccinate at least 10 days before you travel.
- Northern Paraneña ↗Bring guaraní cash: ATMs are scarce and unreliable outside Concepción and Pedro Juan Caballero.
- Northern Paraneña ↗After heavy rain, dirt roads to the national parks may be impassable; ask locally before setting out.
- Northern Paraneña ↗There is a Paraguayan immigration office in Concepción, but no immigration post on the Brazilian side of the Río Paraguay — plan border formalities accordingly.
At a glance
- Country
- Paraguay
- Area
- 103 km² (40 sq mi)40 sq mi (103 km²)
- Park covers about 10,283 ha (≈102.8 km²); figures may vary between sources.
- Established
- 1991
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Serranía San Luis National Park, created in 1991, protects over 200 bird species and key jaguar corridors in a remote semi‑humid forest of the Northern Paraneña, offering basic ranger facilities, marked trails and a primitive campground.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1991.
Size and age
103 km² (40 sq mi)40 sq mi (103 km²) · national park since 1991
Park covers about 10,283 ha (≈102.8 km²); figures may vary between sources.
Why go
- Birdwatching on over 200 species in a remote semi‑humid forest.
- Spot jaguar tracks along a key migration corridor.
- Explore flat limestone hills and grasslands on quiet trails.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanDry, but cooler; trails may be muddy after rain.
- FebDry season, good bird activity.
- MarStart of the optimal window, less crowd.
- AprPeak bird season, dry roads.
- MayDry, comfortable temperatures.
- JunDry, cooler evenings.
- JulOccasional rain may make roads muddy.
- AugRain possible, road conditions variable.
- SepTransition to wet season, some trail wear.
- OctLate dry season, good visibility.
- NovEarly wet, still accessible.
- DecCool, dry days.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds (macaws, Bare‑throated Bellbird, etc.)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Jaguars (tracks, occasional sightings)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Maned wolves, anteaters, tapirs, pampas deerMar–Sep | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Concepción
Drive north on highway 3 to Vallemi (20 km (12 mi)), then follow signs to San Alfredo and the dirt road to the park gate.Drive north on highway 3 to Vallemi (12 mi (20 km)), then follow signs to San Alfredo and the dirt road to the park gate.
≈4 h (4×4 recommended)
Open the page →
From Asunción
Long‑distance bus to Concepción, then follow the above route.
≈8–9 h total
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger station | Gate, information desk, camping registration, basic facilities. | Open with entry permit. |
| Marked trails | Network of hiking routes with signage and observation platforms. | Open; stay on marked paths. |
| Primitive campground | Designated tent area near the ranger station, no services. | Permit required; no fires. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates centred on the ranger station; other points are approximate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | PYG 5,000–8,000 | person | Official fee not published; estimate based on similar parks. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit permit or guide
Camping permit permit or guide
Park rules
- Fires
- Not allowed anywhere in the park.
- Camping
- Only in the designated primitive site with a permit.
- Off‑road vehicles
- Restricted to the main access road; stay on marked trails.
- Litter
- Pack out all waste.
- Wildlife disturbance
- Do not approach jaguar tracks or feed animals.
Where to stay
In the park
Primitive campground (inside park)
Tents only; no water or electricity.
Near the park
Concepción town
Hotels, hostels, and restaurants about 30 km (19 mi) away.Hotels, hostels, and restaurants about 19 mi (30 km) away.
Safety
Remote roads high
Wildlife (jaguars, snakes) medium
Weather‑related road washouts medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Ranger station reachable by vehicle; short walks are flat and suitable for most abilities.
- Longer trails have uneven ground; not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Camp only in the designated area and use a stove, not open fires.
- Carry out all trash and leftover food.
- Support local guides in Concepción for supplies.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Serranía San Luis National Park?
Entry is around 5,000–8,000 PYG per person; exact fee not published, so confirm at the ranger station.
What are the best hikes in Serranía San Luis National Park?
The 2–3 h birdwatching loop, the jaguar corridor viewpoint walk, and the limestone hill walk are the most popular marked trails.
When is the best time to visit Serranía San Luis National Park?
April to October offers dry roads and peak bird activity; the dry season (April‑June) is especially reliable.
Can I camp inside the park?
Yes, at the primitive campground near the ranger station with a permit; no facilities, bring all supplies.
How do I get to the park from Concepción?
Drive north on highway 3 to Vallemi (20 km), then follow signs to San Alfredo and the dirt road to the park gate; a 4×4 is recommended.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Serranía San Luis National Park
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