Río Pilcomayo National Park

Río Pilcomayo protects a stretch of the humid Chaco along the Paraguayan border where caranday palms stand in open savanna, esteros and lagoons hold water through the year, and gallery forest lines the watercourses. The centrepiece is Laguna Blanca, a large shallow lake reached by a boardwalk through the marsh to a viewing deck, where caimans bask, capybaras graze at the edge and waterbirds work the shallows. The park is one of the strongholds of the marsh deer in Argentina, and howler monkeys, giant anteaters and armadillos live in the woodland. Two sectors are open to visitors, with short interpretive trails, and the park's fires and floods follow a cycle that shapes the whole landscape.

What you actually see

• Laguna Blanca - the shallow lake with a boardwalk and viewing deck.
• The palm savanna - caranday palms across open, seasonally flooded grassland.
• The caimans and capybaras - easily seen along the water's edge.
• The marsh deer - one of Argentina's key populations of the species.

When to go

May to September, the dry season, for firm trails and fewer mosquitoes; summer is hot, wet and heavy with insects. Early morning and late afternoon are best for wildlife. Some sectors close after heavy rain.

Honest expectations

Facilities are basic, with no accommodation inside the park and limited services nearby. The boardwalk can be closed when water levels are high. Mosquitoes are relentless, and sun protection is essential on open savanna.

Nearby

Laguna Blanca town is at the gate; the Bañado La Estrella lies far west in the province.