Paraguay has seemingly been forgotten when compared to its more illustrious neighbours, Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. While the country cannot compete in either the number of species or available endemics, it does offer a variety of scarce, marginal, and rare species. Holding some of the last remaining large tracts of pristine Atlantic Lowland Forest, cerrado savannas, grasslands and most of the vast thorny Chaco, Paraguay appeals as both an introduction to Neotropical birding as well as a vital clean-up operation for the hardcore twitcher. Birds aside, Paraguay is also by many a mile the best mammal watching country in all South and Central America. Where else do you stand an excellent chance of seeing Jaguar, Puma, and Geoffroy's Cat in a single nation? Add the re-discovered Chaco Peccary, Lowland Tapir, Maned Wolf, Giant Anteater, a host of armadillos, monkeys, and remarkable rodents, and you'll probably double your Neotropical mammal list in a single trip here!

What’s more, this is a vast country with few inhabitants, and nowhere is this more noticeable than in the Chaco. For many, this Infierno Verde (Green Hell) is the major attraction of the country, and in fact Paraguay offers the only realistic chance of seeing all the Chaco endemics in a single trip. Add a handful of incredibly range-restricted or rare species such as White-winged Nightjar, Helmeted Woodpecker, Giant Snipe, Russet-winged Spadebill and Cock-tailed Tyrant, and you have the basis for an exciting and thoroughly rewarding tour of central South America!