Botanical Garden and Zoo of Asuncion, Asuncion

Located in the northern part of Asunción, the Botanical Garden and Zoo of Asunción is one of the city’s most significant green spaces, offering a unique blend of nature, wildlife, history, and education. Spanning approximately 110 hectares, this expansive park is a peaceful retreat within the bustling capital, inviting visitors to explore Paraguay’s rich ecological and cultural heritage.

The garden originated in the 1840s as the estate of President Carlos Antonio López, whose neoclassical home, Casa López, now serves as a museum of ethnology, history, and wildlife. In 1914, German scientist Karl Fiebrig and his wife Anna Gertz transformed the estate into a botanical garden and zoo, promoting conservation, native biodiversity, and education-values that still guide the site today.

The botanical garden is home to over 500 species of plants, many of them medicinal, and showcases towering native trees more than 150 years old. The area is ideal for walks, birdwatching, and learning about traditional herbal medicine. The nursery serves an educational function, cultivating local species and promoting awareness of Paraguay’s botanical resources.

Integrated within the garden, the zoo houses about 64 animal species, focusing primarily on South American fauna. These include mammals, reptiles, and birds in enclosures designed to mimic their natural environments. Among its most remarkable residents is the Tagua-a rare species of peccary from the Chaco region, once believed extinct until its rediscovery in the 1980s. Educational displays throughout the zoo highlight local biodiversity and ongoing conservation efforts.

While the original estate once spanned over 600 hectares, modern developments, and encroachments have reduced its size. Nevertheless, the Botanical Garden and Zoo of Asunción remains a crucial cultural and environmental landmark, offering city dwellers and tourists alike a chance to reconnect with nature, discover native species, and step into Paraguay’s layered past.