Mbatovi Ecoreserve facts for kids
The Mbatovi Ecoreserve is a special protected area and nature reserve in Paraguay. It's located in the Paraguarí Department, right in the middle of the Cordillera de los Altos mountains. You can find it between the towns of Paraguarí and Piribebuy. The people who own this land decided to protect it to keep its amazing plants and animals safe. It was the very first business in Paraguay to be officially registered for protecting the environment!
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History of Mbatovi
In 1999, two nature lovers, Jacinto Santa María and Marta González Ayala, were looking for a peaceful place to relax on weekends. They discovered a beautiful spot in the Cordillera de los Altos mountains, close to Paraguarí. This place had amazing views of the hills and the Pirayu valley.
They bought the land and decided to keep it as a nature reserve. They also wanted to share its beauty with everyone! In 2003, Mbatovi was officially registered as a protected area. It became the first "Environmental Service" in Paraguay. The Eco Reserva Mbatovi opened its doors to visitors in January 2006. Paraguay's National Tourism Secretary even called it a special adventure park!
Exploring the Landscape
The Mbatovi Ecoreserve is super valuable because it's so beautiful and easy to visit. It also has many different types of natural areas packed into a small space. This makes it a great place to study nature! From here, you can see fantastic views. You can spot Cerro Santo Tomas, Cerro Hu, and Cerro Pero to the south. Looking east, you'll see the Pirayu Valley and the Cerro Mbatovi hill.
Amazing Plants of Mbatovi
The reserve has very clean streams with small dams. Here, you can find a rare type of fern called Chachi, which is in danger of disappearing. There are also many other cool plants like maiden's hair ferns, lichens (which look like moss), cacti, and wild orchids. Small natural caves add to the peaceful feeling of the area.
Next to the streams, there are deep forests with old, tall trees. Many new trees are also growing there naturally. In total, there are over one hundred different types of native plants!
Wildlife and Animals
Mbatovi is home to many local bird species. You can also find a variety of reptiles and mammals living here. Some of the mammals include the agouti paca, acutí sayju, aguara'í, and tapití. There are also different kinds of armadillos. It's a great place to spot amazing wildlife!
Fun Activities at the Reserve
The Mbatovi Ecoreserve has skilled instructors and guides. They make sure you have a safe and fun time while learning about nature. It's a great place for school trips or family adventures.
Mbatovi is also known as a special adventure park. You can enjoy activities that help you learn about nature in an exciting way!
How to Get There
The reserve is located at kilometer 72 on the Paraguari-Piribebuy road. It's up in the mountains, about 10 kilometers (or 6 miles) from the center of Paraguarí.
The Mbatovi Ecoreserve is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and during holidays.
See also
In Spanish: Ecorreserva Mbatoví para niños
