Baritú National Park

Parques Nacionales

The maximum expression of virgin nature, the Baritú National Park is the only one with tropical characteristics in the national territory and is one of the best protected reserves in the world with 72,000 hectares of pure local flora and fauna.

The park is naturally enclosed by four mountain ranges: to the north is the Sierra del Porongal, to the east is the Las Pavas mountain range, to the south is Cerro Negro and the Río Pescado mountain ranges, and to the west is the Cinco Picachos mountain range.


In this area, trees that have reached great sizes such as cebiles, walnuts, cedars, cinchonas, afatas, palos amarillos and tipas blancas that alternate with myrtles, guavas, bushes and tree ferns, which are impressive to the eye, grow without risk.


Despite the scarce sunlight that enters, the lapacho forests abound, expressing all their colors in their clusters of pink, white and yellow flowers. The ground and tree trunks of the reserve are dotted with blue, fuchsia, white and yellow orchids, and many other bright hues. There is no shortage of lianas and vines of incredible sizes and small jungles with tight cane fields.


Among the rare trees in the park, the ficus maroma stands out, known as "the killer tree" because its long stems wrap around the trunks of other trees in so many turns that they end up drowning them and sometimes even uprooting them. The park has become a perennial sanctuary of flora and fauna, so that future generations can recreate their spirit in the contemplation of virgin nature.


The fauna that inhabits this vast territory is abundant, and is not fully defined. But it is known that it is the natural refuge of tigers or jaguars, pumas or American lions, tapirs, red squirrels, jaguars or ocelots, bears, washing bear or mayuato, roe deer, peccaries and honey bears. There are also herds of cai monkeys, capybaras, hares and, supposedly, there is the "spectacled bear" which is a very large animal that knew how to scare more than one adventurous hunter.


Flocks of parrots fly over the park and other typical birds of the reserve are the colorful toucan, magpies, earwig hawk, ducks and herons, among other varieties of multicolored birds. In Baritú lives the largest eagle in the world, known by the name of "harpy eagle".


In the Porongal and Pescado rivers, true schools can be seen since no one is in the habit of fishing in the park. Thus, catfish, tarpon and large dorados, among other fish, can be observed through the crystal clear waters of the generous natural channels that cross this national reserve.