Eco Reserva Mbatoví
The Eco-reserva Mbatoví is a protected area. It is reserve, preserved by its owner to protect the biological diversity and the natural process. It is the first Environmental Service (business)of Paraguay to be inscribed in the General Direction of Public Registration. It is located in the Department of Paraguari, Paraguay, in the middle of the Cordillera de los Altos, between Paraguari and Piribebuy, in the Central Litoral.
History
In 1999, a couple Jacinto Santa María and Marta González Ayala –both nature lovers, started the search for a natural space in which they could rest on weekends. They found a place in the middle of the Cordillera de los Altos, near Paraguari, with a beautiful view of the Hills and the valley of Pirayu. They fell in love with the beauty of the landscape and richness of the biodiversity.
They bought the property and they decided to keep the space conserved, and to share it with the public. They began doing the necessary studies and legal work needed to start the Eco-reserva Mbatovi.
In 2003, everything regarding the legal work was finished with the constitution of the protected area and the inscription of Mbatovi in the General Direction of Public Registration, as the first Environmental Service of Paraguay. The work of the reservation continued thanks to the deep passion of the owners.
Jacinto and Marta went to different Latin-American countries (Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Brazil ) to investigate ways to combine tourism with nature conservation. The Eco Reserva Mbatovi opened to the public in January 2006.
Landscape
Its great value rests mainly in its beauty, accessibility and diversity of ecosystems in a small area and an excellent panoramic view. It's possible to see the Cerro Santo Tomas, el Cerro Hu and the Cerro Pero, to the south, and towards the east, the Valley of Pirayu and the Cerro Mbatovi.
Native species
Streams with un-polluted waters, forming various dams, where you can find Chachi communities, a very rare species in danger of extinction, as well as many different types of plants such as ferns, maiden’s hair and lichens. Small natural caves make the environment extremely peaceful.
On the side of these streams are deep forests with mature trees and much natural regeneration. There are more than a hundred native species present.
There are many local bird species as well as a variety of reptiles and mammals such as the agouti paca, acutí sayju, aguara'í, tapití and different species of armadillos. In the eco reservation of Mbatoví it is possible to find cactus and wild orchids, besides a great variety of ferns, which can be seen from a natural balcony in the tree canopy.
So as to allow for tourist exploitation, Mbatovi was given an exclusive facility, conceived with a great respect for nature, with special care to the visitor’s security. It is designated special adventure park“ National Tourist Interest “by the SENATUR ( National Tourism Secretary of Paraguay)
In this Ecoreserva, you can enjoy of a series of exclusive activities that are carried out using imported and certified security equipment, and with the permanent guidance of high qualified instructors, trained by foreign experts.
Mbatoví also offers different activities for management groups, designed to influence in the attitudes and values of the participants, using a lively focus. The objective of these activities is to develop focused competences in people, mainly related to the Emotional Intelligence, Change capacity, Group work and Leadership.
Location
The access to the Reserva is in the km number 72 of the Paraguari-Piribebuy road, on top of the mountains, 10 km away from the center of Paraguarí. The Reserva is opened on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.