A coastal protected landscape in eastern Uruguay, defined by a large lagoon, native woodlands, and rich birdlife.
Paisaje protegido Laguna de Castillos
The Paisaje protegido Laguna de Castillos is a nationally recognized protected landscape in eastern Uruguay, located in the department of Rocha near the Atlantic coast. Created in 2020 through Decree No. 59/020, the area was incorporated into Uruguay's National System of Protected Areas and covers roughly 8,264 hectares surrounding the Laguna de Castillos, a coastal lagoon connected to the Valizas Creek (Arroyo Valizas).
The landscape combines open water, wetlands, sandy coastal terrain, and native woodlands, including one of the largest groupings of ombú trees in Uruguay. These formations, originally brought from Paraguay and Misiones, coexist with coronilla forest, talas, espinillos, ceibos, and arrayanes to form a distinctive mosaic of palustrine and dryland vegetation unique to the region.
The protected area is recognized for its biodiversity, supporting more than 250 recorded bird species, seasonal populations of black-necked swans, and growing sightings of Chilean flamingos. The lagoon ecosystem also shelters native amphibians, freshwater turtles, rare annual fish species, and small mammals, making it an important refuge in the coastal Rocha region.
