What's on

Paraguay month by month

Patron-saint festivals, fairs, carnivals and the weather of every month. Pick when you travel and we will tell you what is on and where to go.

Spring

November

The German colonies' chopp festivals arrive: the Obligado Choppfest and the Independencia Chopp Fest. Guarambaré crowns its Takuare'ẽ Festival, Asunción opens its museums at night, and the Transchaco Rally wraps up in the Chaco. School lets out, and on the 28th, Caacupé's novena begins, with pilgrims filling the roads.

Events 9

Oct→ Nov

National Ñandutí Festival

Folk music, dance and ñandutí lace in the town of weavers: two nights of competition for the Golden Ñandutí.

MusicItauguá, CentralFeatured Oct→ Nov

Transchaco Rally

The country’s toughest and most iconic race: rally cars flat out on the dusty roads of the Chaco.

SportMariscal Estigarribia y Chaco Central, BoquerónFeatured Oct→ Nov

Colonia Independencia Chopp Fest

Draft beer, German cooking and national bands at the foot of the Ybytyruzú, in the colony of grapes and wine.

Heritage communitiesIndependencia, GuairáFeatured Nov

Obligado Choppfest

One of the country’s oldest and busiest beer festivals: draft beer, German cooking and brass bands since 1973.

Heritage communitiesObligado, ItapúaFeatured Nov→ Dec

Our Lady of Caacupé: Novena and December 8 Pilgrimage

The country’s greatest display of faith: thousands of pilgrims walk from Asunción and all over Paraguay to the Basilica of Caacupé.

ReligiousCaacupé, CordilleraFeatured Sep→ Nov

Sugarcane Spirit Route (Piribebuy)

A day among sugar mills and distilleries of Paraguayan caña, with tastings and the story of the national spirit.

FoodPiribebuy, Cordillera Oct→ Nov

Guairá Expo

Guairá’s big farming, livestock and industry fair, with shows for the whole family.

ExpoMbocayaty del Guairá, Guairá Nov

Takuare’ẽ (Sugarcane) Festival

Since 1977, Guarambaré has honored sugarcane with a big music, singing, dance and poetry competition.

MusicGuarambaré, Central Nov

Night of Museums

Museums and historic sites open for free at night: the best excuse to explore downtown Asunción in a different light.

CulturalAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)

Patron-saint festivals 6

4Nov

San Carlos Borromeo · Humaitá

A festival beside the ruins of the San Carlos church, a symbol of the War of the Triple Alliance.

Patron saintHumaitá, Ñeembucú 4Nov

San Carlos Borromeo · San Carlos del Apa

Patron saintSan Carlos del Apa, Concepción 13Nov

San Estanislao de Kostka · San Estanislao (Santaní)

Patron saintSan Estanislao (Santaní), San Pedro 15Nov

San Roque González de Santa Cruz · San Roque González de Santa Cruz

Honors the first Paraguayan saint, a Jesuit martyr canonized in 1988.

Patron saintSan Roque González de Santa Cruz, Paraguarí 27Nov

Medalla Milagrosa · Fernando de la Mora

The Saint Balthazar festival (January 6) in Kamba Kua, with Afro-Paraguayan dances, is the district's most distinctive celebration.

Patron saintFernando de la Mora, Central 27Nov

Nuestra Señora de la Medalla Milagrosa · Tebicuary

Patron saintTebicuary, Guairá

Weather, nature and tips for November

Weather

Hot and humid. Asunción: highs of 31 °C and lows of 20 °C; Central Chaco: highs of 35 °C and lows of 22 °C.

Rain

Asunción: about 195 mm, the wettest month, over roughly 8 days. Chaco: about 90 mm.

Nature

Guavirá fruit ripens; you'll find it at roadside stands in the countryside. From the 2nd, the fishing ban takes effect on rivers and streams for the fish spawning season.

In season

Guavirá, the first mangoes, and grapes from Independencia.

Tips

It's not sportfishing season because of the ban. Bring an umbrella and repellent — heat and rain alternate.

Best regions

Misiones Guairá Gran Asunción Asunción

See on map

Seasons

Dec · Jan · Feb

Summer

Asunción: average highs of 33–34 °C and lows of 22–23 °C; Central Chaco: highs of 35–36 °C. Heat waves can push past 40 °C.

Intense, humid heat in the eastern region, with heavy but short-lived afternoon storms and about 130 to 180 mm of rain a month in Asunción. The Chaco gets somewhat less rain, but the heat is extreme and dirt roads turn to mud. It’s the season of school holidays, carnivals, river beaches and swimming holes in the streams.

Best for

Paraná River beaches in Encarnación and Ayolas
The carnivals of Encarnación and Villarrica
Streams and swimming spots in Cordillera and Guairá
Summer festivals in the interior (Ykua Bolaños, Hawaiian Party, Misiones Tradition)

Keep in mind

The Chaco and the Pantanal (extreme heat, roads cut off by rain), and hiking or outdoor sightseeing between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The fishing ban (veda) runs through November and December and, in waters shared with Brazil, until the end of January.

What to pack

Lightweight cotton or linen clothingA hat and high-SPF sunscreenMosquito repellentA reusable water bottleA light umbrella for the stormsSandals for rivers and streams

Mar · Apr · May

Autumn

Asunción: from highs of 32 °C and lows of 21 °C in March to highs of 25 °C and lows of 15 °C in May. Central Chaco: highs from 34 °C down to 27 °C.

The heat eases off gradually. March still feels like summer; April and May bring mild days, clear skies between rainy fronts (April is one of Asunción’s wettest months) and cool nights. In the Chaco, rainfall drops sharply from May and the ideal season for a visit begins.

Best for

Holy Week in Misiones and Cordillera
Cities and Jesuit reductions in pleasant temperatures
Hiking in Cordillera and the Ybytyruzú hills
Expos in the Chaco and the east (Neuland, Santa Rita, Pioneros)

Keep in mind

In March, the still-fierce midday heat. During Holy Week, highways and accommodation in the interior are overwhelmed: book weeks ahead.

What to pack

Light clothing plus a light jacket for the eveningComfortable walking shoesSunscreenInsect repellentAn umbrella or rain jacket

Jun · Jul · Aug

Winter

Asunción: average highs of 22–26 °C and lows of 13–15 °C, with cold fronts that can drop below 5 °C and occasional frost. Central Chaco: days of 26–30 °C and nights of 12–15 °C.

The dry season: Asunción gets less than 50 mm of rain in July and August, and the Chaco almost none. Sunny, mild days alternate with cold snaps, especially in June and July; homes usually have no central heating. It’s the best time for the Chaco, city sightseeing and hiking, and the season of San Juan, the Expo and the lapacho trees in bloom.

Best for

The Central Chaco, salt lagoons with flamingos, and the Pantanal
San Juan festivals and Kamba Ra’anga
The Mariano Roque Alonso Expo and Areguá’s Strawberry Fair
Pink lapachos in bloom from July
Walking Asunción and the historic towns

Keep in mind

Swimming in rivers and streams (the water is cold). In dry years, fires and smoke increase between August and October in the Chaco, the Pantanal and the north: check before you go.

What to pack

Real warm clothes for cold fronts (jacket, sweater, scarf)Layers: afternoons can be warmSunscreen and sunglassesMoisturizer and lip balm for the dry airA flashlight for nighttime festivals

Sep · Oct · Nov

Spring

Asunción: from highs of 28 °C and lows of 16–17 °C in September to highs of 31 °C and lows of 20 °C in November. Central Chaco: highs of 33 °C to 35 °C.

The heat returns and, with October, the rains: October and November are Asunción’s wettest months, with intense thunderstorms. September is usually dry, bright and full of flowers. It’s the season of the yellow lapachos, the arrival of migratory birds, the beer festivals of the German colonies and the big cultural festivals.

Best for

Lapachos and blossoms in cities and along highways
Migratory birdwatching
Oktoberfest and the colonies’ Choppfests
The Lake and Ñandutí festivals
The Transchaco Rally

Keep in mind

Dirt roads after storms (the Chaco, the north and rural areas). From November 2 the fishing ban (veda) is in force: this is not sport-fishing season.

What to pack

Light clothing and a thin jacket for September nightsAn umbrella or raincoatMosquito repellentBinoculars for birdingSunscreen

Public holidays

Paraguay has used UTC-3 year-round since October 2024 (Law 7354/2024, which repealed the daylight-saving system set out in Law 7115/2023): clocks no longer change. It's the same time as Buenos Aires, Montevideo and São Paulo, and one hour ahead of Bolivia (UTC-4).

1 Jan	New Year’s Day Fixed holiday. New Year’s Eve on the 31st is celebrated with family, with cider, clericó (a wine-and-fruit punch) and fireworks.
1 Mar	Heroes’ Day Commemorates the death of Marshal Francisco Solano López at Cerro Corá (1870). It can be moved by decree to the preceding or following Monday: in 2026 it was moved to Monday, March 2.
25 Mar	Holy Thursday Movable date (Holy Week). 2026: April 2; 2027: March 25. Cannot be moved.
26 Mar	Good Friday Movable date (Holy Week). 2026: April 3; 2027: March 26. A day for chipa and the Tañarandy procession. Cannot be moved.
1 May	Labor Day Fixed holiday.
14 May	National Independence Day Fixed holiday; the first day of the patriotic celebrations.
15 May	National Independence Day and Mother’s Day Fixed holiday. Restaurants are packed for Mother’s Day.
12 Jun	Chaco Peace Day End of the Chaco War (1935). Can be moved to the preceding or following Monday; in 2026 it fell on a Friday and stayed put.
20 Jun	Swearing-in of the National Constitution A new holiday since 2026 (Law 7544/2025). In 2026 it fell on a Saturday and the Executive moved it by decree to Monday, June 22. The same law allows the Executive to declare up to three additional holidays a year (in 2026, Tuesday, June 30, after the national team’s World Cup win over Germany).
15 Aug	Founding of Asunción Fixed holiday; also the feast of Our Lady of the Assumption, patron saint of the capital.
29 Sep	Victory of Boquerón Chaco War battle (1932). Movable: in 2026 it was moved by decree to Monday, September 28.
8 Dec	Our Lady of Caacupé (Immaculate Conception) Fixed holiday; the main day of the pilgrimage to Caacupé. Highways toward Cordillera are heavily congested.
25 Dec	Christmas Day Fixed holiday. Christmas Eve on the 24th is the big family dinner.

The fishing ban is set annually by the Ministry of the Environment (MADES) through a resolution. For the 2025–2026 cycle (Resolution 523/2025): from November 2 to December 20, 2025 on the Paraguay River south of the Apa, on the Pilcomayo, on the Paraná downstream of the Yguazú, and on the rest of the country's rivers, streams and lagoons; from November 2, 2025 to January 31, 2026 on the Paraguay River between the Negro and Apa rivers, on the Apa River, and on the Paraná between Saltos del Guairá and the Yguazú. During the ban, sport and commercial fishing are prohibited; only subsistence fishing by riverside anglers is allowed, from the shore, using a hook, handline or rod, up to 5 kg of mixed catch per person (excluding surubí catfish, manguruyú, dorado and pacú). Dates for the 2026–2027 cycle are published in a new resolution, usually in late October — check before you go.

Official 2026 calendar (Ministry of Education, Resolution 2065/2025): classes began on Monday, February 23, and winter break ran from Monday, July 13 to Friday, July 24. Classes end on November 30, and the school year officially closes on Friday, December 11 (teachers' last working day); December through February is summer vacation, the high season for beaches, streams and domestic tourism. Holy Week and long weekends also drive a lot of domestic travel.