Must-see
Encarnación · Itapúa
Costanera y playas de Encarnación (San José, Mbói Ka'ẽ y Pacu Cuá)
Miles of promenade and sandy beaches on the Paraná: this is the capital of the Paraguayan summer.
370 kmHalf a day
Horacio Cambeiro · CC BY-SA 4.0Cities · Itapúa · The Jesuit Missions and the South
Encarnación
The capital of Itapúa is Paraguay's quintessential summer city. Its long costanera (riverside promenade) along the Paraná, with sandy beaches and a dining strip facing the water, fills with families at sunset. The center is a grid of shops, cafés and the Plaza de Armas; across the bridge lies Posadas, Argentina. It is the natural base for visiting Trinidad and Jesús (30-40 km away), the Colonias Unidas and the beaches of Carmen del Paraná. In summer the city comes alive at night; off-season it is calm and friendly.
365 km from Asunción · ≈ 5 h
What to see
Must-see
Encarnación · Itapúa
Carnaval Encarnaceno (Sambódromo de Encarnación)
Paraguay's biggest carnival: comparsas (parade troupes), feathers and drumming every Saturday in January and February.
370 km1 day
Encarnación · Itapúa
Puente Internacional San Roque González de Santa Cruz
Two and a half kilometers of bridge, train included, to cross the Paraná to Posadas.
372 km2-3 hours
Encarnación · Itapúa
Santuario de la Virgen de Itacuá
A Marian grotto on the rocks of the Paraná, with woodland, trails and a huge pilgrimage every 8 December.
380 km2-3 hours
Festivals
Jan→ Feb
Encarnación Carnival
Feathers, drum troupes and dance groups in the Sambadrome: Paraguay’s “summer capital” throws the country’s biggest carnival.
CarnivalEncarnación, ItapúaFeaturedFeb→ MarNatsumatsuri, Encarnación Japanese Summer Festival
Taiko, dances and Japanese food on a summer night hosted by Encarnación’s Nikkei (Japanese-descendant) community.
Heritage communitiesEncarnación, Itapúa25MarNuestra Señora de la Encarnación · Encarnación
Mass at the cathedral and a procession of the Virgin through the city center, merging with the celebrations of the city's founding.
Patron saintEncarnación, ItapúaFeaturedAugWRC Rally del Paraguay
The World Rally Championship races on the red-dirt roads of Itapúa, based in Encarnación.
SportEncarnación y Colonias Unidas, ItapúaFeaturedDecFeast of Our Lady of Itacuá
The shrine on the banks of the Paraná welcomes thousands of the faithful from southern Paraguay on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
ReligiousEncarnación, ItapúaWhere to stay
Resort
AWA Resort Hotel
A 17-hectare five-star resort in Encarnación's Quiteria neighborhood, with a spa, pool and sports courts; a luxury base for visiting the Jesuit missions.
₲₲₲
Hotel
De La Costa Hotel
A hotel facing Encarnación's Costanera riverfront, steps from the Paraná River beaches: the prime location for summer in Encarnación.
₲₲₲
Hotel
Del Sur Hotel Museo
A hotel on Route PY01, 6 km from downtown, that houses a museum of sacred art with wood carvings from the era of the Jesuit reductions.
₲₲₲
Hotel
De la Trinidad Hotel
A central hotel in Encarnación, convenient for exploring the shopping district and making an early start for the missions.
₲₲₲
Hostel
La Casa de Pedro Hostel
A registered hostel in downtown Encarnación with shared dorms; a budget-friendly starting point for Trinidad and Jesús.
₲₲₲
Where to eat
Market fair
Feria Municipal La Placita
A daily growers’ market: seasonal fruit, vegetables, cured sausages and farm products at good prices.
₲₲₲
Restaurant
Hiroshima Encarnación
A benchmark Japanese restaurant and a legacy of Japanese immigration to Itapúa: sushi, sashimi and ramen.
₲₲₲
Bar
Kiagus Paraguay Brewing
A craft brewery using native fruits and fresh herbs, with labels full of very Paraguayan humor.
₲₲₲