Cverascuderi · CC BY-SA 4.0October 1: Jopara against Karai Octubre and the Jopara Festival
A pot of jopara to ward off hard times: beans, corn and shared abundance on the first day of October.
What it is
According to tradition, October was the month of poor harvests and of Karai Octubre (“Mister October”), a figure who brought misery to homes without food. To scare him off, on October 1 people cook jopara, a thick stew of beans and hominy corn, and share it with their neighbors. Municipalities, parishes and organizations hand out free portions all over the country, and Presidente Franco, next to Ciudad del Este, dedicates a festival to it with local cooks.
What to see and do
- Community pots of jopara
- Food festival in Presidente Franco
- The legend of Karai Octubre
Tips
Look for the community pots in squares and parishes: they’re usually free. Presidente Franco is right next to Ciudad del Este: combine it with the Monday Falls and the Triple Frontier.
Dates may shift to the nearest weekend.
What to see
Presidente Franco · Alto Paraná
Saltos del Monday (Cataratas del Monday)
Three main drops of about 40 meters amid Atlantic Forest, just minutes from the bustle of Ciudad del Este.
Presidente Franco · Alto Paraná
Hito Tres Fronteras
Where the Iguazú pours into the Paraná and, in a single glance, you take in Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina.
Presidente Franco · Alto Paraná
Monumento Científico Moisés Bertoni (Puerto Bertoni)
The forest where Swiss scientist Moisés Bertoni lived and worked, on the banks of the Paraná; now partially open.
Festivals and events here
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 1 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.