Arete Guasu en Santa Teresita
The great festival of the Western Guaraní: masks, drums and circle dances that bring the living and their ancestors together at Carnival.
What it is
For several days during Carnival, the community of Santa Teresita (as well as Yvope'y Renda, Macharety and San Agustín in Pedro P. Peña) dances in a circle to the sound of drums and flutes, while masked dancers embody the ancestors who return to spend time with their relatives. The women prepare kagüi, a fermented corn drink shared by the whole community, and the festival celebrates the harvest and abundance. This is a living ceremony, not a show: visitors take part as guests, with respect and discretion.
What to see and do
- Circle dances with masked dancers
- Flute and drum music (temimby and angu'a)
- Communal preparation of kagüi
- Carved masks and crafts made by the community
Did you know…?
The agüero, masked men, represent beings who come from the afterlife to be reunited with the living.
The music is played on the temimby (flute), the angu'a guasu (large drum) and the angu'a ra'y (small drum).
It's usually held from Sunday to Tuesday of Carnival, just before Ash Wednesday; in 2023 it ran from February 19 to 21.
History
It's an ancestral rite of the Guaraní peoples of the Gran Chaco, shared with communities in Bolivia and Argentina, and held to coincide with the Carnival calendar. In Paraguay it is kept alive by the Western Guaraní and Guaraní Ñandeva, in communities around Mariscal Estigarribia, Filadelfia and Pedro P. Peña. Arete is usually translated as “true time” (ára, time; ete, true), and guasu means “great.”
Tips
- Ask the community leaders for permission before taking photos or filming, and respect the ritual spaces.
- Confirm the dates with the community or the municipality: in 2027 Carnival falls around February 7-9 (check before you go).
- Don't bring alcohol or interfere with the rituals; buying crafts directly supports the community.
Dates vary with Carnival; ask the community (check before you go).
Best time: Carnival (February or early March, depending on the year). It's high summer: expect intense heat and possible rain on the roads.
What to try
- Kagüi, a corn chicha (fermented drink) offered as part of the ritual
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 5 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.