Garcia.dennis · CC BY-SA 4.0Basílica de la Virgen de los Milagros de Caacupé
Paraguay's spiritual capital: a Marian basilica, the Virgin's spring and the country's largest pilgrimage.
What it is
Caacupé, capital of the Cordillera department, revolves around its basilica: a monumental 20th-century church that houses the small statue of the Virgin of Miracles, patron saint of Paraguay. The esplanade, the museum beneath the sanctuary and the Tupãsy Ykua (the spring where pilgrims splash their faces and fill up on water) round out the visit. Outside December it's a quiet hill town with views over Lake Ypacaraí; from November 28 to December 8 it becomes a river of people arriving on foot, by bicycle or in caravans from all over the country.
What to see and do
- The statue of the Virgin of Miracles inside the basilica
- The Basilica Museum beneath the sanctuary, with remains of the 1846 church and historic photos
- Tupãsy Ykua, the 'Virgin's well', the town's second most-visited site
- The novena from November 28 to December 8, with serenades and massive open-air Masses
- Yvoty Rape flower fair in the rural community of Cabañas (September)
Did you know…?
John Paul II visited Caacupé on May 18, 1988, his 68th birthday, and the crowd sang him Happy Birthday.
In 2015 it was raised to a minor basilica, only the second church in Paraguay with that rank.
The water of the Tupãsy Ykua is considered miraculous, and many pilgrims take it home in plastic bottles shaped like the Virgin.
The name Caacupé comes from the Guaraní Ka'akupe, 'behind the forest'.
History
According to tradition, a Guaraní man named José carved the statue after escaping an attack by Mbayá warriors. The town was officially founded in 1770, and the statue was canonically crowned on December 8, 1954. The current church, begun in 1945, has housed it since 1980. John Paul II celebrated Mass here on May 18, 1988, and Pope Francis raised the sanctuary to a minor basilica on July 11, 2015.
Tips
- If you're joining the pilgrimage on December 7–8: wear broken-in sneakers, stay well hydrated and walk in the cooler hours; there are water stands along the PY02.
- Leave valuables at home in December: the crowds attract pickpockets.
- Outside December you can see it in half a day and combine it with Tobatí, Atyrá or Piribebuy on the Circuito de Oro.
- Dress respectfully inside the church; Mass times change during the novena (check before you go).
Church open daily (Mass times vary). Basilica Museum: weekends 8:00–17:00, admission ₲4,000 (2026) — check before you go.
Best time: Year-round; weekdays and early mornings are less crowded. To experience popular faith at its most intense, come November 28 to December 8 (a national holiday). In September, the Yvoty Rape flower fair in Cabañas.
What to try
- Freshly baked chipa (cheesy cassava bread) from the stalls along the PY02 and around the basilica
- Ice-cold mosto (fresh sugarcane juice), a classic along the Cordillera roads
- Sopa paraguaya (a savory cornbread) and chipa guasu (a soft corn and cheese bake) at the diners in town
Activities
Where to stay
Festivals and events here
Yvoty Rape Flower Fair
The “path of flowers”: nurseries from Cabañas sell plants, cut flowers and citrus along the highway.
FairCaacupé (compañía Cabañas), CordilleraNov→ DecOur 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, CordilleraFeatured8DecVirgen de los Milagros de Caacupé (Inmaculada Concepción) · Caacupé
The country's largest pilgrimage: thousands walk from Asunción and all over Paraguay to the basilica of the nation's spiritual patroness.
Patron saintCaacupé, CordilleraFeaturedNearby
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 14 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.