Bella Vista Norte
Beaches on the Apa River facing Brazil, and an emerald 'ojo de mar' hidden in the woods.
What it is
Bella Vista Norte sits where Route PY08 runs out: on the banks of the Apa River, facing its Brazilian twin, Bela Vista, linked by an international bridge about 100 m long. The Apa and the Estrella stream have white-sand beaches, and the municipal beach is the summer meeting point, with canoe trips and sport fishing. Some 50 km to the west, almost on the border with Concepción, lies the Ojo de Mar ('eye of the sea'), a limestone lagoon of clear green water in the middle of the forest. It's a quiet border corner that few people know yet.
What to see and do
- The municipal beach on the Apa River
- Ojo de Mar, a limestone lagoon of crystal-clear green water
- Canoe trips and sport fishing on the Apa
- Crossing on foot or by car to Bela Vista (Brazil) over the international bridge
Did you know…?
In 2007 the underwater cave of Kururu Kua ('toads' nest') was discovered near town, on private land.
Here the Apa River marks the border between Paraguay and Brazil.
Before it was called Bella Vista, the settlement founded in 1851 was known as Villa Bella.
History
Villa Bella was founded here in 1851, and in 1902 it became a district under its current name, beside the crossing on the Apa River, at the northern end of the old Route 3 (today PY08). Its economy combines cattle ranching, farming and cross-border trade with Bela Vista (Mato Grosso do Sul). In 2022 SENATUR pledged technical support to improve the municipal beach, a scenic lookout and access to the Ojo de Mar.
Tips
- To visit the Ojo de Mar you need to arrange it with the municipality: access is difficult and it's in a rural area.
- The Kururu Kua cave is only for experienced divers with the landowner's permission.
- If you travel into Brazil beyond the neighboring town, complete the immigration formalities.
- The patron-saint feast of Mary Help of Christians is celebrated on May 24.
Best time: December to March for the Apa beaches; April to September for walking and visiting the Ojo de Mar while the roads are dry. May 24, patron-saint feast.
What to try
- Grilled fish from the Apa River
- Border-style churrasco
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
San Carlos del Apa · Concepción
Parque Nacional Paso Bravo y San Carlos del Apa
More than 100,000 hectares of protected cerrado on the banks of the Apa River, on the border with Brazil.
Cerro Corá · Amambay
Parque Nacional Cerro Corá
Where the Great War ended: hills, forest and the stream where Marshal López fell.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 6 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.