Campo de batalla de Paraguarí (Cerro Mba'e)
The setting of the 19 January 1811 clash that stopped Belgrano, a milestone of independence.
What it is
Paraguarí is recognised as the cradle of national independence because of the clash that took place on 19 January 1811 around Cerro Mba'e, also called Cerro Porteño. There the Paraguayan forces of Governor Bernardo de Velasco stopped the expedition sent from Buenos Aires under Manuel Belgrano. The site helps explain the context before 14 and 15 May 1811, when independence was forged. It is best visited together with a stroll around Paraguarí and its hills. According to the historical accounts collected by Wikipedia, Belgrano set up his headquarters on Cerro Mba'e, about 6 to 6.5 km from Paraguarí; the fighting took place on the plain between that hill and the town. The coordinates on this page mark Cerro Mba'e itself, and the battlefield extends toward Paraguarí.
What to see and do
- Cerro Mba'e, where the clash took place
- Independence-era context in the city of Paraguarí
- The Paraguarí Artillery Museum and the old station nearby
Did you know…?
The clash is also known as the battle of Cerro Porteño; locally the hill is called Mba'e.
A few months after this battle, on 14 and 15 May 1811, Asunción declared its independence.
History
According to the data consulted, Belgrano had around 700 men and six artillery pieces; Velasco about 3,000 men and 16 pieces. The expedition from Buenos Aires was repelled and retreated toward the Tebicuary. It is considered a Paraguayan victory.
Tips
- Ask in Paraguarí which monuments or signs exist at the site; the sources consulted do not detail them.
- Combine with Cerro Hũ and the old station.
Check opening hours before you go.
Best time: Mornings; 19 January, the anniversary of the clash.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Paraguarí Rally (National Rally Championship)
Rally stages among the hills and valleys of Paraguarí, in the historic heart of the central region.
SportParaguarí, Paraguarí21DecSanto Tomás Apóstol · Paraguarí
The «Cradle of Bullfighters»: procession, Mass and Paraguayan-style bullfights in which the bull is never killed.
Patron saintParaguarí, ParaguaríFeaturedNearby
Paraguarí · Paraguarí
Paraguarí
A town of hills and trains where Belgrano was stopped in 1811: lookouts, railway museums and rail bikes.
Paraguarí · Paraguarí
Cerro Hũ (Cerro Negro)
One of the hills ringing Paraguarí, with a trail to the summit and a viewpoint, also called Cerro Negro.
Escobar · Paraguarí
Escobar y su antigua estación ferroviaria
A railway town from 1901 with a historic Carlos Antonio López Railway station and a small museum.
Paraguarí · Paraguarí
Cerro Mbatoví
A ridge of the Cordillera de los Altos, a Municipal Interest Natural Reserve since 2007.
Carapeguá · Paraguarí
Carapeguá
Capital of poyvi: loom-woven blankets, hammocks and ponchos on the banks of the Caañabé stream.
Sapucai · Paraguarí
Sapucai
A railway town among the hills: British workshops from 1894, steam locomotives and the English technicians' houses.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.