Cmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0Colonias Unidas: Hohenau y Obligado
Immigrant colonies with community festivals, Choppfest, parks and pioneer museums.
What it is
Hohenau, Obligado and Bella Vista form a single tidy, green urban area, founded by German immigrants who came from Brazil and later joined by Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Belgian and Japanese settlers. Sights include the Edwin Krug Historical and Cultural Center; the Alfredo Sitzmann Ecological Park, an urban reserve of about 25 hectares with 70,000 trees and a lagoon; the Park of Nations; the port of Obligado on the Paraná; and craft breweries. But its soul lies in its calendar: immigrant-community festivals, beer festivals and farm fairs that draw the whole region.
What to see and do
- The National Festival of Immigrant Communities at the Park of Nations (late September)
- Choppfest at the German Club of Obligado (November)
- Agrodinámica, a big agricultural fair with free admission (early December)
- Alfredo Sitzmann Ecological Park and Eco-Museum
- Edwin Krug Historical and Cultural Center
- Puerto Obligado and the Parrot Sanctuary
Did you know…?
Obligado calls itself the Capital of Cooperativism; the German Club's Choppfest has more than 30 years of history.
Groups from Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Poland, Ukraine, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay parade at the National Festival of Immigrant Communities.
History
Hohenau, the 'mother of the colonies', was founded on 14 March 1900 by Carlos Reverchon and Guillermo Closs with German-Brazilian families. Obligado was born in 1912 on land owned by the Argentine Pastor Obligado, and Bella Vista in 1918. In 1953, 78 farmers set up the Colonias Unidas Cooperative, today the economic backbone of the area.
Tips
- The 14th Festival of Immigrant Communities ran from 25 to 27 September 2026, with tickets at ₲20,000 (Friday) and ₲30,000 (Saturday and Sunday).
- The Edwin Krug Center opens Monday to Friday 7:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00 and Saturdays 8:00-12:00, free of charge (check before you go).
- Agrodinámica 2026 (30th edition, organized by the Colonias Unidas Cooperative) is scheduled for 1-5 December in Hohenau; check before you go.
Alfredo Sitzmann Park: every day 7:00-18:00, free (check before you go).
Best time: Late September (immigrant communities festival), November (Choppfest) and December (Agrodinámica); spring and autumn for the parks.
What to try
- Local craft beer, including one brewed with yerba mate
- Kuchen, strudel and German-style sausages
- Varenyky (Slavic dumplings) and other dishes from the Slavic communities at the festivals
Activities
Festivals and events here
Colonias Unidas Rally (National Rally Championship)
The National Rally Championship opens its season on the red-dirt roads of the Colonias Unidas.
SportHohenau y Colonias Unidas, ItapúaSepNational Festival of Immigrant Communities
Ten immigrant communities show off their dances, costumes and food in the heart of the Colonias Unidas.
Heritage communitiesHohenau, ItapúaFeaturedDecColonias Unidas Agrodinámica Expo
The Colonias Unidas cooperative’s big farming showcase: machinery, crops and technology, with free entry.
ExpoHohenau, ItapúaNearby
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 9 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.