Curupayty, campo de la batalla de 1866
Where Paraguay's greatest victory of the Great War (the War of the Triple Alliance) was decided along a line of trenches.
What it is
About 8 km from Humaitá, amid low hills, marshes and the bluff of the Paraguay River, lay the fortified line of Curupayty. Today it is an open, silent landscape best understood with a guide: where the trench ran, where the Allied columns advanced from and how the Paraguayan cannons lay in wait for them. For anyone interested in the War of the Triple Alliance it is a moving visit, with no major facilities.
What to see and do
- A guided walk along the old trench line
- The view of the Paraguay River bluff
- The 22 September commemoration
Did you know…?
It is considered Paraguay's most decisive victory of the entire war.
Every 22 September the battle is commemorated in Pilar's calendar of remembrance.
History
On 22 September 1866, some 5,000 Paraguayans under General José Eduvigis Díaz repelled the assault of nearly 17,000 Argentine and Brazilian soldiers led by Bartolomé Mitre, supported by Admiral Tamandaré's fleet. The Allies suffered 4,033 casualties according to official figures (other estimates put it at 8,000 to 10,000); Paraguayan losses were fewer than a hundred. The defeat stalled the Allied offensive for about ten months.
Tips
- Ask beforehand about road conditions and signage: it's best to go with a guide from Humaitá or Pilar.
- Bring water, a hat and insect repellent; there are no services on site.
Best time: Autumn and winter; 22 September for the anniversary.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
Humaitá · Ñeembucú
Humaitá: ruinas de la iglesia de San Carlos y la fortaleza
The shell-torn church that became a national symbol, next to the fortress that held back three armies.
Paso de Patria · Ñeembucú
Tuyutí, campo de la batalla del 24 de mayo de 1866
Dry ground ringed by marshes where the largest and bloodiest battle of the Triple Alliance War was fought in 1866.
Paso de Patria · Ñeembucú
Paso de Patria
The corner where the Paraguay and Paraná rivers meet: fishing, wetlands and memories of war.
General José Eduvigis Díaz · Ñeembucú
General José Eduvigis Díaz e Itá Corá, puerto sobre el Paraná
A cattle town 30 km from Pilar with access to the Paraná at Itá Corá and close to Estero Bellaco, a 1866 battlefield.
Isla Umbú · Ñeembucú
Isla Umbú: iglesia de San Atanasio y Museo Histórico Coronel Pedro Hermosa
A dairy-farming village with grass streets, a 19th-century adobe church and a museum in the old cabildo, 12 km from Pilar.
Mayor José Martínez · Ñeembucú
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A southern Ñeembucú village with an old-world feel, Laguna Falcón and Curuzú Abá port, named after a hero killed at Tuyutí.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.