Fuerte San Carlos del Apa
A colonial fort of 1794 on the Apa River, on the Brazilian border, built against the bandeirantes and restored in 1980.
What it is
San Carlos del Apa fort rose beside the Apa River on the Brazilian border to halt the advance of the bandeirantes and of Mbayá groups allied with the Portuguese. Work began in August 1794 on the order of governor Joaquín de Alós y Bru, led by commander José Bolaños, with a wooden palisade and basic structures. Today it is part of the historic landscape of the upper Paraguay River, in the San Carlos area of the Concepción department. It was restored and works were completed in 1980.
What to see and do
- Colonial border fort
- Restored in 1980
- Setting of the War of the Triple Alliance
Did you know…?
It was moved across the river in 1804.
In 1867 it saw a Paraguayan victory over Brazilian troops.
History
It was first built north of the river, in what is now Mato Grosso do Sul, and moved south in 1804 (works 1804-1806). Between 1823 and 1824 it was reinforced in stone and brick under Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. Carlos Antonio López evacuated it in 1855; in 1867 Colonel Urbieta defeated Brazilian troops there, and in 1872 it was partly destroyed: the quarters and chapel were burned.
Tips
- It is remote, north of Concepción: ask the municipality about access and road conditions.
- Combine it with Paso Bravo National Park, in the same area.
Check hours and access before you go.
Best time: May to September; rain complicates the roads.
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.
San Carlos del Apa · Concepción
Parque Nacional Serranía San Luis
Limestone hills, cerrado and forest where blue and red macaws take flight.
San Alfredo · Concepción
Arroyos Tagatiyá
Turquoise water over a limestone bed: the 'Paraguayan Bonito', where you float among the fish.
Puerto Casado (La Victoria) · Alto Paraguay
Iglesia San Ramón Nonato (La Victoria)
A church from the tannin-industry era with a European design, carved images and bells bearing soldiers' pencil marks from the Chaco War.
Puerto Casado · Alto Paraguay
Puerto Casado (Puerto La Victoria)
A tannin town on the Paraguay River, with the old Carlos Casado factory and the railway that opened up the Chaco.
Vallemí · Concepción
Vallemí y sus cavernas
Paraguay's cement capital hides more than 50 limestone caves, with stalactites and macaw-filled forests.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.