Toadzacion · CC BY-SA 4.0Lago de la República
Ciudad del Este's green lung: laps around the lake, caimans, craft beer and the city's biggest festivals.
What it is
A lake of about 46 hectares in the Boquerón neighborhood, ringed by walking paths, bike lanes, playgrounds and an amphitheater with a prime view. At dawn and dusk it fills with joggers, families carrying their thermos of tereré (Paraguay's iced herbal mate) and waterbirds; with luck, a caiman may peek out along the shore. The lakeside avenue is lined with craft breweries and restaurants, and the amphitheater hosts the city's big celebrations: the Lago Run night race and the Navidad del Este Christmas festival.
What to see and do
- Do a full lap on foot or by bike
- Look for waterbirds and caimans from the shore
- Sample craft beer along the lakeside avenue
- Catch a show at the amphitheater
- See the tunnels of light of the Navidad del Este in December
Did you know…?
Its shoreline measures around 4 km: the 8 km Lago Run circuit equals two full laps of the lake.
According to local history as recorded on Wikipedia, a jaguar attacked two workers during construction, proof of just how wild the area once was.
History
The artificial lake was built in the 1960s as a recreation area for the young city, founded in 1957. The idea came from businessman Domingo Fassardi, and its name recalls that municipalities from all over the country contributed funds to the project. It is fed by the Amambay stream and, to this day, supplies drinking water to roughly a quarter of the city's population through ESSAP, the national water utility.
Tips
- In summer, come early or at sunset to avoid the heat.
- Don't feed or approach the caimans.
- Parking gets tricky during big events: a taxi or ride-hailing app is a better bet.
The park is free to enter; each event has its own hours and admission (check before you go).
Best time: Year-round, at sunrise or sunset. September (Lago Run and Youth Week) and December (Navidad del Este) are the most festive months.
What to try
- Draft beer (chopp) from the craft breweries on the lakeside avenue
- Ice-cold tereré on summer afternoons
Activities
Festivals and events here
Saint Blaise, Patron Saint of Paraguay
The patron saint of the Republic and of Ciudad del Este is honored with Masses, processions and festivities in several towns.
ReligiousCiudad del Este, Alto Paraná3FebSan Blas · Ciudad del Este
A double celebration, patronal and founding, in the country's second city, in honor of Paraguay's patron saint.
Patron saintCiudad del Este, Alto ParanáFeaturedNearby
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 5 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.