Overkill53 · CC BY-SA 4.0Laguna Blanca
White sand, see-through water and cerrado all around: Paraguay's most unexpected beach.
What it is
Laguna Blanca looks like a Caribbean postcard transplanted to the heart of San Pedro. It's a spring-fed lagoon of about 150 hectares, resting on limestone sand that makes the water crystal clear and gives it beaches of dazzling white sand. Around it survive patches of cerrado (wooded savanna) and forest, home to hundreds of bird species. The Ecotur Laguna Blanca complex offers a beach, restaurant, cabins, camping, kayaks and boat trips; there's room to sling a hammock under the trees and while away the day. In summer thousands of families come; out of season, silence reigns.
What to see and do
- Swimming off white-sand beaches in see-through water
- Kayaking and boat trips on the lagoon
- Snorkeling to see native fish over the pale lake bed
- Walks through forest and cerrado with birdwatching
- A night camping or in a cabin on the lakeshore
Did you know…?
Some 283 bird species have been recorded in the area, part of the scarce cerrado of eastern Paraguay.
It sits on a recharge zone of the Guarani Aquifer, and the sundew, a tiny carnivorous plant, grows here.
The NGO Para La Tierra was founded here in 2010; today it works out of Pilar, in Ñeembucú.
Santa Rosa del Aguaray, the district, bills itself as the 'Capital of Pure Water'.
History
The lagoon lies on private land devoted to cattle ranching and tourism. The owner of the Ecotur complex bought the land in 1995 and obtained a tourism license in 2010. That same year, the scientific foundation Para La Tierra was born on the neighboring Laguna Blanca estancia, and it studied the local biodiversity until moving to Pilar in 2017. BirdLife recognizes the area as an Important Bird Area (PY030).
Tips
- Book ahead, especially for cabins and summer weekends.
- Reference entry fee: ₲ 20,000 per person (2025). Check before you go.
- High season runs from December to February: arrive early to grab some shade.
- Don't feed the fish or leave trash behind: the clear water depends on it.
Ecotur Laguna Blanca welcomes visitors every day with prior booking; reference entry fee ₲ 20,000 (2025). Check before you go.
Best time: December to March for swimming (high season, with big crowds in January). April to November for quieter walks and birdwatching; spring, when the birds are at their most active.
What to try
- Asado at the complex's grill shelters
- Chipa and ice-cold tereré with medicinal herbs
Activities
Where to stay
Festivals and events here
Nearby
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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.