Cmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0Loma Plata (Colonia Menno)
The oldest Mennonite colony in the Chaco and home of its big livestock fairs.
What it is
Loma Plata is the center of the Menno Colony, whose cooperative and industries set the town's rhythm. Its Menno Colony Museum uses photos, maps and objects to tell the story of the journey from Canada and the brutally hard early years. In the surroundings, memorial sites such as Campo Esperanza, Pozo Azul and the old Punta Riel station recount the settlement, while to the southeast the salt lagoons open up. In August, the Expo Rodeo Trébol fills the town with visitors.
What to see and do
- The Menno Colony Museum (Heimatmuseum), in the town center
- Parque Pioneros, in the town center
- Campo Esperanza (28 km), site of the first contact between Mennonites and Indigenous people in 1921
- Punta Riel, a former station on the Casado railway
- Pozo Azul (59 km), the pioneers' first camp in 1927
Did you know…?
The pioneers hauled their harvests by ox cart to Punta Riel (km 145), a station on the Casado railway that ran until 1961.
The Menno Colony Museum was created in 1977 to mark the colony's 50th anniversary.
The Expo Rodeo Trébol celebrated its 50th edition in 2026 (August 12-16) and is considered the second most important livestock show in the country.
History
This was the first Mennonite colony in the Paraguayan Chaco: its pioneers, who came from Canada after a scouting expedition in 1921, founded the Menno Colony on June 25, 1927. During the Chaco War (1932-1935), true to their pacifism, they did not fight, but they sold food to the Paraguayan army. The municipality of Loma Plata was created on June 9, 2006 (Law 2927).
Tips
- The museum opens on weekday mornings; confirm times and guided tours with the colony's tourist office on Av. Central.
- Visits to the lagoon reserves must be arranged in advance with the colony's tourist office.
- In August (Expo Rodeo Trébol) hotels fill up: book early.
Menno Colony Museum: weekday mornings (check with the local tourist office). Free admission (check before you go).
Best time: May to September. Come in August for the festive buzz of the Expo Rodeo Trébol, or from June to September to pair your visit with the flamingos on the salt lagoons.
What to try
- Cheeses, yogurts and other dairy products in the Mennonite tradition
- Home-style Mennonite cooking
- Chaco-style asado (barbecue)
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
Loma Plata · Boquerón
Museo Histórico y Heimatmuseum de Loma Plata
The Menno Colony museum tells of the first settlers' arrival in 1927 and their coexistence with Indigenous communities.
Loma Plata (aldea Osterwick) · Boquerón
Iglesia Osterwick
The first Mennonite church in South America, opened in 1932 while the guns of the Battle of Boquerón could be heard.
Filadelfia · Boquerón
Fortín Trébol
A park and cemetery for fallen Chaco War soldiers, about 5 km from Filadelfia; it supported Fortín Toledo's right flank.
Colonia Menno (cerca de Loma Plata) · Presidente Hayes
Fortín Isla Po'i (Museo Ruta Chaco Boreal)
The great Paraguayan headquarters of the Chaco War, now an interactive museum and the cemetery of those who fell at Boquerón.
Filadelfia · Boquerón
Museo al aire libre Ruedas Pioneras
A park at Filadelfia's east entrance with the settlers' first vehicles: the "Laurita" locomotive, the Mennonite cart and more.
Filadelfia (desvío a Filadelfia) · Boquerón
Centro de Interpretación del Gran Chaco Americano (CIGCHA)
The best introduction to the Chaco: history, wildlife and Indigenous peoples in a bioclimatic building ringed by samu'u trees, with SENATUR tourist information.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 10 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.