Cundebuff · CC0Mbocayaty del Guairá
Home of encaje ju lace, with an 1857 church, a municipal museum and Expo Guairá every October.
What it is
Just 7 kilometers from Villarrica, Mbocayaty is a village of quiet streets and old houses where women make encaje ju, a delicate needle lace typical of Paraguay. Hundreds of artisans work on it at home and sell it at fairs or to order: doilies, tablecloths, blouses, typói (traditional loose blouses) and skirts. The Church of the Immaculate Conception faces the square, and the municipal museum keeps objects donated by the community. At the entrance to the village, Cerro Mbocayaty has giant town-name letters and free-access green spaces. In October it hosts Expo Guairá, the department's big agricultural and industrial fair.
What to see and do
- Church of the Immaculate Conception (1857), facing the square
- Mbocayaty Municipal Museum, run by the House of Culture, with pieces donated by local families
- Buying encaje ju directly from the artisans
- Cerro Mbocayaty, at the entrance to the village, with giant letters and green spaces
- Patron-saint feast on December 8, with a craft fair, procession and torín (a playful mock bullfight)
- Expo Guairá (October): agricultural and industrial fair with live music
Did you know…?
At least some 300 artisans are estimated to make encaje ju in the district.
Expo Guairá 2025, the seventh edition, was held October 22–26 on the grounds of Estancia San Jorge and was expected to draw more than 40,000 visitors.
In 2019 the district was in the process of being declared Paraguay's national capital of encaje ju.
The municipal museum keeps the armchair Pope John Paul II sat in.
History
Its Guaraní name refers to a place full of mbokaja, the native coconut palm; it was previously called Capilla Duarte, after a Catholic chapel. The Church of the Immaculate Conception opened on January 1, 1857, and the village became a municipality on December 29, 1903. Besides encaje ju and ao po'i, local families make their living from farming (sugarcane, tobacco, cotton) and cattle ranching.
Tips
- It's easy to combine with Villarrica and Yataity on the same day.
- For large encaje ju orders, contact the artisans weeks in advance: it's slow handwork.
- During Expo Guairá traffic backs up in the area: set out early.
Municipal museum: hours vary, ask at the town hall (check before you go).
Best time: Year-round. October for Expo Guairá, and December 8 for the patron-saint feast and craft fair.
Activities
Where to stay
Nearby
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 7 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.