FF MM · CC BY-SA 4.0Pilar
A historic town on the Paraguay River: the only surviving colonial cabildo, a marble basilica, wetlands and fishing.
What it is
The capital of Ñeembucú surprises visitors with its well-kept historic center and its calm. The Cabildo Historical Museum, dating from 1784, holds artifacts from the War of the Triple Alliance; opposite, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar gleams with Italian marble. Leafy plazas, the Paseo de Luces and Italianate mansions invite you to wander. At sunset the sun sinks over the Paraguay River. All around stretch the Ñeembucú wetlands: boat fishing, kayaking and watching birds, monkeys and frogs with local guides.
What to see and do
- The Cabildo Historical Museum and the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar
- Sunset over the Paraguay River from the Plaza del Soldado Paraguayo
- Boat fishing or a boat ride with local guides
- Kayaking and birdwatching in the wetlands
- The patron saint's festival on 12 October and the Hawaiian Festival (January)
- The house of Juanita Pesoa (1820), companion of Francisco Solano López and mother of some of his children
Did you know…?
Its Cabildo (colonial town hall) is, according to the municipality, the only colonial cabildo still standing in Paraguay.
John Paul II raised its church to a minor basilica in the late 1970s (1978 or 1979, depending on the source): it was the country's first minor basilica.
The Hawaiian Festival has been held on the first Saturday of January since 1988 and draws thousands of people.
History
Founded on 12 October 1779 by order of Governor Pedro Melo de Portugal as Villa del Ñeembucú, four years later it took the name of the Virgen del Pilar. It was a port of entry into Paraguay and saw fighting during the War of the Triple Alliance, in 1867. In 1930 the Italian Paolo Federico Alberzoni founded the Manufactura de Pilar, the textile mill that drove the town's economy.
Tips
- The municipal tourism office publishes contacts for fishing, kayaking and birding guides: turismo@pilar.gov.py.
- Wildlife-watching outings with the Para La Tierra Foundation must be booked 24 hours in advance (fee applies).
- A good starting point for Humaitá, Curupayty and Paso de Patria.
Best time: Autumn and spring; 12 October for the patron saint's festival; January for the Hawaiian Festival.
What to try
- Surubí, corvina, pacú and dorado from the Paraguay River
- Pira caldo (Paraguayan fish soup)
Activities
Where to stay
Festivals and events here
Pilar Hawaiian Party
The country’s biggest beach party: thousands dance on the sand on the banks of the Paraguay River.
FestivalPilar, Ñeembucú12OctNuestra Señora del Pilar · Pilar
A procession through the central streets, a solemn Mass at the basilica and a free concert on the Plaza de los Héroes.
Patron saintPilar, ÑeembucúFeaturedNearby
Humaitá · Ñeembucú
Humaitá: ruinas de la iglesia de San Carlos y la fortaleza
The shell-torn church that became a national symbol, next to the fortress that held back three armies.
Humaitá · Ñeembucú
Curupayty, campo de la batalla de 1866
Where Paraguay's greatest victory of the Great War (the War of the Triple Alliance) was decided along a line of trenches.
Paso de Patria · Ñeembucú
Paso de Patria
The corner where the Paraguay and Paraná rivers meet: fishing, wetlands and memories of war.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 9 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.