Puerto Pinasco
A former tannin port on the Paraguay River, where the idea for Friendship Day on July 30 was born.
What it is
On the Chaco bank of the Paraguay River, Puerto Pinasco grew up around the tannin industry and the railway that fed it. It's a quiet town of fishermen and ranchers, reached overland from the Transchaco or by boats coming upriver from Concepción. Its sunsets over the river and its peaceful waterfront make you want to linger. Its pride and joy: being the birthplace of the World Friendship Crusade, which gave rise to July 30 as Friendship Day.
What to see and do
- A stroll through a town forged in the tannin era
- The waterfront and sunsets over the Paraguay River
- Sport fishing
Did you know…?
On July 30, 1958, at a gathering of friends in Puerto Pinasco, Dr. Ramón Artemio Bracho founded the World Friendship Crusade.
In 2011 the UN General Assembly proclaimed July 30 the International Day of Friendship.
It's the hometown of musician and composer Maneco Galeano (1945-1980).
History
Founded in 1907 by the Compañía Rosarina de Campos y Bosques, owned by the Argentine Santiago Pinasco, it passed in 1917 to the American International Products Company; its tannin railway grew to some 145 km of track. On July 15, 1927 a workers' strike was violently suppressed (the “Puerto Pinasco Massacre”). It has been a municipality since July 31, 1962, and its factory closed in 1968.
Tips
- Check the state of the dirt roads before you go; they can close when it rains.
- Bring cash and enough fuel.
Best time: May to September, in the dry season. July 30, Friendship Day, has a special meaning here.
What to try
- Fish from the Paraguay River
Activities
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.