Cmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0Quiindy
The ball capital: whole families hand-stitch balls for football, volleyball, rugby and pikivóley.
What it is
In Quiindy, people stitch balls: for football, volleyball, handball, rugby and pikivóley, in family workshops that support much of the town. In the Niño Jesús neighborhood, known as the Barrio de las Pelotas (Ball District), the Centro Pelota Róga (since 2017) shows the handmade process, and you can buy straight from the makers. In the Valle Apu'a community, carpenters craft wooden barbecue boards and trays. The 'pearl of the Ypoá' is also the gateway to the vast Lake Ypoá wetland.
What to see and do
- The Barrio de las Pelotas and the Centro Pelota Róga
- Buying directly from family workshops
- Handcrafted woodwork from Valle Apu'a
- Expo Pelotas, a fair launched in 2016
- Feast of San Lorenzo (August 10) with a parade and bullfights
Did you know…?
Diepar, Paraguay's first ball factory, was founded here in the 1950s.
Besides footballs, its artisans stitch balls for pikivóley, a very Paraguayan sport.
From 1906 to 1945 it was the capital of the department that bore its name.
History
It arose around 1733 under Governor Manuel Agustín de Ruiloba; its name is explained as ky'ỹi (chili pepper) + ndy (place), though another version links it to fireflies. It was a departmental capital from 1906 to 1945. The ball industry was born in the 1950s with Diepar, Paraguay's first ball factory, founded by local native Diego Paredes.
Tips
- Ask to see the hand-stitching: it's what sets a handmade ball apart.
- Bring cash in case a workshop doesn't take other payment methods.
- If you're heading to Lake Ypoá, check road and access conditions first.
Workshops: weekdays during business hours — check before you go.
Best time: August 10 (San Lorenzo and the town's anniversary, with a parade and bullfights) and the Expo Pelotas; any weekday to see the workshops in action.
What to try
- Sugarcane syrup and other local sugarcane products
Activities
Festivals and events here
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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.