Diego Fernando Quint… · CC BY 3.0Salto Cristal
A curtain of crystal-clear water over rock walls, hidden in the forest between Paraguarí and Guairá.
What it is
Salto Cristal drops from the top of a rock wall into a transparent pool ringed by forest, in the Isla Alta area on the border between Paraguarí and Guairá. Getting there is part of the adventure: dirt roads from La Colmena (best in a high-clearance vehicle or 4x4) and a final trail through the forest. A private venture in the area offers adventure activities, but the waterfall itself is state property and, according to the venture itself, access to it is free.
What to see and do
- The main drop and its crystal-clear pool
- A trail through native forest
- Combining it with La Colmena and its fruit
Did you know…?
In 2026 the venture clarified that 'Salto Cristal itself belongs to the State' and that no one may charge for access to the falls.
It lies outside the boundaries of Ybycuí National Park, though the two are often visited on the same trip.
History
Since 2019, access to the falls has been disputed between landowners and neighbors who defend free passage. In September 2025 SENATUR suspended the tourism venture following a MADES ruling; it was partially reinstated in December 2025, and in March 2026 it resumed operating under environmental restrictions and only in authorized areas.
Tips
- Access is contested: use authorized routes, ask in La Colmena or Ybycuí, and don't enter land under dispute.
- In January 2026 a trap was found on a public trail: go with a local guide (baqueano).
- Bring water, food and hiking shoes: services are scarce.
- Don't swim beneath the falls or after heavy rain.
Daytime visits; check whether access is open before you go.
Best time: Spring and summer, when the flow is strong; April to September for cooler hiking. Avoid rainy days: the dirt roads become impassable.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Nearby
La Colmena · Paraguarí
La Colmena
Birthplace of Japanese immigration to Paraguay: orchards, apiaries and a hill nicknamed 'Colmena Fuji'.
Ybycuí (Minas Cué) · Paraguarí
Parque Nacional Ybycuí
Atlantic Forest, cold-water falls and the ruins of the La Rosada iron foundry, from 1854.
Ybycuí · Paraguarí
Fundición de Hierro La Rosada (Minas Cué)
The rebuilt ruins of the iron foundry from the era of Carlos Antonio López, destroyed in 1869.
Itapé · Guairá
Itapé y el Santuario de la Virgen del Paso
Every December 18, tens of thousands of pilgrims converge on the shrine of the Virgen del Paso, beside the Tebicuarymí River.
Borja · Guairá
Parroquia del Señor Crucificado de la Buena Esperanza (Borja)
An 1776 Franciscan church in downtown Borja, with its original manual bell tower, declared cultural heritage.
Iturbe · Guairá
Iturbe, el pueblo de la infancia de Augusto Roa Bastos
A sugar town on the Tebicuarymí with its old railway station, linked to the childhood of writer Roa Bastos.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 5 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.