Ulises Icardi · CC BY-SA 4.0San Juan Nepomuceno
Caazapá's most populous town: shops, the Ykua Kurusu spring and a gateway to the Atlantic Forest.
What it is
San Juan Nepomuceno is the department's liveliest town and a practical base for exploring eastern Caazapá: Caazapá National Park, Tavaí and its cenote, or Tres Kandú from the General Garay side. Its heart is Ykua Kurusu, the spring that marked the site of the town's founding, reached by the stairway of the Paseo de los Nepomucenos; at night, with the parish church lit up, is the best time for a stroll. In summer, the Capiibary stream is where locals cool off, and the town's shops draw buyers from all over the area.
What to see and do
- Ykua Kurusu and the Paseo de los Nepomucenos stairway, by night
- The parish church with its special lighting
- The Capiibary stream in summer
- Patron-saint feast (May 14–16) with equestrian games and torín
Did you know…?
Ykua Kurusu, the spring in the center of town, was the landmark for founding the city; today it's part of the Paseo de los Nepomucenos.
Since 2014 the municipal House of Culture has hosted a chamber orchestra school.
History
Governor Lázaro de Rivera founded the settlement on November 20, 1797, and placed it under the patronage of St. John of Nepomuk, a Bohemian saint. Today it is the department's most populous district (28,233 residents in the 2022 census) and a hub for farming, ranching and forestry. Its patron-saint feast, May 14–16, keeps alive processions, torín (a playful mock bullfight) and traditional equestrian games such as the ring race, where riders spear a small ring at a gallop.
Tips
- It's a good base for Caazapá National Park and Tavaí: fill up on fuel and supplies here.
- Visit Ykua Kurusu after sunset, when the lights come on.
- For the May patron-saint feast, it's best to book accommodation in advance.
Best time: May 14–16 for the patron-saint feast; summer for the Capiibary stream; fall and winter to combine with nature outings.
Activities
Festivals and events here
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 6 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.