Asunción CityParaguay travel guide

Villa Oliva y Puerto Paraíso, puerta de los humedales del Ypoá

Town

A fishing village an hour from Villeta where boats outnumber houses and the Ypoá wetlands begin.

120 km≈ 1 h from Asunción
Half a day to 1 dayDuration

What it is

Villa Oliva sits in the far north of Ñeembucú, about 120 km from Asunción, reached by a paved road less than an hour from Villeta. Its economy revolves around fishing and it lives hugging the river and the wetlands. Puerto Paraíso, a community within the district, is the most picturesque corner: it is said that there are more boats than houses. It has launch ramps, and local fishermen offer informal river outings. Other communities in the district, such as Estanzuela, touch the Ypoá wetlands, where cattle ranching and eucalyptus plantations coexist. It is a cheap and close getaway for river, fishing and quiet, and a good gateway to the marshes that explain much of the department's ecology.

What to see and do

  • Puerto Paraíso and its boat ramps
  • Sport fishing and river outings
  • Ypoá wetlands and birds
  • Paved road from Villeta

Did you know…?

The district had 3,377 inhabitants in the 2022 census.

The area is part of the great wetland plain known as Ypoá.

History

The settlement of Puerto Paraíso began as a colony between the late 1930s and the 1940s, under the governments of Marshal Estigarribia and Colonel Morínigo, according to the local account gathered on Wikipedia.

Tips

  • Agree on the price of any boat trip before boarding and ask for life jackets.
  • Bring insect repellent and sunscreen: the wetlands have plenty of mosquitoes.

Check opening hours before you go.

Best time: Autumn and spring; summer is hot and buggy.

Activities

Festivals and events here

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Verified · sep 2026

Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.

Sources (4)