Newdecmoi · CC BY-SA 3.0Villarrica del Espíritu Santo
The 'wandering city' that moved seven times: capital of Guairá, cradle of poets and home of the Guairá Carnival.
What it is
Villarrica is the natural base for exploring Guairá: a relaxed university town with a cultural life of its own and the Ybytyruzú range on the horizon. Its center gathers the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 19th- and 20th-century mansions and the municipal museum, which holds mementos of the poet Manuel Ortiz Guerrero. In the park that bears his name, the Ykua Pytã lagoon is home to capybaras and herons just steps from the pavement. In the mornings you'll still see karumbé — horse-drawn carriages — clip-clopping through town, perfect for an unhurried ride. In February the city lights up with the Guairá Carnival.
What to see and do
- Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (1891) and the main square
- Maestro Fermín López Municipal Museum, with a room devoted to Manuel Ortiz Guerrero
- Manuel Ortiz Guerrero Park and Ykua Pytã lagoon, with capybaras and waterbirds
- The old railway station and its 1940s grain silo, protected under Law 5621/16
- A karumbé carriage ride from the stand near the bus terminal
- Guairá Carnival (February, Rey Eduardo Vezzetti Sambadrome) and Festival de la Raza (October)
Did you know…?
In 1674, during one of its moves, Villarrica set up in what is now the district of Itapé before reaching its permanent site.
This is the birthplace of Juan Vicente Estigarribia (1788), regarded as Paraguay's first doctor, and of the poet Manuel Ortiz Guerrero (1894).
The cathedral tower has a clock and three bells; the oldest dates from 1781.
Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass for farmers in Villarrica on May 17, 1988, during the first papal visit to Paraguay.
History
Villarrica was founded on May 14, 1570, by Ruy Díaz de Melgarejo beside the Ivaí River, in what is now the Brazilian state of Paraná. Raids by bandeirantes (Portuguese-Brazilian slave hunters) and economic hardship forced it to relocate seven times between 1592 and 1683, when it finally settled at the foot of the Ybytyruzú; King Philip V approved the site in 1701. Hence its nickname, the 'wandering city.' The current cathedral, completed in 1891, rose on the site of the Franciscan chapel built from 1683 onward.
Tips
- The museum opens Monday to Friday 7:00–18:00 and Saturdays 8:00–11:00 (check before you go).
- Karumbé carriages operate Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 12:00; in 2024 they charged ₲ 20,000 per person for short trips and ₲ 100,000 per hour for a city tour (check before you go).
- In 2026 the Guairá Carnival ran for four nights (February 20, 21, 27 and 28) with tickets from ₲ 10,000 — book your hotel well ahead.
Maestro Fermín López Museum: Monday to Friday 7:00–18:00, Saturdays 8:00–11:00 (check before you go).
Best time: Year-round. February for the Guairá Carnival; May 14 for the city's anniversary, and Pentecost (a movable date in May or June) for the patron-saint feast of the Holy Spirit; October for the Festival de la Raza (43rd edition in 2026, with a pre-festival on October 2 at the Municipal Theater). Summer heat is fierce: stroll early in the morning or around sunset.
What to try
- Freshly baked chipa (cheesy manioc bread) with cocido (toasted yerba mate tea) for an afternoon snack
- Ice-cold tereré (cold-brewed yerba mate) in the square on summer afternoons
Activities
Where to stay
Festivals and events here
Guairá Carnival
Dance troupes, carnival royalty and drum bands in the Villarrica sambadrome, one of the most traditional carnivals outside the capital.
CarnivalVillarrica, GuairáFeaturedMayGuairá Rally (Codasur round)
The South American rally championship comes to the roads of Guairá, based in Villarrica, with stages among hills and farming colonies.
SportVillarrica, GuairáSepVillarrica Flower Parade
Themed floats from schools and youth groups roll through downtown Villarrica to welcome spring.
FestivalVillarrica, GuairáOctFestival de la Raza
One of the oldest folk festivals outside the capital, with artists from Guairá and a “Giant Night.”
MusicVillarrica, Guairá16MayEspíritu Santo · Villarrica
Procession around the cathedral, fireworks and a folk festival with jineteada (bronc riding) and a food fair.
Patron saintVillarrica, GuairáFeaturedNearby
Mbocayaty · Guairá
Mbocayaty del Guairá
Home of encaje ju lace, with an 1857 church, a municipal museum and Expo Guairá every October.
Félix Pérez Cardozo · Guairá
Félix Pérez Cardozo (antigua Hyaty)
The cradle of the Paraguayan harp: hometown of Félix Pérez Cardozo, with his mausoleum and a festival of its own.
Yataity · Guairá
Yataity del Guairá
The cradle of ao po'i: a village where most families spin, weave and embroider cotton by hand.
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.
Independencia · Guairá
Salto Suizo (Parque Ecológico Salto Suizo)
A waterfall of more than 60 meters deep in the Ybytyruzú forest, with ziplining, rappelling and nights in wine barrels.
Independencia (casco urbano: Melgarejo) · Guairá
Colonia Independencia
A German-founded colony at the foot of the Ybytyruzú: waterfalls, hills, grapes, ice-cold draft beer and Chopp Fest.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 14 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.