Hugo Diaz Lavigne · CC BY-SA 4.0Ypané
A former Franciscan mission town on the Paraguay River, with the great monument to the Battle of Ytororó.
What it is
Ypané, declared a 'Historic City', was one of the country's first Franciscan reducciones (mission towns). Its parish church of San Pedro Apóstol was first built in 1580, from logs, adobe and thatch. Within its boundaries, beside the Ytororó stream, a monument almost 20 meters tall marks the site of the battle of December 6, 1868. On the Paraguay River lies Playa Mariscal, its main beach, and along the Ypané stream you'll find the 'badlands' (yvy vai), eroded Pleistocene landscapes.
What to see and do
- The Ytororó battle monument (1904)
- The parish church of San Pedro Apóstol
- Playa Mariscal, on the Paraguay River
Did you know…?
The badlands were identified in 2014 by geologists Romina Celabe and Yamila Bogarín while they were searching for fossils.
The Ytororó monument was unveiled in 1904.
Ytororó opened the campaign that Brazilians call the 'Dezembrada' (the December campaign).
History
According to tradition it was founded on March 23, 1538 by Domingo Martínez de Irala as a Franciscan mission, and was founded a second time on May 6, 1862 when the Franciscans returned. On December 6, 1868, at Ytororó, some 4,000 Paraguayans under Bernardino Caballero faced about 12,000 Brazilian soldiers commanded by the Marquis of Caxias.
Tips
- The badlands are in a natural setting with no tourist infrastructure: ask about access at the town hall.
- Put together a history circuit along PY01 with Villeta and Guarambaré.
Best time: Autumn through spring; March 23 (anniversary) and June 29 (feast of San Pedro).
Activities
Festivals and events here
Geology here
Formation
Barrancas erosionadas de Ypané (cárcavas del Cuaternario)
Gullies carved by water in recent clayey sands, near where Pleistocene glyptodont fossils have been found.
Nearby
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 2 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.