Rojas comunicaciones · CC0Yuty
A Franciscan mission from 1611, a 1902 railway station and a century-old iron bridge over the Pirapó River.
What it is
Yuty is one of Paraguay's oldest towns and a fitting finale to Caazapá's Franciscan route. Its plaza, the Church of San Francisco and several restored colonial buildings reveal the layout of the old missions. It keeps its 1902 railway station, a witness to the golden age of the railroad, and nearby, over the Pirapó River, stands the Fierro Punta bridge. The Tebicuary and Pirapó rivers run through the district, and in September the town fills with music for the Ita Karu Festival.
What to see and do
- Main plaza and the Church of San Francisco
- Franciscan-era buildings in the historic center
- The old railway station (1902)
- The Fierro Punta railway bridge
- Ita Karu Festival (around September 8) and the founding anniversary on October 4
Did you know…?
According to the newspaper ABC Color, the Fierro Punta bridge was made in New York by the American Bridge Company and installed in 1909.
The Aguaray stream has deposits of magnetite, known locally as itakaru, which gives the town's main festival its name.
The Ita Karu Festival was created in 1982 as part of the September 8 patron-saint celebrations.
History
Friar Luis de Bolaños founded the mission of San Francisco de Yuty on October 4, 1611. The town enjoyed its heyday between 1920 and 1950 thanks to the Carlos Antonio López Railway. Between 2001 and 2006 the municipality led the restoration of its Franciscan-era buildings. Its patron is Our Lady of the Nativity, celebrated on September 8, and the founding anniversary is marked every October 4.
Tips
- It's about 70 km south of Caazapá on PY08: pair it with Yegros on the same outing.
- The station and bridge have no tourist facilities: ask locals about access and don't walk on the bridge tracks.
- For more places to stay, use Caazapá as your base.
Best time: September, for the Ita Karu Festival and the patron-saint feast on the 8th; from April to October the weather is ideal for exploring the town.
Activities
Festivals and events here
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.