In this guide
At the Bay of Asunción you can do three things: take a boat ride from the Costanera beach, watch migratory birds over the Banco San Miguel between September and November, and walk the waterfront facing the historic centre until sunset. Everything is a few steps from downtown and almost all of it is free, except the boat.
Boat rides on the bay
Boats leave daily from 8:00 from the Costanera beach, opposite the Turista Róga lookout, and the Naval Prefecture lets them run until sunset (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
- Short loop: about 15 minutes across the bay towards Club Mbiguá and the Port of Asunción, from G. 15,000 per person in March 2024 (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
- To the Héroes del Chaco bridge: for the 2024 city anniversary, rides on this route cost G. 50,000 with advance booking (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)); for August 2026 SENATUR listed a one-hour ride on the same route (SENATUR (opens in a new tab)).
- To the Remanso bridge: the longest, about an hour and a half, G. 200,000 per person in 2024 (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
Life jackets are provided for adults and children, and rides take wheelchairs and pets (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Sunset is the busiest slot, so arrive before 17:00.
Birdwatching over the Banco San Miguel
The green island across the water is the Banco San Miguel and Bay of Asunción Ecological Reserve, protected under Law 2,715 of 2005 (Law 2,715/05 (opens in a new tab)). Around 32 migratory bird species stop here between August and February, and its flagship species is the buff-breasted sandpiper (MADES (opens in a new tab)). Guyra Paraguay says arrivals start in September and peak in October and November (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
How to see them:
- From the Costanera, with binoculars. The reserve has no easy access or visitor facilities (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)), so watch from the avenue's edge early in the morning.
- With a group. Guyra Paraguay runs birdwatching days and logs sightings on eBird (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
- When the river is low. Shorebirds feed on the sand and mud banks exposed as the water drops.
Treat it gently: in January 2025 a deliberately set fire burned about 40 hectares of the reserve (Última Hora, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
Walking the Costanera by the old town
The first stretch, Costanera José Asunción Flores, runs from Calle Colón to Avenida General Santos along the bay, with the Cabildo, Congress, Cathedral and Palacio de los López in view. On Sundays and holidays the bay-side lane closes to traffic and becomes a walkway (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Expect families with tereré, kids on the sand, free children's shows, and bike, skate and pedal-car rental (Última Hora, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
For a view from above, the Héroes del Chaco bridge starts at the Costanera roundabout and crosses to Nueva Asunción (formerly Chaco'i); it opened in March 2024 and is listed with a bike lane and footpath (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
What to avoid
- Swimming: the bay is polluted and swimming is not advised (The New York Times via Infobae, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
- Midday in summer: the Health Ministry recommends exercising before 10:00 or after 17:00 (MSPBS (opens in a new tab)).
- Littering: waste is one of the reserve's main threats (MADES (opens in a new tab)).
When to go
- September to November: peak migratory bird season.
- Sundays and holidays: pedestrian bay lane, more activity and rentals.
- 15 August, Asunción's anniversary: special boat rides are usually offered (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
- Any evening: the boat and the walk as the sun sets over the Chaco.
For a full day, split it: historic centre in the morning, the bay in the afternoon.
FAQ
How much is a boat ride on the Bay of Asunción?
In March 2024 the short 15-minute loop started at G. 15,000 per person; the ride to the Remanso bridge cost G. 200,000.
Where do the boats leave from?
From the Costanera beach opposite the Turista Róga lookout, daily from 8:00 until sunset.
Can you swim in the bay?
It is not advised: the water is polluted. Enjoy it from the shore or a boat.
When can I see birds at Banco San Miguel?
Migrants arrive from September and peak in October and November. Watch from the Costanera with binoculars early in the morning.
