In this guide
For entertainment in Encarnación, timing matters: in January and February you get the Carnaval Encarnaceno on Saturday nights at the Sambódromo plus free summer concerts on the riverfront; the rest of the year, the go-to options are Playa San José, the El Dorado water park, the mini zoo, the cinema at Shopping Costanera and the Casino Carnaval. Here is what each one offers, when it opens and how to get there.
What's on along the Costanera in summer?
Beach season runs from the second half of October until after Easter, with lifeguards at Playa San José from 8:00 to 20:00 (Municipality (opens in a new tab)). For the 2025-2026 season the city put together this programme (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)):
- Noches de Verano: an evening series that opened at the Pérgola on Playa San José.
- Viví Encarnación 5.0: Saturday concerts in January and February between the Silo and the Molino San José, with acts such as Damas Gratis and Kchiporros.
- Beach cinema: January, February and March.
- Beach volleyball: tournaments in January and February at Mbói Ka'e and Pacu Cuá beaches.
- Theatre: a summer season at the Centro Municipal de Arte on Fridays from late January through February.
Next season's line-up is usually announced around December; check the events calendar on the municipality's website.
When and how to see the Carnaval Encarnaceno
It is Paraguay's biggest carnival. It runs on Saturdays in January and February, four nights in total, at the Sambódromo in the Centro Cívico on Costanera República del Paraguay: a 440-metre parade strip with stands and boxes for about 11,000 people (Municipality (opens in a new tab); Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). In 2025 the parade started at 21:00, and the first three nights drew about 41,000 people (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
- Buy tickets early and book your room before December.
- To get back, UberX, Uber Flash and Uber Moto all operate in the city (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
Daytime and with kids: water, animals and the river
- El Dorado water park. About 12 km from the centre, with pools, slides for adults and children, a beach-football court and a snack bar. According to Hoy (2015) (opens in a new tab) it opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes on Mondays and rainy days; Culture Trip (opens in a new tab) rates it as family-friendly, and Última Hora (2025) (opens in a new tab) still lists it among the city's outings. Message them for this year's prices and hours.
- Mini Zoológico Juan XXIII. South American wildlife a few kilometres from the centre (Uber (opens in a new tab)). The municipality lists it as open 9:00 to 17:00 with a 10,000 Gs entry per person (Municipality (opens in a new tab)); another municipal page says weekdays only, so check before a weekend visit.
- Kayaks, pontoon rides and river trips. Along with guided walks and the Open Bus, these are among the most popular activities on the Costanera (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). Go early morning or at sunset, when the sun is gentler.
- Biblio Playa. A reading corner on the Playa San José waterfront (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)), good for a shady break.
Rainy or very hot day: cinema and the mall
- Shopping Costanera. On Avenida Costanera near Mbói Ka'e and San José beaches, designed with half its space for entertainment (Infonegocios (opens in a new tab)). The municipality lists the Cinema Pop there, open 13:00 to 22:30 (Municipality (opens in a new tab)).
- Cine Granados. On Juan León Mallorquín between Constitución Nacional and 25 de Mayo, downtown (Municipality (opens in a new tab)). Check its social media for the day's showtimes.
At night: Casino Carnaval
The Casino Carnaval, on Avenida Irrazábal at the corner of General Cabañas, has a hotel and restaurant (Infonegocios (opens in a new tab)). According to the municipality it opens Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 to 4:00 and until 6:00 on Fridays and Saturdays; on the second floor, Lado B runs on Fridays from midnight and Bleu Bar Club on Saturdays from 23:45 (Municipality (opens in a new tab)).
A Saturday in Encarnación
- Morning: beach at San José or a kayak on the Paraná.
- Midday heat: a film at Shopping Costanera or, with kids, the mini zoo.
- Sunset: walk the Costanera to the Silo and Molino San José.
- Night: in summer, carnival or a riverfront concert; the rest of the year, dinner by the river and a round at the Casino Carnaval.
FAQ
What can you do at night in Encarnación besides bars?
Catch a film at Cinema Pop in Shopping Costanera (13:00 to 22:30), visit the Casino Carnaval on Avenida Irrazábal or, in summer, go to the municipal concerts and beach cinema on the Costanera.
When is the Encarnación carnival?
On Saturdays in January and February, four nights in total, at the Sambódromo in the Centro Cívico on the Costanera. In 2025 the parade started at 21:00.
Where is the El Dorado water park?
About 12 km from central Encarnación. The latest report with details (Hoy, 2015) says it opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes on Mondays and rainy days; check prices before you go.
How much is the Encarnación mini zoo?
The municipality lists 10,000 Gs per person and hours of 9:00 to 17:00. One of its pages says weekdays only, so check before a weekend visit.
