In this guide
Obligado is the shopping hub of the Colonias Unidas: at km 38 of Route PY06 you'll find supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores and the head office of the Colonias Unidas cooperative, and nearby towns such as Hohenau, Trinidad and Capitán Miranda shop here (La Nación, 2016 (opens in a new tab)). Plan errands for a morning in the centre, pay by QR, and if you want yerba mate straight from the source, drive 10 km on to Bella Vista.
What's in the town centre?
In 2016, La Nación described a well-stocked, renovated centre with large supermarkets, pharmacy chains, banks, finance companies, petrol stations, hardware stores, appliance and motorbike shops, car washes and restaurants (La Nación, 2016 (opens in a new tab)). By 2025 the town also had a supermarket network, farm-supply trade and food and animal-feed processing (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Weekly shop: supermarkets are in the centre. If you live out of town, combine errands in one trip: many rural roads are still dirt (opens in a new tab) and get tricky after rain.
- Farm needs: farm supplies are sold in town, with no need to drive to Encarnación.
- Timing: summer highs reach about 38 °C (opens in a new tab); errands go better in the morning.
What is the Colonias Unidas cooperative?
It is the reason Obligado calls itself the "Capital of Cooperativism". Farmers from Hohenau, Obligado and Bella Vista founded it in 1952, and it makes yoghurt, yerba mate and soybean oil, among other products (La Nación, 2016 (opens in a new tab)). Its head office is in Obligado (opens in a new tab), and it is the area's main employer, with more than 1,200 local staff (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Cooperative tour: it runs tours of its plants (opens in a new tab). Guided only, so book ahead.
Where to handle paperwork
- Obligado town hall: on Avda. Fulgencio Yegros, phones 0717-20021 and 0717-20026 (municipality (opens in a new tab)). Call ahead to check opening hours.
- If you run or plan to open a shop: in December 2025 the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Hohenau's town hall opened a business development centre in Hohenau, right next to Obligado. According to the ministry, under the new SME law regulations microbusinesses can register at no cost for their first three years and open a bank account with the Cédula Mipymes (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
Where to buy yerba mate at the source
Bella Vista sits at km 48 of PY06 (opens in a new tab), 10 km north. Its yerba companies welcome visitors:
- Yerba Mate Pajarito: its Guyra'í Rape tour includes a museum, yerba fields and a nursery; the company is on Av. Marcial Samaniego (Pajarito (opens in a new tab); Visit Colonias Unidas (opens in a new tab)).
- Yerba Mate Selecta: a Mate Bar and the "Yerbatero por un día" (yerba farmer for a day) tour (Visit Colonias Unidas (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2021 (opens in a new tab)).
For maps and details, stop at Mate Róga, the tourist office on the PY06 roundabout next to Bella Vista's town hall (La Nación, 2021 (opens in a new tab)).
How to pay
- QR codes: in supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies, QR is now 60% of payments (opens in a new tab) (December 2025).
- Pix: Bancard merchants can accept Pix from Brazilian accounts (opens in a new tab); ask first, as not all do.
- Prices: consumer law requires prices to be shown in legal currency and including taxes (opens in a new tab).
- Invoices: consumer agency Sedeco says every sale must be invoiced (opens in a new tab). Always ask for one, especially for farm supplies.
When is it busiest?
- ChoppFest at the Club Alemán: 6–8 November 2026 (Visit Colonias Unidas (opens in a new tab)). It is held every November (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)); book early if you're coming that weekend.
- Lodging: in August 2025 the mayor said Obligado had no hotel rooms left to rent (opens in a new tab). If you're coming from far away for shopping or paperwork, book early or make it a day trip.
Obligado is about 40 km from Encarnación and 414 km from Asunción (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)), on PY06 between Hohenau (km 35) and Bella Vista (km 48) (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
FAQ
Where is Obligado's town hall?
On Avda. Fulgencio Yegros. The phone numbers on its website are 0717-20021 and 0717-20026; call ahead to check hours.
Can I pay by QR or Pix in Obligado?
QR already accounts for 60% of payments in Paraguay's supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies. Bancard merchants can accept Pix, but ask first.
Where can I buy yerba mate near Obligado?
In Bella Vista, 10 km north on PY06, where Pajarito and Selecta welcome visitors. The Mate Róga tourist office on the roundabout can point you in the right direction.
What is the Colonias Unidas cooperative?
A cooperative founded in 1952 by farmers from Hohenau, Obligado and Bella Vista, headquartered in Obligado. It makes dairy, yerba and soybean oil, and offers tours of its plants.
