In this guide
Local shops in Luque cluster in four places: the centre around the Mercado Municipal N.º 1, the filigree jewellery shops on General Aquino street, the Shopping Estación Los Jardines mall at the city entrance and Plaza Madero, on the way to the airport. Pick the area by what you want to buy and go in daylight: the centre is easiest on foot.
What can you buy in the centre and the market?
Everyday commerce is concentrated in the blocks around the old market, among banks, shops and street vendors, with Avenida Humaitá and its central walkway as the landmark (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
- Mercado Municipal N.º 1: fruit, vegetables and meat on the ground floor, and clothing shops upstairs with prices from G. 45,000 in a late-2024 report (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
- Surrounding streets: Capitán Bado, Javier Bogarín and Moisés Bertoni have pavements taken up by stalls and little room to park (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Come by bus or on foot if you can.
Where to buy filigree jewellery in Luque
Luque is Paraguay's town for gold and silver filigree (La Nación, 2021 (opens in a new tab)).
- Where: more than twenty jewellery shops on General Aquino street and nearby blocks, around the Mariscal López and General Aquino squares (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)).
- Hours: in that June 2023 report, they opened Saturdays 08:00–18:00 and Sundays and Monday holidays 08:00–12:00. On a Sunday, go in the morning.
- What you'll find: bracelets, earrings, chains, rosaries, rings with stones, brooches, personalised guampas and bombillas for tereré, plus custom work such as wedding rings (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)).
- Prices: in 2024 the best sellers were earrings and bracelets at G. 70,000–150,000, with pieces from G. 30,000; silver is now the most requested metal (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
Tip: ask for the metal and, where relevant, the weight to be written on the invoice. For a custom design, ask how long it takes before paying a deposit. Luque also has families that build Paraguayan harps and guitars (La Nación, 2021 (opens in a new tab)); ask in the centre for local workshops.
Mall or centre?
- Shopping Estación Los Jardines: on Avenida General Aquino at Teniente Rivas, next to the Los Jardines supermarket, with fashion, accessories and tech (La Nación (opens in a new tab)); it opened in October 2022 with 50 brands (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)). Good for several shops under one roof with parking.
- Plaza Madero: on Autopista Silvio Pettirossi and Torokay street, on the way to the airport (La Nación, 2021 (opens in a new tab)). At its December 2021 opening it had about 300 parking spaces, restaurants open in the evening and a 24-hour supermarket (Hoy (opens in a new tab)). Handy if you are flying in or out.
- The centre: for comparing prices on foot, the market and filigree.
When to go and how to avoid delays
- Roadworks on Avenida General Aquino (Tape Tuja): it is being widened, with detours and single-lane stretches on some weekends (ABC Color, 2026 (opens in a new tab)); completion is expected in the first half of 2027 (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Check MOPC notices before a Saturday trip.
- 7 October: feast of the Virgen del Rosario, Luque's patron saint (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Check opening hours that week.
- December: the market fills up with Christmas and New Year shoppers (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Shop early if you want it calm.
How to pay and what to ask for
- QR, card or cash: QR now makes up 68.1% of electronic payments (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)), but bring cash for the market and stalls.
- Invoice (factura): Sedeco, the consumer agency, says every sale requires one (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Without it, complaints are hard.
- Returns: Paraguay's consumer law (Ley 1334) (opens in a new tab) sets no general right to exchange in-store purchases; each shop sets its own policy. Ask before paying, especially for jewellery and clothing.
- Instalments: get the cash price and the total payable in writing.
FAQ
Where can I buy filigree jewellery in Luque?
At the jewellery shops on General Aquino street and nearby blocks, around the Mariscal López and General Aquino squares; there were more than twenty in 2023.
How much does filigree jewellery cost in Luque?
According to La Nación (2024), earrings and bracelets cost G. 70,000–150,000, with pieces from G. 30,000.
Are Luque's jewellers open on Sundays?
In June 2023 they opened Sundays and Monday holidays 08:00–12:00 and Saturdays 08:00–18:00. Go in the morning.
Where do I park to shop in central Luque?
It is hard: the streets around the market are full of stalls with little space. If you drive, the Estación Los Jardines and Plaza Madero malls have parking.
