Bookstores in Caaguazú: stationery and school-supply tips

To find a bookstore in Caaguazú that works for you, start with what you need: supplies from a school list, a specific book, or photocopies and printing. Bring the list or the exact title, message the shop on WhatsApp first to check stock and, during back-to-school season, go early or on a weekday to skip the queue. In a city with more than 240 schools (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), February packs the counters.

When is the best time to buy school supplies?

Bookstore rush follows the Ministry of Education (MEC) calendar. In 2026, public schools opened for admin work on 10 February and classes started on Monday 23 February; winter break ran from 13 to 23 July and the school year ends on 30 November (Hoy⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). In practice:

• First half of February: a good window to buy the basics (notebooks, pencils, book covers) before shops fill up.
• First week of classes: many teachers ask for specific materials. Wait for that list before buying everything.
• July: coming back from winter break brings another wave of requests (posters, card stock, projects).

What does the MEC kit cover, and what do you still need?

Children at public or state-subsidised schools receive an MEC supply kit. There are 23 kinds of individual kits by grade, each in a bag with a contents list, plus a QR code and WhatsApp numbers to report missing items (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

• Before heading to the bookstore, open the bag and compare it with the school list. Buy only what's missing.
• If the kit is incomplete, report it via the MEC QR code or WhatsApp (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). In 2026 some schools in the country waited weeks for their kits (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), so have the bare minimum ready for day one.
• In past years the MEC has asked public school teachers and principals not to demand extra supplies or photocopies when the kit covers them (ABC Color, 2023⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you are asked for something already in the kit, raise it with the school.

What should you ask before going?

A quick message saves you laps around the centre:

• Stock: send a photo of the full list and ask what they have and what they don't, so you know whether one shop is enough.
• Textbooks: give the exact title, publisher and edition the school requires. If it's not in stock, ask whether they can order it and how long it takes.
• Ready-made orders: some bookstores pack the list for you to pick up. Ask whether they do it and how much notice they need.
• Printing and copies: which file formats they accept (PDF, Word, photos), colour printing, binding or laminating, and when it will be ready.

Coming in from the countryside or another town?

Caaguazú sits on route PY02, 180 km from Asunción and 144 km from Ciudad del Este (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), and is also linked by routes 8 and 13 (Infonegocios⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Many families from rural areas and nearby districts do their school shopping in the centre. To make the trip count:

• Combine the lists for every child in the house into one order.
• If you need to print assignments, send the files the day before and just pick them up.
• Bring a big bag or backpack: notebooks and paper reams are heavier than they look.

How to pay, and what to ask for at the till

QR payment is now the norm at participating shops in Paraguay: Bancard data cited by La Nación⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ puts it at 7 out of 10 payments in those stores. Still, ask whether the shop takes QR, card or transfer, and carry some cash for loose photocopies.

• Ask for a factura (receipt) on a big purchase; you'll need it for exchanges.
• Before paying, check that notebooks have the ruling and size on the list (squared, lined, legal or letter size).
• Ask whether they'll swap a wrong item and within how many days, especially if the teacher's list hasn't arrived yet.

Outside school season

The rest of the year, Caaguazú's bookstores handle office stationery, printing for paperwork and books to order. For a non-school book, the fastest route is usually to ask whether they can bring it in and how long it takes, rather than visiting several shops.