In this guide
On the Costanera de Asunción you can walk or run beside the Paraguay River, cycle, sit on the beach with tereré, take a boat around the bay and watch the sun set over the Chaco. The best time is early morning or late afternoon on a Sunday or public holiday, when the bay-side lane is closed to traffic and handed over to people (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Here is each activity, which stretch to do it on, and what to watch for.
Walking or running: which stretch to pick
The Costanera runs for about 15 km in three sections (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)):
- Facing the centre (Costanera José Asunción Flores): from Calle Colón to Avenida General Santos, with the Cabildo, Congress, the Cathedral and the Palacio de los López in view. It is the busiest stretch and the one with the Sunday car-free lane.
- Costanera Norte: from General Santos to Avenida Primer Presidente. It heads towards the Botanical Garden and lets you add kilometres without crossing the centre.
- Costanera Sur: from Colón and Montevideo south towards Cerro Lambaré, 8.1 km with pavements and a bike lane (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
In summer, Paraguay's Health Ministry advises exercising before 10:00 or after 17:00, with water and shade (MSPBS (opens in a new tab)). There is almost no shade on the Costanera, so take that advice literally.
Cycling, skating and pedal cars
A bike lane runs alongside, and on Sundays you can rent bikes, skates and pedal cars on site (Última Hora, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). If you bring your own bike, slow down on the Costanera Norte: in March 2025 ABC Color counted around twenty potholes and cracks between General Santos and Primer Presidente (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
Beach and tereré, but stay out of the water
In front of the centre there is a sandy beach where families bring chairs and a thermos and children play, and some Sundays there are free kids' shows (Última Hora, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Do not swim: the river is polluted and swimming is not advised (The New York Times via Infobae, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
Boat ride around the bay
Boats leave daily from 8:00 from the Costanera beach, opposite the Turista Róga lookout, and run until sunset (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). In March 2024 the short ride of about 15 minutes cost from G. 15,000 per person, and the long trip to the Remanso bridge, about an hour and a half, G. 200,000. Life jackets are provided for adults and children. Sunset is the busiest time, so arrive before 17:00.
Birdwatching and sunset
- Migratory birds: the green island opposite is the Banco San Miguel reserve, which receives around 32 migratory species between August and February (MADES (opens in a new tab)), peaking in October and November according to Guyra Paraguay (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Bring binoculars and look from the edge of the avenue early in the morning.
- Sunset: the sun drops over the Chaco across the river. For a view from above, the Héroes del Chaco bridge starts at the Costanera roundabout, and its specifications include a bike lane and footpath (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
The two ends: Botanical Garden and Cerro Lambaré
- At the north end, the Costanera finishes at Avenida Primer Presidente, home to the Botanical Garden and Zoo, with trees more than 150 years old (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Entry was free in 2024 (NYT via Infobae (opens in a new tab)).
- At the south end, the Costanera Sur has a linear park of about 1,000 metres with playgrounds, volleyball courts and an amphitheatre (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)), and leads to Cerro Lambaré, with the Monumento a la Paz Victoriosa and river views (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). In 2022 ABC Color described the hill as neglected and unsafe (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)), so go in daylight and not alone.
Where to eat nearby
For a sit-down meal, the practical move is to head up into the Historic Centre, a few blocks from the bay. Casa Clari, in the Manzana de la Rivera (Ayolas 129), has a terrace behind the Palacio de los López and opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 (Última Hora (opens in a new tab); La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Still carry water and a snack if you plan to walk several kilometres.
FAQ
What can you do on the Costanera de Asunción?
Walk, run, cycle or skate, have tereré on the beach, take a boat around the bay, watch migratory birds and see the sunset over the Chaco.
When is the Costanera closed to traffic?
On Sundays and public holidays the bay-side lane is closed to cars and left for walkers and cyclists.
Can you swim at the Costanera?
It is not advised: the river is polluted. Use the beach for sitting on the sand or take a boat instead.
How much is a boat ride on the bay?
In March 2024 the short ride of about 15 minutes cost from G. 15,000 per person. Boats leave from the beach opposite Turista Róga from 8:00.
