In this guide
Yes, Itá is an easy day trip from Asunción: it's about 37 km away, and the best way to fill the day is to add Yaguarón, further along the same road at 48 km from the capital. Spend the morning on Itá's pottery and caiman lagoon, and the afternoon on Yaguarón's Franciscan church, the Dr. Francia museum and the hill.
Getting there from Asunción
- By car: from San Lorenzo take route D027 (the old Route 1), which runs straight into Itá and on to Yaguarón; from Ñemby the alternative is the Acceso Sur (Wikipedia, Yaguarón (opens in a new tab); Wikipedia, Itá (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
- Distances: Itá is about 37 km from Asunción (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)) and Yaguarón 48 km (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Tip: leave before 8 am to beat San Lorenzo traffic and reach Itá while it's still cool.
Morning in Itá: pottery and the lagoon
- CAPICI. Start at the crafts centre on route D027, near the church, which shows and sells work by more than 30 local artisans (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). This is the place for clay jugs, figures and the "lucky hens".
- San Blas church. A Franciscan church known for its woodwork and altarpiece (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)), with a big courtyard for a shady break (InfoNegocios, 2019 (opens in a new tab)).
- Lagoon Park. A few blocks away in the centre, with viewpoints and about 80 caimans (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Don't feed them.
- Teatro Municipal Dr. Celso Bazán. If it's open, it has a gallery of local pottery and a museum of Itá's Chaco War veterans (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
Bring cash for purchases and have the pottery wrapped well before it goes in the car.
Afternoon in Yaguarón: church, museum and hill
- San Buenaventura church. Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, it's a unique example of Guaraní baroque and sits on Paraguay's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Its altar, hand-carved by Indigenous craftsmen, is the classic example of the Hispanic-Guaraní style (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). It is under restoration: in March 2026 work was under way on the sacristy, with completion expected around Holy Week 2027 (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Tip: ask at the Turista Róga next to the church which parts are open that day.
- Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Museum. A block or two from the church, with belongings of Dr. Francia and 19th-century objects (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Cerro Yaguarón. The 14 Stations of the Cross climb the slope to the Oratorio Gamarra, and from the top you can see Pirayú, Itá, Paraguarí and Carapeguá (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab); Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). The Tava Jaguarú museum of Indigenous culture is at the summit (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Tip: climb in the late afternoon with water and closed shoes, and come down before dark.
- If you stay into the evening: "Yaguarón de ensueño" is a night city tour with characters from local history that visits the museum and church and ends with a walk up the hill (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Ask the municipality when it runs.
Dates that change the plan
- 3 February, San Blas in Itá. Celebrations start nine days earlier (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)) and last about 10 days, with fairs and around 10,000 visitors a day (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). More atmosphere, more traffic, less parking.
- Holy Week in Yaguarón. The big date for the hill and the church, which draw hundreds of visitors (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab); ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
- 14–15 July, San Buenaventura. Yaguarón's main festival (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab); Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
Outside those dates, a weekday is the calmest time for Itá's workshops.
A sample day
Time · Stop
08:00 · Leave Asunción via San Lorenzo and route D027
09:00–12:00 · Itá: CAPICI, San Blas church, lagoon, Teatro Municipal
12:00–13:30 · Lunch in central Itá or Yaguarón
14:00–16:00 · Yaguarón: San Buenaventura church and Dr. Francia museum
16:30–18:00 · Climb Cerro Yaguarón, then drive back
In summer, flip it: the hill early, church and museum in the hot early afternoon, and Itá's pottery on the way back.
FAQ
Can you visit Itá as a day trip from Asunción?
Yes. It's about 37 km away and the centre takes a morning, which leaves time to continue to Yaguarón, 48 km from Asunción on the same route D027.
What is there to see between Itá and Yaguarón?
In Itá, the CAPICI crafts centre, San Blas church and the caiman lagoon; in Yaguarón, San Buenaventura church, the Dr. Francia museum and the hill with the Stations of the Cross.
When is the best time to visit Itá?
A weekday outside February for quiet workshop visits; around 3 February if you want the San Blas festival and fairs.
How do I get to Itá from Asunción?
By car via San Lorenzo and route D027, or via the Acceso Sur from Ñemby.
