In this guide
Fuerte Olimpo is about 760 km from Asunción, so a day trip here isn't a round trip: you arrive the night before and spend one full day in town. The route that works best is the hills at first light, the cathedral and Fuerte Borbón mid-morning, a siesta through the heat, and a boat on the Paraguay River in the afternoon until sunset. Here it is, hour by hour.
The night before: arrive and sleep in town
- By car: the Transchaco to Loma Plata, the Bioceanic Route to the Carmelo Peralta / Puesto 65 junction, then 135 km of dirt road (ABC, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). Aim to arrive in daylight and don't set out after rain: the dirt stretch gets difficult (ABC, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
- By plane: SETAM leaves Asunción on Wednesdays at 06:00 and stops in Fuerte Olimpo; request a seat 15 days ahead (Eco Pantanal/WWF guide, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). You land mid-morning, so your full day is Thursday.
- By bus: the San Juan company does the trip in about 11 hours; in 2022 it left on Mondays and Fridays (ABC, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
Dawn: Tres Hermanos hill
Start as soon as it's light. There are 537 steps to the top, and summer highs reach 45 °C (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), so an early climb is what makes the rest of the day possible. From the top you see the Pantanal, the karanday palm groves and the Paraguay River (ABC, 2021 (opens in a new tab)). A lookout with a nearly 20-metre Christ statue, Ñandejára Guasu, was being built on this hill according to ABC in 2022.
Carry a litre of water per person and a cap.
Mid-morning: the cathedral and Fuerte Borbón
Head down and over to the two other hills that frame the town (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
- María Auxiliadora Cathedral: built entirely of stone on top of one of the lower hills. Look for the Indigenous museum near the bell tower, with objects from Alto Paraguay's original peoples (ABC, 2021 (opens in a new tab)).
- Fuerte Borbón: the 1792 Spanish fort the town grew from. It's a national heritage site with UNESCO's Blue Shield emblem since 2023, but its walls are deteriorating (ABC, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). Walk around it and stay off the stones.
- Virgin of Caacupé: if your legs allow, climb the other high hill to a statue about 5 metres tall, reachable only on foot (ABC, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
Midday: lunch and a siesta
Time to hide from the sun. ABC recommended Chaco beef and river fish, with lunch from ₲20,000 in 2022 (ABC, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). Bring cash, and pick up some Ishir karanday-palm crafts (ABC, 2021 (opens in a new tab)).
Afternoon: a boat on the Paraguay River
Around 15:00, when the heat eases a little, get on the river. Fuerte Olimpo has boats for hire and local guides for sightseeing and fishing (ABC, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). Ask at the port or at your guesthouse for a boatman.
- What you'll see: birds, caimans, capybaras and otters (ABC, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
- In the dry season: the river drops and leaves sandbanks where birds, caimans and capybaras gather (ABC, 2021 (opens in a new tab)). Fishing can be poor at low water, so at that time of year the boat is better for wildlife than for fishing.
- Across the water: the far bank is Brazil, opposite the mouth of the Río Blanco (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
Bring repellent and a light layer for the wind on the water.
Sunset: from the boat or the hill
Stay on the river until the sun goes down, or get back in time to watch it from the cathedral hill. In December, take an evening walk through the streets and squares the municipality decorates for Christmas.
If you have one more day
Bahía Negra is 137 km north of Fuerte Olimpo (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). That's where you'll find Río Negro National Park and the Los Tres Gigantes station, booked separately with Guyra Paraguay (2025 guide (opens in a new tab)).
FAQ
Can I visit Fuerte Olimpo and return to Asunción the same day?
No: it's about 760 km, including 135 km of dirt road. Arrive the night before and spend the next day in town.
How hard is the climb up Tres Hermanos hill?
It's 537 steps. Do it early, because summer highs reach 45 °C.
Where can I hire a boat in Fuerte Olimpo?
The town has boats for hire and local guides for sightseeing and fishing; ask at the port or your guesthouse.
Does the SETAM flight stop in Fuerte Olimpo?
Yes. According to the 2025 Eco Pantanal and WWF guide, it leaves Asunción on Wednesdays at 06:00 and stops in Fuerte Olimpo on the way to Bahía Negra.
