In this guide
Loma Plata comes down to two things: the Menno Colony museums on Avenida Central in the morning, and the salt lagoons around town the rest of the time, with Laguna Capitán as a base for sleeping and birdwatching and Campo María or Chaco Lodge if you are after flamingos. Add Fortín Isla Po'i at sunset. The town is about 450 km from Asunción (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)), so plan on two or three days.
Which Mennonite museums to see, and when
Everything is on Avenida Central and fits into a morning, because shops close from 12:00 to 14:00, on Saturday afternoon and all Sunday (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Menno Colony Historical Museum: objects, documents and photos of the settlers who arrived in 1927 and of their life alongside indigenous peoples (SENATUR (opens in a new tab)). According to Wikivoyage it opens Monday to Friday 7:00–11:30 and is free (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Heimatmuseum: laid out in stations (sport, education, music, art), some with virtual-reality headsets; in 2022 it was free with booking (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab); Chortitzer (opens in a new tab)).
- Trébol dairy plant: the Chortitzer Cooperative's standard guided tour combines a history talk, the Heimatmuseum and the plant (Chortitzer (opens in a new tab)). Factories are always visited by appointment (InfoNegocios, 2021 (opens in a new tab)), so book a day ahead at the tourist office on Avenida Central.
- Parque Pioneros: an open-air display of the founders' belongings, good for the last hour of the morning (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
Laguna Capitán: sleep among the salt lagoons
This is the Chortitzer Cooperative's camp, with lodging and trails around the lagoons (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Rooms are air-conditioned, and there is Wi-Fi, a barbecue area and Paraguayan food; ABC listed (0983) 344 463 for bookings (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). It belongs to the Laguna Capitán 3 ranch of the Mennonite community's Tamyca unit (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
- What you see: flamingos and coscoroba swans on the salt lagoons (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Making the most of it: walk the trails at dawn and dusk with binoculars, a hat and insect repellent. Filadelfia hotels also sell the trip if you would rather not drive (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)).
Campo María and Chaco Lodge: more lagoons, more flamingos
For a better chance of flamingos, these two reserves are further out on dirt roads:
- Campo María: just over 4,000 hectares, about 1,300 of them lagoon, with fresh, brackish and salt lagoons that change with the rains. It has a wooden lookout tower, a campsite with bathrooms and an entry fee (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Access is about 40 km of dirt road from Teniente Irala Fernández (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)); ABC puts it 60 km from the Cruce de los Pioneros junction (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)) and the cooperative about 80 km from Loma Plata (Chortitzer (opens in a new tab)). Arrange your visit at the tourist office.
- Chaco Lodge: a private reserve designated a Ramsar wetland, with a lookout, about 70 km from the Cruce de los Pioneros (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). La Nación lists it with Laguna Capitán and Campo María among the wildlife sites around Loma Plata (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). ABC gave Norbert Epp's number as the contact: (0981) 223 974.
When to go: La Nación recommends June for the salt lagoons (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)) and, in another piece, July to September, when the flamingos arrive (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Water levels depend on rainfall, so ask before you set off.
Fortín Isla Po'i at sunset
This was Marshal Estigarribia's command post in the Chaco War and has been restored (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). It is about 25 km from town (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)), reached via the Ruta Bioceánica from the Loma Plata junction (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). The interactive Ruta Chaco Boreal museum covers it with QR codes at Estigarribia's house, the cemetery and a lookout; download the free Ruta Chaco Boreal app beforehand (La Nación, 2021 (opens in a new tab)).
What to eat and buy
The colonies serve German, Russian and Canadian-rooted food such as sausages, sauerkraut, schnitzel and potato salad alongside Paraguayan dishes (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). To take something home, the cooperative supermarket on Avenida Central sells its own products (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)); go in the morning on a weekday. The town has 11 banks and three financial cooperatives (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
Getting there and when to go
- By car: up the Transchaco and then a 22 km paved spur (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)); Wikivoyage reckons about 7 hours from Asunción (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). For the lagoons, a high-clearance vehicle helps: roads are dusty when dry and muddy after rain (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
- By bus: NASA-Golondrina stops on Avenida Central after about 10 hours (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). There is no transport out to the reserves, so you need a car or a tour.
- Dates: the Expo Rodeo Trébol in mid-August fills the hotels (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). In 2027 the town turns 100 (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
FAQ
What is there to do in Loma Plata?
See the Menno Colony Historical Museum, the Heimatmuseum and the Trébol plant in the morning, then head out to the salt lagoons: Laguna Capitán, Campo María or Chaco Lodge. Finish at Fortín Isla Po'i at sunset.
Can you stay overnight at Laguna Capitán?
Yes. The Chortitzer Cooperative's camp has air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi, a barbecue area and Paraguayan food; book ahead.
When can you see flamingos near Loma Plata?
The press recommends June to September, but lagoon levels depend on the rains, so check before you go.
How far is Loma Plata from Asunción?
About 450 km via the Transchaco and a 22 km paved spur: roughly 7 hours by car or about 10 by bus.
