In this guide
Museo del Barro is open Tuesday to Saturday from 14:00 to 20:00 at Grabadores del Cabichuí 2716, in Asunción's Isla de Francia neighbourhood. Entry is free on Fridays and Saturdays and costs G. 50,000 from Tuesday to Thursday (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)). It is really three museums in one complex, covering folk art, Indigenous art and contemporary art, so allow at least two hours.
Which day and time should you go?
- Friday or Saturday: free, same 14:00–20:00 hours.
- Tuesday to Thursday: G. 50,000, and the rooms are usually quieter.
- Sunday and Monday: closed. Regular hours are Tuesday to Saturday (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
- Arrive before 18:00 if you want to see all three collections without rushing.
Check the museum's home page before you set out. In October 2026 it closed for a few days to repair a roof damaged by hail and announced it would reopen on Friday 9 October at 14:00 (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)). Notices like that are posted there.
What to see in each of the three museums
Museo del Barro (folk art). More than 4,000 mestizo pieces from the 17th century onwards, including wood carvings, textiles, lace, ceramics and silverwork, plus 300 pre-Columbian ceramics from across the Americas (collection (opens in a new tab)). Highlights:
- the Kamba Ra'anga masks from the 19th and 20th centuries, worn at the San Baltazar festivities in Tobatí and the San Pedro y San Pablo feast in Altos;
- the ñandutí lace cabinet, with pieces from the 18th century to today;
- an 18th-century San Andrés carved by Jesuit mission masters, and a 2.5 m Franciscan home altar from Caazapá.
Museo de Arte Indígena. Over 1,750 pieces made by the country's Indigenous peoples: pottery, carvings, featherwork, textiles, masks and baskets. The standout is a set of five Ishir ceremonial costumes from Alto Paraguay, made of caraguatá fibre and Chaco bird feathers and worn in the annual Debylyby ritual (collection (opens in a new tab)).
Museo Paraguayo de Arte Contemporáneo. About 3,000 works from Paraguay, Latin America and Spain, including 1,175 prints and drawings by Livio Abramo, 300 prints by José Guadalupe Posada, and the wartime newspapers Cabichu'i, El Centinela and Cacique Lambaré from 1867–1868 (collection (opens in a new tab)).
The building is worth noticing too. Artist Carlos Colombino designed it, and construction began in Isla de Francia in 1979 (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
How to get to Museo del Barro
- By bus: the museum lists lines 28, 30 Aeropuerto, 44 Autopista and Luque-Areguá (Petrobras stop) (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
- By taxi or ride-hailing app: ask for Avenida Aviadores del Chaco at Molas López, the landmark the museum gives. The area is close to the business and hotel district and traffic is heavy, so an app ride saves you hunting for parking (Uber (opens in a new tab)).
- From the historic centre: it is not walking distance, so treat it as a separate outing.
Guided tours, audio guide and shop
- Guided tours: the museum has guides for schools, universities, tourists and the general public, and you can ask about tours in English. Book at least 48 hours ahead on (0993) 36 00 33. The standard rate is G. 200,000 for up to 20 people, and they allow only 10 minutes' delay (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
- Audio guide: the website has a recording for the Ceramics Room that you can play on your phone as you walk.
- Gabinete del Cabichuí: by appointment only, by phone or email.
- Out-of-hours visits: available for a fee of G. 750,000.
- El Almacén de Doña Estela: the shop sells pottery from Itá and Tobatí, Aché basketry, textiles from Carapeguá, Itauguá and Yataity, Tomáraho featherwork, and books on Paraguayan art (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)). It is a good place to buy a souvenir whose origin you can trust.
Tips for a better visit
- Start with the Indigenous art museum, which needs the most time, and leave contemporary art for last.
- Check current exhibitions online first. In 2026 the museum was still showing "Afinidades", modern art from the Americas and Spain, and "Archivo Abierto", built around Ticio Escobar's writing (Museo del Barro (opens in a new tab)).
- In summer, arriving at 14:00 keeps you indoors through the hottest hours. Leave around sunset.
- If the pottery grabs you, pair the visit with a morning in Areguá, where it is still made.
FAQ
How much is admission to Museo del Barro?
G. 50,000 from Tuesday to Thursday. Entry is free on Fridays and Saturdays.
What are Museo del Barro's opening hours?
Tuesday to Saturday, 14:00 to 20:00. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Where is Museo del Barro?
At Grabadores del Cabichuí 2716, between Cañada and Emeterio Miranda, in Asunción's Isla de Francia neighbourhood. For a taxi, ask for Aviadores del Chaco at Molas López.
Are there guided tours in English?
You can ask for one when you book. Tours need at least 48 hours' notice on (0993) 36 00 33, and the standard rate is G. 200,000 for up to 20 people.
