Things to do in Nueva Londres: Fiesta del Tuyú, plaza and history

Nueva Londres is a small town in Caaguazú, a few kilometres from Coronel Oviedo, and the thing most worth going for is the Fiesta del Tuyú every 25 December, when thousands of people dance in the mud on the plaza. The rest of the year the visit is short: the welcome sign with its three flags, the plaza and the story of the Australian colony that founded the town in 1893. Add Coronel Oviedo to fill the day.

The Fiesta del Tuyú: the main reason to go

It is the patron-saint festival of the Niño Jesús, held every 25 December⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ in the main plaza. How it works:

• The mud. Water trucks soak the ground and the party runs all day, ending at night with a music festival⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. In 2024 it started at 3 pm⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ with a band, and volunteer firefighters from Coronel Oviedo hosed the plaza until it turned into a mud pit.
• Crowds. In 2024 more than 70,000 people⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ took part, locals and visitors from all over the country. Arrive early to park.
• Where it comes from. It began more than 35 years ago, when some residents started dancing in the rain after a rodeo was called off⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. It is still tied to the rodeo: Wikivoyage describes it as a rodeo festival with bulls and horses⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ that ends with the mud dance.
• Famous guests. In 2021 the British ambassador joined in, and the municipality named the bullring and festival grounds⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ after him.

What to bring: clothes and shoes you can throw away, a full change of clothes, bags for the muddy kit, water and sunscreen. If you drink, don't drive: the highway patrol applies zero tolerance⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.

What to see in town the rest of the year

• The welcome sign. It says the town was founded on 11 October 1893 and carries the flags of Australia, the UK and Paraguay⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. This is the photo to take.
• The plaza and streets. The town is less than a kilometre across⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, with mostly unpaved streets and large plots. You can walk it in a short while.
• The Australian story. In 1893 234 settlers from Australia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ arrived with the New Australia movement, led by William Lane; after internal disputes Lane left to found Colonia Cosme near Caazapá. In 1957 the town was renamed Nueva Londres. The settlers' descendants include the anthropologist León Cadogan and comics writer Robin Wood⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.

Don't expect a museum or a signposted trail: an Australian journalist who visited wrote that very little of the Australian heritage remains⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ and that few residents claim descent from the founders. Chatting with locals on the plaza over mate is part of the visit.

What to do nearby: Coronel Oviedo

Since Nueva Londres is a short stop, pair it with Coronel Oviedo:

• Central plazas. The José Segundo Decoud, de los Héroes and de la Libertad plazas are the city's meeting points⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.
• Casa de la Cultura. Oviedo has four museums⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, three historical and one on Indigenous culture.
• Farms. Granja Ecoturística Yvambopí, near km 152 of PY02, and Granja Alte Liebe, on PY08 towards Villarrica, had pools, fishing and animals in 2021, according to ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Message them first to check they are open.

How to get to Nueva Londres

• By car: Nueva Londres is 137 km from Asunción⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Route PY02 passes 8 km south of town and PY08 12 km east⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠; the turn-off is near Coronel Oviedo, about 5 km to the east⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.
• By bus: buses from Asunción run to the Coronel Oviedo terminal; from there, take a taxi or drive the last stretch. Demand peaks on 25 December, so buy your ticket early.