In this guide
Mariano Roque Alonso sits right on Asunción's northern edge along Route PY03 (the old Transchaco), and it works best as a half-day or full-day outing: a river-fish lunch at Remanso on the Paraguay River, a look at the bridge, then an afternoon or evening at Shopping Mariano or Paseo Alameda. In July, the big draw is the Expo at the Asociación Rural del Paraguay grounds.
Getting there from Asunción
- Distance: about 18 km from downtown Asunción (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Most big businesses line Route PY03, the city's main avenue (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
- By bus: at rush hour, waits on the Transchaco can reach half an hour and many commuters end up ordering a Bolt (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). For a Remanso lunch, leave after 9 a.m.
- By car: heavy rain or a crash quickly jams PY03 towards Asunción (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). Check your map app before heading back.
Remanso: fish by the river
This is the classic local outing. In barrio San Rafael, known as Remanso, riverside eateries and fish stalls serve surubí soup, fish milanesas, cazuelas, chupín and fish empanadas every day, holidays included, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). Sometimes local musicians play Paraguayan music (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
- Cost: in November 2024, dishes ran from G. 20,000 to G. 40,000 (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
- When to skip it: during the fishing ban, which starts in early November (it began on 2 November in 2025, ABC Color (opens in a new tab)), the eateries stop selling fish and reopen once it lifts (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
- Tip: go at lunchtime; they close in the late afternoon.
Puente Remanso and the river view
From the eateries you see the Puente Remanso, a bridge of about 1,500 metres opened in 1978 that links the city with the Chaco (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). It takes its name from the old Remanso Castillo, the area's first Spanish settlement (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). It is the best view of the Paraguay River in town; late afternoon light is the nicest.
The Expo in July
The Mariano Roque Alonso Expo runs every July at the Asociación Rural del Paraguay grounds, during the winter school break (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). In 2026 it ran from 11 to 26 July, with general entry at G. 25,000, free entry for children, a funfair, concerts and a kids' zone (ABC Color (opens in a new tab); Hoy (opens in a new tab)). Traffic on PY03 spikes on Expo days, so go on a weekday and early if you can.
Malls, cinema and evenings out
- Shopping Mariano: on the Ex Transchaco at Manuel Irala Fernández, about 150 m from the Expo's main gate. Stores open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the food court opens Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays (Shopping Mariano (opens in a new tab)). The food court seats more than 1,000 people (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)) and there are four cinema screens (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)).
- La Rural Shopping and Paseo Alameda: La Rural was the city's first mall; next door, Paseo Alameda has a food park out back (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab); ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). The food park is open-air, holds more than 200 people, and some vendors stay open until 1 a.m. at weekends (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)).
Plazas and open air
- Plaza La Libertad: the central square, with monuments, a library and gardens, near the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús parish church (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). The city's anniversary on 30 August brings events here (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
- Parque Ñu Guasu: just over the line in Luque, on the way to the airport, the area's big park has free entry, a playground and a lagoon (Uber (opens in a new tab)). In April 2025 it opened from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). Walk it early, before the heat.
A one-day plan
- Morning: a walk in Ñu Guasu.
- Midday: fish lunch at Remanso and the bridge view.
- Afternoon: Shopping Mariano or a film.
- Evening: the Paseo Alameda food park.
Summer highs can top 40 °C (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), so keep outdoor stops for the morning or sunset and carry water.
FAQ
What is there to do in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Have a river-fish lunch at Remanso, take in the Paraguay River from the Puente Remanso, visit Shopping Mariano or the Paseo Alameda food park and, in July, go to the Expo at the Asociación Rural del Paraguay grounds.
When are the Remanso fish eateries open?
According to ABC Color (2023), every day including holidays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the fishing ban, which starts in early November, they stop selling fish.
When is the Mariano Roque Alonso Expo?
Every July, during the winter school break, at the Asociación Rural del Paraguay grounds. In 2026 it ran from 11 to 26 July with general entry at G. 25,000.
How do I find a reliable travel agency in Mariano Roque Alonso?
La Rural Shopping has travel agencies among its stores. Before paying, check that the agency is listed in Registur, the national tourism register, as Senatur recommends.
