Things to do in Villa Florida: Tebicuary beaches, fishing and promenade

In Villa Florida everything revolves around the Tebicuary River: swimming at Camping Paraíso beach, fishing or taking a boat out, walking the riverside promenade to the giant cross at sunset and eating river fish. The town is 161 km south of Asunción on the PY01⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠; you can do it in a day, but it is better with one or two nights. Here are the river access points and activities one by one.

Where to get into the river

• Camping Paraíso beach. The municipal beach (InfoNegocios⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠) and the busiest, about 2 km from the centre and well signposted. It has camping and grill areas, toilets, drinking water, power, coast guards and a marked safe swimming zone⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠: swim only there. On 1 January 2025 it was open 24 hours, with the gate opening at 7:00⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.
• Centu Cué. About 11 km south of town⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, also on the Tebicuary, with camping in a 600 m stretch of woodland, bungalows and Playa del Sol beach, free for guests (La Nación, 2020⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠); in 2024 it offered cabins for up to five⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Choose it for a quieter stay.
• Check the river first. In early 2024 a Tebicuary flood covered the beach⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. After heavy rain, ask the Senatur tourism office whether it is open.

Fishing and boat trips

• Where: anglers usually head for the upper Tebicuary⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.
• Boat or canoe: you can hire one to fish or explore, but you must register with the Naval Prefecture⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ first.
• Closed season: in 2024 the fishing area opened from 20 December⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, after the closed season. Dates change every year, so check before packing your rod.
• Expectations: fishing is not what it was in the 1970s because of overfishing⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Come for the boat ride; any catch is a bonus.

The promenade and the cross at sunset

• Tebicuary promenade. A path to walk or cycle by the river⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, with piers and lookouts (InfoNegocios⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• 31.20 m cross. With a pier and lookout⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, finished in 2020; it is the place to watch the sunset⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Arrive early on summer weekends.

Away from the river: countryside and history

• Horse rides and ranches. The area offers horse riding and ranch visits with farm animals⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Ask Senatur which ranches take visitors.
• Museo Cabañas. In General Atanasio Cabañas's former ranch, 12 km along the road to Caapucú⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Check it is open first.
• Carry on into Misiones. San Ignacio Guazú, with its Jesuit museums, is further south on the same PY01: see things to do in San Ignacio Guazú.

What to eat

River fish: fish soup (caldo), surubí milanesa and steaks, fish empanadas and chupín (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). In 2019 the town had about 15 restaurants and eateries specialising in fish⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. Summer Sundays get packed (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), so eat early.

When to go and where to get information

• Season: mid-November to late February, plus Holy Week (InfoNegocios⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Eight months a year temperatures sit between 25 and 35 °C⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.
• Busy dates: about a thousand people entered the beach⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ on 1 January 2025, and 8 December is the patron saint festival (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Avoid holidays if you want quiet.
• Information: the regional Senatur office answered on 083 240-209, daily 7:00–19:00⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠.
• Without a car: buses from Asunción's terminal to Encarnación or San Juan Bautista leave roughly every 30 minutes⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ and stop in Villa Florida.

With only one day, see our hour-by-hour Villa Florida day trip.