In this guide
Yaguarón is 48 km from Asunción on Route PY01 and makes an easy half-day trip: the Franciscan church of San Buenaventura, the Dr. Francia Museum a block or two away, the Walk of Myths and the climb up Cerro Yaguarón, with a small Indigenous museum at the top. One thing to know first: the church is under restoration, so ask at the Turista Róga, the information point beside it, what you can see that day.
How do you get to Yaguarón from Asunción?
- By car: 48 km on the PY01 through San Lorenzo and Itá; Wikivoyage puts it at about 45 minutes (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab); Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
- By bus: buses heading south from Asunción on that road pass through Yaguarón (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Ask at the Asunción bus terminal which company stops in town and when the last bus back leaves.
- Once there: the town is small enough to walk (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Park near the church and go on foot.
San Buenaventura church: what to expect during the works
This is the reason to come: a Guaraní baroque church from the 17th and 18th centuries with a carved wooden interior, on Paraguay's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- The restoration. By March 2026 a team from Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Spain had taken down the termite-damaged wooden arches of the sacristy, as part of an 11-month job covering the sacristy, ante-presbytery, storerooms, carvings, paintwork and altarpiece. One of the project leads expected to hand it over "probably at Holy Week 2027" (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Spain's AECID provides technical support (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
- Before you go in: stop at the Turista Róga next to the church (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). The municipal tourism office takes bookings on +595 974 729 958 (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
- Tip: stalls around the church sell crafts, thermoses and souvenirs (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
Dr. Francia Museum: free and a short walk away
The Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia National Museum is in a colonial house at km 49 of the PY01. It opens Wednesday to Sunday, 8:00 to 16:00, and entry is free (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Five rooms and a colonial patio with a natural spring hold portraits of independence figures such as Pedro Juan Caballero, Fulgencio Yegros and Francia himself, plus period furniture and documents.
- Tip: it is closed Monday and Tuesday, so early in the week your visit shrinks to the hill and the outside of the church.
Walk of Myths and Cerro Yaguarón
- Walk of Myths (Paseo de los Mitos). The street up to the hill runs between walls painted with creatures from Guaraní folklore, and at the foot of the hill there are statues of seven of them, including the Jasy Jatere, Kurupi and Teju Jagua (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Kids love it.
- The climb. The 14 Stations of the Cross line the slope up to the Gamarra chapel, and from the top you can see Pirayú, Itá, Paraguarí and Carapeguá (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). The summit viewpoint is free (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Tava Jaguarú Museum. At the summit, with Guaraní tools, bows and pottery (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). The Jasy Jatere maze is nearby (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
- Tip: climb early or late afternoon with water and closed shoes, and come down before dark.
Which dates change the plan?
- Holy Week. Yaguarón bills itself as Paraguay's Holy Week capital (ABC Color, 2024 (opens in a new tab)), and the hillside Stations of the Cross draw hundreds of visitors (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- "Yaguarón de ensueño". A night walk with actors playing local historical characters, starting at the Turista Róga and taking in the museum, the church, the hill and the Tava Jaguarú. In Holy Week 2026 there were free short versions on 27 and 28 March and a full one on 31 March for G. 50,000, from 19:30 (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). There is no fixed calendar, so call the tourism office.
- 14–15 July, San Buenaventura. The town's patron saint festival (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab); Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
A simple half-day plan
Time · Stop
8:00 · Leave Asunción on the PY01
9:00 · Turista Róga and the church exterior
9:45 · Dr. Francia Museum (Wednesday to Sunday)
11:00 · Walk of Myths, climb the hill, Tava Jaguarú
13:00 · Lunch and head back, or continue to Itá
To fill the day, add Itá, 11 km closer to Asunción on the same road, for pottery and the caiman lagoon. See our Itá and Yaguarón day trip.
FAQ
What is there to do in Yaguarón?
See the Franciscan church of San Buenaventura (under restoration), the Dr. Francia Museum, the Walk of Myths, and climb Cerro Yaguarón to the Tava Jaguarú Museum at the top.
Can you go inside the Yaguarón church?
It is under restoration: in March 2026 work was under way on the sacristy, with completion expected around Holy Week 2027. Ask at the Turista Róga next to the church or call +595 974 729 958 for what is open that day.
When is the Dr. Francia Museum open?
Wednesday to Sunday, 8:00 to 16:00, with free entry. It is closed Monday and Tuesday.
How far is Yaguarón from Asunción?
48 km on Route PY01, about 45 minutes by car.
