San Bernardino
Paraguay · Cordillera · 90 m
Description
San Bernardino sits on the eastern shore of Lake Ypacaraí an hour from Asunción and is the summer resort of the Paraguayan capital, founded by German settlers in 1881 whose villas still line the lakefront under old trees. In January the town fills completely and its clubs run through the night. The lake itself is shallow and has suffered from algal blooms, so most people come for the shore rather than the water. Areguá on the opposite bank is a ceramics town of workshops and strawberry fields. The drive from Asunción takes about an hour on a good road.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 4 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: April – May or September – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Lakefront villas and the German founding quarter
- Areguá ceramics workshops
- Summer season and the lakeside clubs (December - March)
- Lake Ypacaraí shore walk
- Strawberry fields and the Areguá harvest (August - September)
- Hotel del Lago and its history
- Cerro Kói and its hexagonal sandstone(Day trip)
- Craft market and the lakeside cafés