Lodging
Hotel Ozli This small hotel just fifty meters from Aregua’s municipal beach has basic rooms with a homey feel opening out onto a covered corridor. The restaurant serves up Paraguayan basics like roasted chicken and tallarin (thick linguini style noodles with tomato sauce) but guests also have free access to the hotel kitchen. The hotel also has canoes for trips along the lake. Tel: 0291 432 380, 0982 462 998, 0971 325 179, Avenida Coronel Panchito Lopez just before the lake on the right-hand side (follow Mariscal Estigarribia downhill from the church past the train tracks all the way towards the lake), www.ozlihotel.turismoparaguay.net, Double Gs. 40,000 per person on weekdays, Gs. 50,000 per person on weekends, Wi-Fi, pool
Restaurants
La Cocina de Gulliver Delicious Spanish food in a nice outdoor setting. Spanish chef Manuel and his friendly wife Justin routinely make paella platters over one-meter in diameter for food expositions in Asuncion and their small size paellas are just as show stopping. Other options include fresh baked breads, pork ribs, tortilla espanola and wood fire grilled pizzas. Ask the owners for their recommendations of the day. Tel: 0291 433 243, 0971 222 618, corner of Mariscal Estigarribia and Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria behind El Cantaro, Wed-Sun 11am-3pm, reservations required for dinner service, Gs. 25,000-50,000
La Vida Loca Gastro Pub Part restaurant, tapas bar, piercing and tattoo parlor and guest house, this establishment has a little of everything. House specialties are fish and the large 2-person steak platter. It is probably best to decide on a tattoo before ordering a tasty Brazilian cachasa based caipirinha though. Tel: 0291 433 426, 0982 917 089, Avenida Candelaria 807 almost at Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia, on Facebook, Tues 6pm-11pm, Wed-Fri 11:30am-3:30pm, 6pm-11pm, Sat 11:30am-11:30pm, Sun 10am-9pm Mon-Fri 6pm-midnight, Sat and Sun 11:30-11pm. Gs. 20,000-50,000
Todo Casero The name, meaning everything homemade says it all. Serving up inexpensive traditional Paraguayan food Todo Casero is an excellent budget option. Tel: 0291 432 506,
0982 578 515, Ricardo Perez 80 almost at Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, daily 7am-9pm in the summer, advanced requests (porpedido ) only during the winter, Gs.10,000-20,000
Don Pablo Without a doubt Aregua’s most popular eatery. Decorated with Paraguayan handicrafts and art the interior of this large house is very nice and intimate. Menu offerings are basic, pizzas and the like, but very tasty. Enjoy your meal and then head next door to the Centro Cultural del Lago or across the street to the community artist cooperative to view works by local artists. Tel: 0291 432 2 75, 0291 433 137, Corner of Mariscal Lopez and Yegros, Mon-Fri 7:30am-11pm, Sat 7:30am-12:30p, Sun 7:30am-9:30pm, Gs. 20,000-30,000
Desserts
For desserts, head down to the corner of Mariscal Estigarribia and Mariscal Fransisco Solano Lopez where most of the town’s bollo (jelly donut) vendors hang out. You’ll have your choice of dulce de leche, guayaba jam, and cream filled donuts.
Getting There
Aregua is accessed by a road which links the city of Luque to Ypacaraf (see Through Luque).
Both the Aregua 111 and Cerro Koi buses leave from the Asuncion bus terminal, though they can also be caught along Avenida Argentina, Avenida San Martin and Aviadores del Chaco as well. Make sure to specify to the driver that you want to go to the center or church of Aregua (some buses go into surrounding neighborhoods but may not bother to change their signs indicating so).
The historic Tren del Lago (steam train) makes the journey out to Aregua every other Sunday (see Tren del Lago).
Departamento Cordillera
Though the towns of the Cordillera department can easily be reached by Asuncion, they still retain their small town feel and traditions. Taking a stroll around the town plaza, popping into the historic church, and visiting local artisan workshops, it is easy to understand why these towns are frequented by Asuncenos looking for weekend escapes from the city. The department takes its name from the many hills (cordillera means mountain range in Spanish) in the region.
Aregua Map Paraguay Photo Gallery
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