◎ AREGUA
Aregua
Lakeside town
Aregua is a pretty town around 30kms from Asuncion, with cobblestone streets and colonial villas. The town is on the edge of Lake Ypacari .
It is a centre for crafts (artesania), mainly pottery and painting. The streets are lined with stalls selling vibrantly coloured hand-painted ceramics.
Centro Cultural del Lago
WHAT TO DO
IN aREGUA
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The Church of the Virgin of the Candelaria sits on a hill overlooking Lake Ypacarai (Iglesia Virgen de la Candelaria)
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Centro Cultural del Largo is small, beautifully curated gallery of Paraguayan art & crafts, run by English artist Ysanne Gayat, who has lived in Aregua for many years.
The shop has books and examples of local crafts.
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Ypacarai Lake (El Lago de Ypacarai), is a few minutes walk from the town centre.
On the road to the lake, It worth looking out for the atmospheric abandoned railway station, with ghost carriages, bits of the track and axels seemingly where there were left.
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August is the strawberries season when the town hosts a festival of strawberries (frutillas), with stalls selling strawberries and home-made products.
WHERE TO STAY
IN aREGUA
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Beautiful hotel with fascinating collection of artworks, a small museum with artifacts from the days of the railways, an exhibition centre and even it’s own chapel.
Centrally located within walking distance of the lake and the church.
Good restarant.
HOW TO GET TO AREGUA
The regular bus service from Asuncion takes about an hour.
A taxi costs around 150 000 Guaranies, £15 / $20US).
Bolt is popular, but the local yellow taxis are in my experience, safe, friendly and good value.