The drive from Asunción to Encarnación
On our first visit to Paraguay, our wanderings took us to Encarnación in the south. The city made a good impression, but we didn’t have time to explore it properly. So we decided to go back—this time with the dog. We found a promising place to stay online that billed itself as “pet friendly”, rented a car, and set off for another adventure.
We rented a car from the international company Alamo in Asunción. For a token daily surcharge we were upgraded from the smaller Creta we’d booked to a Hyundai Tucson—an SUV that turned out to be an excellent choice. It was spot-on for two people and a dog. Ibo’s crate slid into the trunk along with two large suitcases and a few extras. It also doubled as a handy place to stash other gear, and thanks to its wheels we could move it around easily. And, most importantly, Ibo had no objections to renting the crate.
Ibo didn’t ride in the crate, though—he stretched out comfortably on the back seats. By placing two carry-on bags behind the front seats we created an almost completely flat platform, topped with a travel blanket. The whole space felt like a small dog bed—ideal for a comfy ride. The drive itself clearly didn’t thrill him; he slept through most of it.
The route from Asunción to Encarnación
We set off from Asunción, from our place in the Villa Mora neighborhood. After a short drive through town we joined the main road out via San Lorenzo and continued on Ruta 1. Some stretches of the capital’s main artery out of town felt a bit neglected—uneven surfaces and heavy traffic can eat up time. But as soon as we left the metro area, the traffic thinned and the drive became much smoother.
In Paraguarí we left the main route and continued on the quieter, more pleasant Ruta 10 toward Villarrica. Taking Ruta 10 meant calmer driving, better views and far fewer cars than the busy Ruta 1.
Villarrica – an ideal place for a break
Villarrica is a major regional center and transport hub in southern Paraguay. It may not look like a destination worth a stop at first glance, but it proved perfect for a short break along the way.
We more or less stumbled upon Guairá Park, right at the city’s entrance when you arrive from Asunción. The park has plenty of sports facilities, a pond, public toilets and, most importantly for us—dogs are allowed, which Ibo greatly appreciated. Despite the heat (around 30 °C), the shade and greenery made it very pleasant.
Just a couple of minutes’ drive from the park (about two) there’s a Burger King. They wouldn’t let us in with the dog, but Ibo managed the wait in the idling, air-conditioned car. Close by is the Superseis shopping center, where we stocked up for the rest of the trip—as always, Iva took care of it.
The final stretch to Encarnación
Getting through Villarrica took a bit longer—there’s no bypass, so the route runs straight through the center. Once out of town we rejoined the main route, now a standard primary highway. Traffic on this section was minimal, the road well maintained and comfortable. Although the posted maximum is 90 km/h for most of it, some straight, open sections could be driven quite safely at around 130 km/h.
We ended our drive in Encarnación—a city on the Paraná River, directly opposite the Argentine city of Posadas.
Trip summary
- Distance: approximately 370 km
- Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes (including breaks)
- Navigation: Waze and Mapy.cz (both suggested the same route)
- Recommendation: definitely an air-conditioned car—the daytime highs were 30 °C and above
Notes from the road:
- Leaving Asunción was slow—heavy traffic and rougher road conditions
- Outside the city, smooth driving on good main highways
- A pleasant stop in Villarrica (Guairá Park—dog friendly)
- Getting through Villarrica is slow; no bypass
- The last stretch is fast, comfortable and almost traffic-free