Car trip from Asunción to Encarnación
Already during our first visit to Paraguay our wanderings led us to the city of Encarnación in the south of the country. The city left a good impression back then, but we didn’t have time to explore it properly. So we decided to go back — and this time with the dog. We found a nice-looking accommodation online that declared itself “pet friendly”, rented a car and set off for another experience.
We rented the car from the international Alamo agency in Asunción. For a laughably small daily surcharge we were upgraded from the originally planned smaller Creta to a Hyundai Tucson – an SUV that turned out to be an excellent choice. The car provided perfect comfort for two passengers and the dog. Ibo’s crate fit into the trunk without problems alongside two large suitcases and other small items. It also served as a practical space to store other things, which we could easily handle thanks to the wheels. And most importantly – Ibo had no objections to the crate being rented.
Ibo didn’t travel in the crate during the drive, but comfortably on the back seats. Thanks to two carry-on bags placed behind the front seats, we managed to create an almost completely flat area in the rear of the car, which we then covered with a travel blanket. The whole space felt like a small bed – ideal for comfortable travel. The trip itself apparently didn’t excite Ibo much, as he simply slept through most of it.
Route from Asunción to Encarnación
We set off from Asunción, specifically from our accommodation in the Villa Mora district. After a short drive through the city we joined the main outbound road via San Lorenzo and continued on Ruta 1. Some stretches of the main road in the capital feel a bit neglected – the roads are uneven in places and, due to heavy traffic, you can spend quite a lot of time here. However, as soon as we left the urban agglomeration, traffic eased significantly and the drive became much smoother.
In the town of Paraguarí we turned off the main route and continued on the less busy but pleasant Ruta 10 towards Villarrica. The route via Ruta 10 offered a calmer drive, nicer views and fewer cars than the busy Ruta 1.
Villarrica – ideal place for a break
Villarrica is an important regional centre and transport hub in the southern part of Paraguay. Although at first glance it may not seem like a place worth stopping, it proved ideal for a short break during the trip.
We more or less stumbled upon Guairá Park here, which is located right at the entrance to the town coming from Asunción. The park offers a lot of sports equipment, a pond, public toilets and, most importantly for us – entry with a dog was permitted, which Ibo definitely appreciated. Despite the warm weather (around 30 °C) it was very pleasant here thanks to the abundance of greenery and shade.
Just a few minutes by car from the park (about two) is Burger King, where they didn’t let us in with the dog, but Ibo managed to wait in the running, air-conditioned car. Nearby is the Superseis shopping centre, where we replenished supplies for the rest of the trip – as always, Iva took care of that.
End of the trip to Encarnación
Passing through Villarrica took a bit longer – the town has no bypass, so the route goes right through the centre. After driving through the town we rejoined the main route, this time on a regular first-class road. Traffic on this section was minimal, the road was well maintained and comfortable. Although most sections have a speed limit of 90 km/h, some straight and clear parts could be safely covered at around 130 km/h.
We ended our trip in Encarnación – the city on the bank of the Paraná River, directly opposite the Argentine city of Posadas.
Trip summary
- Route length: approximately 370 km
- Duration: 6 hours and 30 minutes (including breaks)
- Navigation: Waze and Mapy.cz (both suggested the same route)
- Recommendation: definitely an air-conditioned car – daytime temperatures reached 30 °C and above
Observations from the route:
- The exit from Asunción was slow – heavy traffic and poor road conditions
- Outside the city, smooth driving on quality main roads
- A pleasant break in Villarrica (Guairá Park – suitable for dogs too)
- Passing through Villarrica was slow; the town lacks a bypass
- The final part of the route was fast, comfortable and almost traffic-free