Colonial houses in the town center and the Cachapé tradition give Itacurubí del Rosario two distinct cultural points of interest. One is reflected in the townscape, the other in the annual June parade featuring traditional vehicles. This distinction can help you plan your trip: the architecture is found in the town center, while the parade is tied to the town’s founding anniversary and therefore to a specific time of year.

Location and orientation

The district of Itacurubí del Rosario lies in the south of the Department of San Pedro, in Paraguay’s Región Oriental. The town center is located roughly midway along the section of Ruta 10 that runs west from Ruta 3. This gives two different geographic perspectives: the first places the district within the department, while the second refers specifically to the town center and the westbound stretch of road. To locate the town on a map, you can first look at the southern part of San Pedro and then at the approximate section of Ruta 10. This makes the distinction between its administrative location and the town center’s position clear.

Founding and townscape

Itacurubí del Rosario was founded on June 21, 1787, by Commander Roque de Acosta Freire, on the orders of Don Pedro Melo de Portugal. The town center has colonial houses that preserve their historic architectural style, as a description published in January 2025 notes. The town’s founding provides a precisely dated historical reference, while the houses offer an architectural aspect of its townscape. The fixed founding date and the architectural style preserved in the town center offer different perspectives on local history.

The Cachapé as a local tradition

The Cachapé is a traditional four-wheeled vehicle made in Itacurubí del Rosario and pulled by horses, donkeys, or mules. Its design, local manufacture, and the animals used to pull it make the term tangible: it refers to a specific vehicle and, at the same time, a local craft tradition. Cachapés are the focus of the large parade through town; the name refers to more than just the festival. The parade thus brings together local craftsmanship and a traditional form of transportation. If you are interested in traditional vehicles and local crafts, this distinctive feature is one of the destination’s clearly defined points of interest.

Festival and June parade

The Festival Nacional del Cachapé includes a large parade through town on Cachapés, followed by an arts and music program featuring traditional dance groups and artists from the region and the rest of the country. The program has two highlights: first the vehicles in the parade, then dance, music, and participants from across Paraguay. The festival was launched in 2016 as part of the celebrations marking the founding of Itacurubí del Rosario. This should be distinguished from the annual parade, which takes place in June to mark the town anniversary. The two dates serve different purposes: 2016 marks the start of the festival, while June is when the parade is held each year. If you are planning a trip specifically for this event, check the dates for the relevant edition before booking.

The 2025 parade traveled along Avenida Independencia Nacional in the town center and took place as part of the celebration of the 238th anniversary of the town’s founding. It also marked the start of the eighth edition of the Festival del Cachapé, which was announced at the time for June 28.

Discover more destinations: Colonia Friesland.

For the broader travel overview: Department of San Pedro.