Ypacaraí Lake & Areguá

Wikipedia places the lake in the western part of a tectonic depression, the Asuncion-Sapucai-Villarrica graben, and says it drains to the Paraguay River through the Salado River. The article gives conflicting figures for its size, between about 56 and 90 square kilometres, and for its average depth, between about 1.7 and 3 metres, so the lake is best described simply as large and shallow. Towns around it include Aregua, Ypacarai and San Bernardino, and San Bernardino is nicknamed the Summer City. The lake was originally called Tapycua, and Ypacarai is often translated as holy lake. A tradition says that Luis de Bolanos blessed the lake around 1600.

Wikipedia reports that the lake has suffered from pollution and cyanobacteria blooms linked to nearby farms, housing and land development, and describes it as the most polluted lake in Paraguay.

The lake is internationally known through the song Recuerdos de Ypacarai, written by Demetrio Ortiz and recorded by many artists including Julio Iglesias. A festival has been held every September in the city of Ypacarai since 1971, with folk expression, concerts, dance and theatre.

Aregua is a district in the Central department. Wikipedia says Domingo Martinez de Irala founded it in 1538, and that it became a district in 1862 under Francisco Solano Lopez. By the late nineteenth century writers, artists and intellectuals from nearby areas were spending summers there. UNESCO named Aregua a City of Crafts and Folk Arts within its Creative Cities Network in 2019.

Aregua is nicknamed the City of Strawberries, and strawberry farming underpins the local economy, with an annual Strawberry Expo. Pottery is a notable craft, and the Centro Artesanal de la Cuenca displays work by regional artisans. The town also has art galleries.

The historic core centres on Avenida del Lago, which runs from a hilltop church down to the lake. Parliament declared the area a National Heritage Area in 1997. The Koi and Chorori hills have sandstone formations, with Koi Hill declared a Natural Monument in 1993.

The lake and Aregua are a short drive from Asuncion, and a private vehicle and driver suits a half-day or full-day outing with stops at the lakeside, craft shops and viewpoints. Weekends are livelier because of fairs and visitors from the capital, and water conditions in the lake vary, so it is best to confirm what is advisable before planning any swim.

Between the lake, the lakeside avenue and the craft workshops, the area gives a gentler counterpoint to the capital's historic sights, and a guide can explain the Guarani and colonial roots of the names and customs on show. The Casa Hassler cultural centre in the area, mentioned by Wikipedia, offers cultural programming through the year.