The Costanera de Asunción: A Guide to the Riverfront
The Costanera de Asunción is the city's riverfront avenue, and it has two parts that do not form one continuous route. The Costanera Norte runs for more than 11 km along the bay, and the Costanera Sur runs for 8.1 km from Avenida Colón to Cerro Lambaré (figures from the public works ministry, MOPC). Walking there is free. From the Norte you can take a 15-minute boat ride on the bay, and from the old port a passenger launch crosses the river to Chaco'i. For more ideas around town, see our Explore page.
Costanera Norte and Costanera Sur: what is the difference?
The Costanera Norte runs along the Bahía de Asunción for more than 11 km, with bike lanes and two viaducts. It links to the bridge to the Chaco. Its first stretch (opened 2012) starts at Calle Colón and follows the bay to Avenida General Santos, passing behind the Cabildo, the Palacio de López and the customs building. The second (opened 2020) continues to Avenida Primer Presidente and links to the Autopista Ñu Guasu toward Luque.
The Costanera Sur runs 8.1 km from Avenida Colón, in barrio Tacumbú, to Cerro Lambaré. It was built at flood-proof level to link Asunción with the city of Lambaré. It opened on 20 July 2024 with a public bike ride. When people search for a "Costanera de Lambaré", they most likely mean this south end by the Cerro.
They are not one continuous waterfront path. The city describes the two as joined through the downtown streets Colón and Montevideo. Added together, the two MOPC lengths come to roughly 19 km of riverfront avenue, but you cannot walk them as one route along the water. Map
Walking and cycling
Both sections are free to walk. The Costanera Norte has bike lanes. For the Costanera Sur, MOPC described a linear park with walking paths, a bike path, a playground, exercise equipment and restrooms. In January 2026, ABC reported weeds over the paths and complaints about the fountains and restrooms, so do not count on every facility. We found no bike rental on either section.
Wikipedia says the bay-side lane of the Norte closes to cars on Sundays and holidays for people on foot, but no 2026 source confirms this still happens, so check before going. Check the weather before a long walk or ride.
A 15-minute boat ride on the bay
Jaha de Tour en Lancha runs short loops of about 15 minutes around the Bahía de Asunción every day. Boats leave from below the Mirador Turista Róga, next to Los López, in the beach area of the Costanera Norte. There are no night trips, so plan to go before dark. Prices and the WhatsApp number are in the box above. Map of the departure point
Crossing to Chaco'i by launch
An informal passenger launch crosses the river to Chaco'i, now officially the district of Nueva Asunción (renamed in 2021), on the west bank about 10 km from Asunción. April 2026 reports say the launches still run every day for commuters. There is no published 2026 timetable; the pattern in the box comes from a 2022 report, so check before going.
Where to board: the likely boarding point is the riverbank next to the customs building at the old Puerto de Asunción, known as playa Montevideo. That comes from a 2022 report; no exact pier is published. Map of the Puerto de Asunción
On the other side: listed sights include the small historic center by the launch stop, with views back to Asunción; the 1937 Capilla La Inmaculada Concepción on the riacho Pajaguá, used for birding and fishing; a small private museum with Chaco War items; and the Mirador del Chaco, an 11-storey (36 m) private lookout tower with free entry. Tourism there is still small-scale.
Our advice: go in the afternoon and come back well before dark. It is an informal service and safety equipment is not documented, so look at the boat and the weather before you board.
Can you swim? No
The sandy stretch by the bay on the first part of the Costanera Norte, known as the Playa de la Costanera, is for walking and sitting, not swimming. The city's municipal police have said the beach is closed as a bathing site by the Ministerio de Salud (the health ministry) and that bathing in the bay is prohibited. In December 2025 the environment ministry (MADES) repeated that the Bahía de Asunción is not fit for bathing. The city also bans drinking alcohol, loud music and parking on the sand there.
MADES said the same about Lago Ypacaraí, so the beach in Areguá is for walking too.
The city uses the beach for summer events; no program for the 2026 to 2027 summer has been announced yet.
Safety and the state of the Costanera
Recent reports describe lighting outages and damaged paving, and we found no report confirming that every stretch is now lit.
- Lighting: repeated cable theft has cut the lights on both sections. In February 2026, ANDE (the power utility) reported 800 m of buried cable stolen on the Costanera Norte, leaving 18 LED poles dark, and it plans to replace the cable with overhead lines. In May 2026 MOPC agreed to hand the Costanera Sur's street lighting to ANDE.
- Paving: in March 2026 ABC reported an open pit about 1.20 m deep in the middle of a Costanera Norte sidewalk, exposed rebar, and long stretches of bike path with the paving almost gone. In January 2026 it reported weeds covering paths and hiding holes on the Costanera Sur.
- Works: MOPC reported replacing sidewalks and curbs on part of the Costanera Norte between November 2025 and January 2026. We found no report of repairs to the pit or bike path that ABC described.
Our advice: go in daylight or at sunset, stay on lit, busy stretches, and watch your step.
Events on the Costanera
Big events close sections of the Costanera. Two 2026 examples: the Maratón Internacional de Asunción ran on the Costanera on 30 August 2026, and Oktoberfest Paulaner Asunción takes place on the Costanera on 10, 15 and 16 October 2026 (the 8 and 9 October nights moved to 15 and 16 after weather alerts), with tickets on Tuti. For concerts, fairs and anything else on today, see Find a performance.
How to get to the Costanera de Asunción
On foot: walk down to the river from the Palacio de López and Cabildo area. No official list of pedestrian entrances or walking times is published.
Documented entry points: the downtown streets Colón and Montevideo, which link the two sections; the General Santos roundabout; and the Cañadón Chaqueño access to the Costanera Norte.
By ride app, from the Ycuá Satí / Villa Morra side of town (estimates; traffic changes them):
- Costanera and the bay boat departure: about 15 to 30 minutes.
- Puerto de Asunción, for Chaco'i: about 15 to 30 minutes.
- Cerro Lambaré, at the south end: about 20 to 35 minutes.
See booking a ride.
By bus: check Moovit for the stop nearest the entry you want, and see how bus cards work.
A riverside afternoon (sample plan)
This is our suggestion, not official guidance on the best time to go:
- Walk a busy stretch of the Costanera Norte near the Mirador Turista Róga.
- Take the bay boat before the last departure of the day.
- Stay for the sunset from the Playa de la Costanera.
For a longer outing, add Cerro Lambaré at the south end of the Costanera Sur. Cars have been barred since mid-September 2026 for World Skate Games work (the Games run from 2 to 18 October 2026), so for now it is walk-in only, and no date for car access has been announced. Map
Nearby
- Jardín Botánico y Zoológico: the Costanera Norte improved access to it. Open days and costs are in our guide to free and low-cost things to do in Asunción. Map
- Cerro Lambaré: at the south end of the Costanera Sur. See our note on Cerro Lambaré.
FAQ
Where is the Costanera in Asunción?
Along the river. The Costanera Norte follows the bay behind the historic center, and the Costanera Sur runs south to Cerro Lambaré.
How do I get to the Costanera?
Walk down to the river from the Palacio de López and Cabildo area, take a ride app, or check Moovit for the nearest bus stop.
Where does the Costanera Sur start and end?
It runs 8.1 km from Avenida Colón, in barrio Tacumbú, to Cerro Lambaré.
What is on at the Costanera today? Is it closed?
See Find a performance for dated events. Sections close for big events, so check listings and the news on the day.
Can you swim at the Costanera?
No. Bathing in the bay is prohibited, and MADES says the water is not fit for bathing.
Is the Costanera safe at night?
2026 reports describe dark stretches after cable theft and damaged paving. Our advice: go in daylight or at sunset and stay on lit, busy stretches.
What can you do at the Costanera?
Walk, cycle the Norte's bike lanes, take a short boat ride, sit by the Playa de la Costanera, catch an event, or cross to Chaco'i.
How much is the bay boat ride?
Prices are in the box at the top of this page. The loop takes about 15 minutes.
How do you cross to Chaco'i?
By informal passenger launch from the Puerto de Asunción, most likely from playa Montevideo. The fare is in the box; check the timetable before going.
Going with others is more fun: suggest a sunset walk on Meetups.