Loma Plata

Loma Plata is one of the three Mennonite colonies of the Gran Chaco in Western Paraguay, located 440 km northwest from Asunción. Founded by German Mennonites in the 1920s, this town of about 9,000 inhabitants offers a unique frontier-like cityscape surrounded by desert-like Chaco environment. Visitors find a thriving industrial town with rich historic heritage, pristine nature reserves within easy reach, and good lodging and eating facilities in an affluent Mennonite community.

Loma Plata is the second largest of the Mennonite colonies after Filadelfia. The town is greatly influenced by the Chortitzer Cooperative, one of the largest in the Chaco, which runs most city services including the hospital, main supermarket, savings bank, and school—all funded by cooperative profits. A large fraction of the population descends from German Mennonites who immigrated from Canada in 1927. Most businesses close during lunchtime from 12:00 to 14:00, Saturday afternoons, and Sundays.

Loma Plata is accessed via the Transchaco highway. The town is a transit point for buses traveling between Asunción and Bolivia. Buses from Asunción to Bolivia stop at Mariscal Estigarribia (approximately 101 km northwest), where immigration processing occurs. The bus fare to Santa Cruz de la Sierra is US$65.

Avenida Central is the main street where most tourist-relevant locations are situated, between the two roundabouts. Taxis are available for reaching accommodations away from the town centre.

Loma Plata offers several accommodation options. Hotel Loma Plata Inn (Single US$35; double US$45; triple US$55) is generally agreed to be the nicest hotel, located 100 m from Avenida Central with good service and restaurant. Hotel Mora (Single US$20; double US$30) is run by the Swatzky family with German as main language, offering spacious spotless rooms with plenty of shade. Hotel La Colonia (Single US$27; double US$38; triple US$55) opened in 2017 with clean modern rooms and Wi-Fi. Hotel Parador Cruce Los Pioneros is located at Ruta Transchaco Km 410 at an important crossroad.

The main supermarket selling Chortitzer products is on Avenida Central. Dining options include Churrasquería Chaco's Grill on Avenida Manuel Gondra (Brazilian-style all-you-can-eat grilled meat), Restaurant Norteño on Bäcker Strasse, Restaurant La Delicia on Fred Engen Strasse, and Rincón Sabroso adjoining the Ecop gas station. Chinese food and sushi is available at Restaurant Meshin on Avenida Central, while Pizzeria Chaco serves pizza on Fred Engen and Firedhof Strasse. Fast food and burger spots along Avenida Central offer cold beers and picadas, and gas stations have convenience stores selling spirits.

The Museo de la Colonia Menno (city museum) on Avenida Central is free and open M-F 07:00-11:30, displaying Mennonite emigration from Canada, initial Chaco settlement hardships, and the scouting team's journey from Manitoba in 1921. Planta Industrial Trébol, the Chortitzer cooperative's largest factory producing dairy products under the Trébol brand, offers guided visits by appointment through the tourist office. Parque Pioneros on Alten Strasse is a nice open space with trees behind the cooperative supermarket. Historic sites include Campo Esperanza (first Mennonite-indigenous contact in 1921, later military hospital during Chaco War 1932-35) and Pozo Azul (first camp established in 1927 with monument and water reservoir).

Filadelfia is 24 km east—the largest and most cosmopolitan of the Mennonite colonies and a charming city. Neuland is 53 km to the south, the smallest colony with historic sites full of relics from the Chaco War. Mariscal Estigarribia is 101 km northwest, site of a large military airbase and the last stop before remote areas of the central and northern Chaco. Isla Poí is one of the best-preserved Chaco War historical sites, serving as the command seat of Marshal José Félix Estigarribia with an open-air museum of weaponry and former military barracks.

Most hotels offer Wi-Fi for guests. The tourist office on Avenida Central can provide information and assist with connectivity needs.

The other two Mennonite colonies are close and worth visiting: Filadelfia (24 km east) and Neuland (53 km south). Mariscal Estigarribia (101 km northwest) is the last stop before remote Chaco areas. For Bolivia, catch the Asunción-Bolivia bus at Mariscal Estigarribia—take the bus to Filadelfia, then to Mariscal Estigarribia, and ask the driver to drop you at the immigration office. Buses depart Asunción daily at 20:00, reaching Mariscal Estigarribia around 03:00. Immigration processing happens there before crossing to Bolivia (6-7 hours to Bolivian immigration).