Loma Plata.
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Overview

Loma Plata is one of the three Mennonite colonies of the Chaco in Western Paraguay. Located 440 km northwest from Asunción it is surrounded by the desert-like environment characteristic to the central Chaco that creates a frontier-like cityscape in the town. Visitors to Loma Plata find a thriving industrial town with a rich historic heritage, some pristine nature reserves within easy reach from town, and good lodging and eating facilities. All this in an affluent Mennonite community just off the desolate Transchaco highway.

Understand

Founded by German Mennonites in the 1920s, Loma Plata is the second largest of the Mennonite colonies of the Chaco after Filadelfia with a population of about 9,000 inhabitants. Like the rest of the Mennonite colonies the town is greatly influenced by the work of a cooperative, in this case the Chortitzer Cooperative, one of the largest in the Chaco which is, in turn, responsible for running most of the city services like the hospital, the main supermarket, the savings bank, the school, and many others, which are paid for by the profits from the cooperative.

A large fraction of its population descends from German Mennonites who immigrated from Canada in the 1927.

Most businesses are closed during lunchtime from 12:00 to 14:00, as well as on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.

Tourist Office. Run by the cooperative, the tourist information office is helpful and provides excellent travel info, maps and brochures. It can provide guided visits in English, German and Spanish to the cooperative industry plants, to the museum, and to historical and nature sites in the central Chaco.

Get in

By bus The bus stop is on Avenida Central, the main street. Most buses then continue to Fildelfia. The main bus company serving the area is NASA, which also uses the name Golondrina. to Asunción 440 km, ~10 hr, 3 buses per day (one overnight), ₲70,000 to Filadelfia 21 km, ~45 min, 1 bus per day, ₲10,000 to Mariscal Estigarribia 101 km, ~1½ hr, 2 buses per day, ₲15,000

By car Loma Plata is 24 km off the Transchaco Highway. Asunción is 440 km to the southeast, and the Bolivia border is 328 km to the northwest; travelling time to both sides is about 7 hours.

Get around

Avenida Central is the main street and most of the things relevant for the tourist are on this avenue between the two roundabouts.

See

Museo de la Colonia Menno. Created in 1977 the city museum of Loma Plata is informative, of historical type and it shows the emigration of the Mennonites out of Canada and into Paraguay. The process of the initial settlement in the Chaco, the hardships of the first years of colonization are excellently displayed through a very nice selection of photographs. The journey of the original scouting team that came from Manitoba (Canada) in 1921 receives special attention with vivid descriptions, photos, and even an original map presented to the early colonists. There is also a map detailing the initial route taken through the Chaco to reach the actual site of Loma Plata. Other photos depict different aspects of the early life in the Mennonite colonies from education to farming.

Planta Industrial Trébol. The largest employer in the city is undoubtedly the Chortitzer cooperative, therefore a visit to its largest factory, a major industrial plant in Paraguay, that produces dairy products under the brand Trébol is an important city sight to be visited while in Loma Plata.

Parque Pioneros. The city park of Loma Plata which belongs to, as almost everything else in town, to the cooperative is a nice open space, centrally located, with lots of trees.

Out of town There are some historical sites in the surroundings of Loma Plata that have been converted into open air museums related to the arrival of the Mennonites in the 1920s and succesive colonization of the area. There is also an important site (Isla Poí) from the Chaco War.

Campo esperanza. Historic place of the first contact between Mennonite and indigenous people in 1921. Temporary camp of the Mennonites in 1927/8. It was a military hospital and control checkpoint during the Chaco War in 1932-35. Today there is a museum showing a big barn and agriculture equipment. A natural lagoon and self-guided paths.

Pozo Azul. This was the first camp the early Mennonite pioneers established in the Chaco in 1927. A food deposit, a school, an agricultural experimental field, and a graveyard were built here. Today a monument, a water reservoir and a rest place for the convoys of wagons mark this camp.

Punta Riel. An old railroad station that belonged to Carlos Casado Company. It was operational until 1961 and was the only transportation link available to the Mennonites that had to transport all their crops and products on horse or oax carts to the railroad station Km 145. It is a place where the Mennonites from the different colonies and the Paraguayan authorities met each other. Today there are building restored, pictures and artifacts from the early colonial days.

Isla Poí. One of the best preserved historical sites from the Chaco War. Isla Poí was the seat of command of marshal José Félix Estigarribia, the Paraguayan commanding general during the conflict. An open air museum with weaponry, the former military barracks, and photographs.

Do

Events The is the largest expo and rodeo event of the Chaco. It takes place annually in mid-August. There are approximately 150 exhibitors and more than 600 animals that come from the Mennonite cattle ranchs.

Buy

The main supermarket selling among others local produced - Chortitzer - products is on Avenida Central

Eat

Churrasquería Chaco's Grill. A popular all-you-can-eat restaurant specializing in Brazilian style grilled meat. Wide selection of beef, salads, desserts.

Restaurant Jacare Hu. A restaurant with good food and warm atmosphere.

Restaurant Meshin. Chinese food & sushi.

Drink

Loma Plata is not particularly known for its nightlife scene. The Mennonites are very hardworking people and after dark it seems that everyone goes to bed. However, there are some fast food and burger spots along Avenida Central offering cold beers and picadas, also the gas stations around town have convenience stores that sell spirits.

TheBig5. Snacks and burgers place. It has a selection of alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks.

Lomiteria Wilaõ. Burgers, kebabs and fries. Have cold beers.

Lomiteria Guasu'í. Burgers place. Have cold beers.

Sleep

Hotel Loma Plata Inn. Generally agreed to be the nicest hotel in Loma Plata. Located at walking distance from bus stop. Good service, pleasant inside courtyard, spacious rooms. Wide breakfast selection. Wi-fi. Good restaurant on the premises.

Hotel La Cascada. Formerly known as Hotel Palace. Clean rooms with air conditioning, cable TV. Breakfast included. Indoor pool. Parking.

Hotel Mora. Run by the Swatzky family (German is their main language), the Hotel Mora is a good option for those who want to feel how is living in the outdoors of the Chaco, there is plenty of shade in the property. Rooms are spacious and spotless. This hotel is away from the town centre and those travelling on public transportation will need a taxi to get there.

Hotel Algarrobo. The typical, Mennonite style lodging of the central Chaco.

Hotel La Colonia. New hotel, opened in 2017, is outside town to the south in the access road coming from the Transchaco. Clean and modern rooms. Good breakfast. Wi-fi.

Hotel Parador Cruce Los Pioneros. Located at an important crossroad of the Transchaco it is one of the few lodging places on the Transchaco. The adjoining restaurant and gas station is almost like a mandatory stop for truck drivers and almost everyone travelling along the highway.