Altos, Paraguay Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Altos
City and district
San Lorenzo de la Cordillera de los Altos
Church of Altos, Paraguay
Altos Location in Paraguay
Country	Paraguay
Department	Cordillera
Founded	August 10, 1538
Area
• Total	92 km² (36 sq mi)
Elevation	207 m (679 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	13,114
• Density	73/km² (190/sq mi)
Time zone	-4 Gmt
Postal code	3240
Area code(s)	0512

Altos is a city and district in the Cordillera Department of Paraguay. It is a lovely place with a rich history and beautiful nature.

What's in a Name?

Altos is also known as "Altos de Ybypytaré". In the Guaraní language, this means "path of the wind". It was once called "San Lorenzo de la Cordillera de los Altos". This makes it one of the oldest cities in Paraguay. People also call it the "Terrace of the country". This is because it is located high up.

Weather in Altos

The weather in Altos is usually mild and dry. The average temperature is about 22 °C (72 °F). In summer, it can get hot, reaching up to 39 °C (102 °F). In winter, it can get cool, dropping to 3 °C (37 °F).

People of Altos

Altos has a population of 13,114 people. This includes 6,862 men and 6,252 women. These numbers come from the official Statistics, Polls and Census General Direction.

A Look Back: History of Altos

There are two main stories about how Altos was founded. One story says that Domingo Martínez de Irala founded the city. This happened on August 10, 1538.

Another story says that Friar Luis de Bolaños founded it in 1580. His work was special. It was the first of many "reducciónes". These were Roman Catholic missions for the Guaraní people in Paraguay.

How Altos Makes a Living

Altos is known for growing special plants. These include pharmacological plants, which are used for medicine. They also grow coffee. Farming in general is important here. People also work with wood, creating crafts. Raising cattle is another key part of the economy.

Fun Things to See and Do

The Church of San Lorenzo

The church in Altos is very old. It dates back to the time of the Jesuit Missions. It honors its patron saint, San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence). You can find it in Heroes' Square, right in the center of the city.

Marshal Estigarribia's Crash Site

Marshal José Félix Estigarribia was an important leader. His plane crashed near Altos. This happened by the Aguaí Stream.

Amazing Wood Carvings

Local artists create beautiful things from timbó wood. They carve animals, mythical creatures, and masks. These are then painted with bright colors. The masks are famous as "kamba ra'anga". This means "image of the mulatto".

Festivities of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

These masks are used in special re-enactments. These shows tell the story of battles between the kambá (mulattos) and the guaicurúes (natives). These events happen during the festivities of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. They are held on July 28 and 29th in Itaguazú. This village is just 2 kilometers from Altos. It's a big celebration with old traditions. There are games and delicious local food.

Beautiful Scenery and Nature

The road to Altos is very scenic. It goes up a chain of mountains. From there, you can see the beautiful Ypacaraí Lake. You can also enjoy the amazing plants and trees around it.

The Tukanga Route

The local government offers an outing called "The Tukanga Route". It's named this way because there are many "tucanes" (toucans) in the area. This region is famous for its rich natural beauty.

Saldivar Stream Natural Reserve

You can also visit the Saldivar Stream. It's in a natural reserve that is over 4 hectares big. This peaceful spot is about 8 kilometers from the city center.

Rural Hotels

The farm "El Gaucho" is a lovely place to stay. It has 4 hectares of green plants. It offers modern comforts but feels like colonial times.
The rural hotel "La Grappa" lets visitors enjoy the mountain nature. They also have nights with Paraguayan and Latin American folk music.

Famous People from Altos

Altos is the birthplace of Luis Alberto del Paraná. He was a very famous artist around the world. His house is in the old part of the city. Luis Alberto traveled all over Europe. He entertained people with his music and won many awards for his songs.

Getting to Altos

Altos is easy to reach by road. You can turn off Ruta 2 near Ypacaraí. The road then passes through San Bernardino, Altos, Loma Grande, and Nueva Colombia. It eventually leads to Ruta 3 in Emboscada. There is also a paved road connecting Altos with Atyrá.

New ECO Vía Highway

A newer highway called ECO Vía connects Luque with San Bernardino. If you are coming from the airport area, this is often the quickest way to get to Altos.

Bus Travel

A bus line called LOMA GRANDE (yellow buses) connects Altos to the wider Gran Asunción area. This bus line starts in Loma Grande. It serves Altos, San Bernardino, and Ypacaraí. Then it follows Ruta 2 to San Lorenzo. It continues to Fernando de la Mora. From there, it heads north into Asunción. It passes through Mariano Roque Alonso and Limpio. Finally, it follows Ruta 3 back to Emboscada and Loma Grande. The bus also travels the same route in the opposite direction.

If you are in central Asunción, you can take a bus that goes along Mariscal Estigarribia street in Fernando de la Mora. There, you can change to the LOMA GRANDE bus line that goes towards San Lorenzo and then to Altos.

Images for kids

Atrium of the Church of Altos
Municipality of Altos

Altos, Paraguay facts for kids

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