Hiking Cerro Akatí: a short hike before flying out of Paraguay

The day before flying out of Paraguay, I decided to squeeze in a short nature outing. I set my sights on Cerro Akatí, one of the few prominent hills in a country otherwise known for its flatlands.

I set off by car from my lodging near the village of Melgarejo, where the access road to the summit begins. As usual, Ibo came along for this one too.

Access road and parking

An unpaved road leads up to Cerro Akatí and, in dry weather, it’s drivable in a regular car. In my case, the weather had other ideas. It poured the day before, and the final stretch turned into deep mud.

Pushing on by car would have been more luck than sense, so I parked and walked the rest.

Hiking to the summit

From where I left the car, it was about 2 kilometers to the top. The route follows the road, with some fairly steep sections. Dense tropical forest closes in on both sides, blocking almost all views, so you see very little of the surroundings until the very end.

After rain, expect mud and slick footing, but technically it’s not a difficult hike.

Cerro Akatí summit viewpoint

The payoff comes right on the summit: a transmitter tower and a viewpoint with panoramic views of the valley and the surrounding hills.

Entry to the viewpoint is ticketed: about 60,000 PYG, cash only, paid to the local caretaker.

Because most of Paraguay is almost completely flat, looking out over rolling terrain from above feels unusual.

Hiking with a dog

The route is easy to do with a dog. Just know that on rainy days neither your dog nor your car will stay clean. In warm weather, pack water—for you and your dog—and be prepared for the occasional encounter with local dogs.

Conclusion

Cerro Akatí makes an easy, worthwhile outing if you’re around Melgarejo or want a short hike with good views. It isn’t a high mountain by any means, but for Paraguay the vistas are striking. As a farewell to the country the day before my flight, it was exactly the right choice.