Alto Paraguay

Fuerte Olimpo is the small riverside capital of Paraguay's Alto Paraguay department, set on the west bank of the Paraguay River directly across from Brazil. Founded in 1792 as the Spanish frontier fort of Fuerte Borbón, it is the country's northernmost departmental capital and a gateway to the vast Pantanal wetlands.

The town climbs over low hills known as the Cerros Tres Hermanos, offering wide views over the river and the flooded grasslands and forests of the Pantanal. Its compact historic centre features the old Fuerte Borbón fort, the Cathedral of María Auxiliadora and a small museum with Indigenous artefacts.

Life here is shaped by the river and the Chaco. Fishing, cattle ranching, river trade and public administration anchor the local economy, while boat services such as the Aquidabán connect Fuerte Olimpo with Concepción and remote river settlements. Reaching the town by road means travelling the Transchaco Highway and then unpaved routes that can become difficult in the rainy season.

For travellers, Fuerte Olimpo is a base for Pantanal wildlife watching, sport fishing, river excursions and visits to nearby wetlands and estancias. Accommodation and services are modest, which adds to its off-the-beaten-track appeal for adventurous visitors.

The town also serves as an administrative and supply centre for the far north of Paraguay, hosting departmental government offices and basic services. Its quiet atmosphere, colonial history and striking natural setting make it distinctive among Paraguay's departmental capitals.