Villa Hayes

Villa Hayes is the capital of Paraguay's Presidente Hayes Department and the traditional gateway to the Paraguayan Chaco. It sits on the north bank of the Paraguay River, roughly 31 kilometres from Asunción, and is known locally as "the city of five names" and "the City of Steel."

The city traces its roots to 1786, when it began as the Jesuit reduction known as Reducción Melodía. It later became Nueva Burdeos, a short-lived French settlement, then Villa Occidental, before being renamed in 1879 in honour of U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, whose arbitration ruling kept the territory in Paraguayan hands. That layered past survives in the Museo Histórico and in the 1870 house that now hosts the Centro Cultural Melodía.

Around the compact centre, visitors find the Iglesia de la Virgen de la Victoria, the main avenue Avenida Laudo Hayes and riverside views of the Paraguay River. Nearby natural landmarks such as Cerro Colorado, Cerro Confuso, the Estero Patiño wetlands and the Reserva Natural Parque Tinfunqué make the district a base for Chaco wildlife and landscape excursions.

Villa Hayes is also an industrial centre. The ACEPAR steel plant, cement works, meat processing and logistics tied to the Ruta Transchaco have made it an important business destination within the western region, attracting work-related travel alongside leisure visits.

For travellers, the city combines an easy day trip from Asunción with access to the wider Chaco. Events such as the Festival del Acero and the patronal festival in October, along with local football clubs and the riverside setting, give Villa Hayes a distinct regional character.