Villa Hayes is the capital of Presidente Hayes department — a town of 25,000 directly across the Paraguay River from Asunción (the town is visible from the Asunción waterfront, 12km north on the western bank), the entrance point to the Paraguayan Chaco, and home to the most unusual municipal naming story in South America: both the town of Villa Hayes and the entire department of Presidente Hayes (the largest department in Paraguay, covering the central Chaco with 72,907 km²) are named after Rutherford B. Hayes — the 19th president of the United States — because in 1878 Hayes arbitrated the Chaco territorial dispute between Paraguay and Argentina and decided in Paraguay’s favor. Paraguay, which would have lost the entire Chaco territory to Argentina without Hayes’s ruling, responded by naming the department after him — making Hayes the only US president with an entire Paraguayan department and a major town named in his honor. A statue of Hayes stands in the Villa Hayes main plaza.
The Hayes Arbitration: Why Paraguay Named a Department After an American President
The backstory: after Paraguay’s catastrophic defeat in the War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870 — Paraguay lost approximately 60–70% of its entire population, the bloodiest war in South American history), the Treaty of Peace required Paraguay to cede significant territory. Argentina claimed the Villa Occidental region (the Chaco Boreal — the territory west of the Paraguay River, today’s Presidente Hayes department) as part of its treaty rights. Paraguay disputed the claim, and both countries agreed to international arbitration. The arbitration was assigned to US President Rutherford B. Hayes, who in November 1878 ruled in Paraguay’s favor — Villa Occidental (Villa Hayes) was Paraguayan territory, not Argentine. The ruling preserved the majority of the Paraguayan Chaco for Paraguay. In gratitude, Paraguay named the territory “Departamento Presidente Hayes” and the capital town “Villa Hayes” — and maintained both names through subsequent governments. Hayes is a minor historical footnote in the US; in Paraguay, his name is on every map of the country and his statue is in the central plaza of the department capital.
Cost of Visiting Villa Hayes
| Expense | Daily Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Basic hotel | $20–$45 |
| Food | $8–$18 |
| Ferry from Asunción | $1–$2 each way |
| Daily total | $29–$65 |
Villa Hayes is primarily a day trip from Asunción — the short ferry crossing (the ferry from the Asunción waterfront runs regularly and takes 20 minutes) makes it accessible for the unusual experience of being in the Chaco without the 6-hour Trans-Chaco bus journey to Filadelfia. Most visitors to Villa Hayes are Paraguayans crossing for Chaco-side logistics or day visitors curious about the Hayes presidential legacy.
Climate
Continental semi-arid Chaco at 80m — hotter and drier than Asunción across the river, as the Chaco begins immediately west of the Paraguay River. Summer (October–March): 30–42°C — the Chaco heat is intense. Winter (June–August): 10–25°C, more comfortable. The 12km river crossing creates a noticeable microclimate change: Asunción’s subtropical humidity vs. the Chaco’s drier, hotter continental air.
Things To Do
- Statue of President Hayes and the main plaza — The bronze statue of Rutherford B. Hayes in the Villa Hayes plaza is the most unusual monument in Paraguay — an American president memorialized in South America for an 1878 diplomatic ruling. The small museum adjacent to the plaza documents the arbitration history and the Villa Occidental dispute, providing the context for why a Paraguayan town celebrates an American president most Americans have never heard of.
- Chaco entry point and capybara viewing — The road west from Villa Hayes enters the central Chaco immediately — the transition from the Paraguay River floodplain to the dry thorny Chaco forest is visible within 20km. The floodplain areas adjacent to Villa Hayes (the marshes of the Pilcomayo River, which empties into the Paraguay River near Villa Hayes) have capybara herds, caiman, and the waterbird concentrations typical of the Paraguay River flood zone. The Pilcomayo National Park entrance is 70km west.
- Ferry crossing from Asunción — The ferry experience itself (20 minutes across the Paraguay River, with the Asunción skyline receding behind and the flat Chaco horizon ahead) is one of Asunción’s most atmospheric excursions. The ferry carries vehicles and passengers; the crossing is used primarily by Paraguayans commuting between the Chaco and the capital.
Getting There
From Asunción: the ferry from the Asunción waterfront (the Costanera landing near the port) takes 20 minutes to Villa Hayes. Alternatively, by road: the Puente Remanso (25km north of Asunción) and the Trans-Chaco Highway bridge connect by road, adding 45–60 minutes to the overland distance. The Villa Hayes bus terminal connects to Asunción (frequent service, $1–2) and west into the Chaco toward Filadelfia (6 hours).
FAQ
Is Rutherford B. Hayes actually celebrated in Paraguay?
Yes — the Hayes legacy is genuinely maintained in Paraguay, not as diplomatic courtesy but as sincere national memory. The annual November 12 celebrations in Villa Hayes (the anniversary of the 1878 arbitration ruling) involve official ceremonies, schoolchildren reciting the history, and the local media covering the Hayes anniversary as a significant national date. Paraguay’s football team from Villa Hayes (Club Presidente Hayes) has had multiple players in the Paraguayan national league. The naming convention (department, city, sports team, street names) reflects that Paraguayans genuinely credit Hayes with preserving their national territory after the devastating Triple Alliance War losses. In the US, Hayes is ranked among the least-remembered presidents; in Paraguay, his name appears on more official documents and maps than any other American.
Thinking About Living in Latin America?
We help people navigate residency in Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and beyond. Browse our services → | Book a consultation call →
Want more? Get our best content on expat life and Latin America. Join the newsletter →
You might also like
Planning a move to Latin America? Book a consultation call →
