Bella Vista

About

Bella Vista is widely regarded as the country’s capital of yerba mate production, sharing the history and cultivation of this traditional herbal tea with visitors. First cultivated by the Guaraní and Tupí native peoples, this plant was extensively developed by Eurpoean colonists to become a major local industry in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. The beverage can be enjoyed hot or cold, sugar may be added, and it has associated health benefits too! In Bella Vista you can visit the Raatz House Museum, a former general store and yerba mate production facility associated with the Raatz-Ulbrich family. You can observe the packing process of this commodity, and even taste the various forms of the drink. There is the option to visit their nursery 5km away too. The Mate Róga Tourist Information Center provides a brief tour which encompases the yerba mate process from it’s cultivation to it’s consumption. Tours in Spanish only.