Is Paraguay Worth Visiting?
Paraguay continues to be one of the most mysterious and rarely visited countries in South America.
Along with Venezuela, Guyana, French Guinea and Suriname, Paraguay seems to be on the “it’s alright to skip” list, despite the land-locked nation being more or less along the classic backpacking route.
Is Paraguay worth visiting?
Below, I’m going to cover my experience backpacking Paraguay, what I learnt, some awesome destinations to see here, and ultimately whether I now think Paraguay is worth the visit or not.
First of all…
Why on earth did I visit Paraguay?
When I was first doing research before my trip, there seemed to be very few guides or travelers heading to Paraguay.
This piqued my interest more, as off the beaten path travel tends to stir my beans more than anything else.
After having then traveled around 9 months through Latin America, I had already become accustomed to popular countries like Brazil and Peru.
Whilst they all are incredible places to visit, they’ve definitely become saturated with tourists, and even more so in hotspots like Rio and Cusco.
I was after something fresh and new, where I could see a culture that wasn’t yet adapted for tourists (and with less of those “all smiles” vendors whilst trying to grab as much cash off of you as possible).
As well as this, there were already a couple of big sites I wanted to see there, which included The Itaipu Dam and the Jesuit Mission Ruins.
And not to mention the Guaraní culture that has managed to stay alive despite hard times, which still flourishes in modern Paraguay today.
What’s the Paraguayan Culture like?
My immediate thoughts having entered Paraguay (I crossed into Ciudad del Este from Brazil) were how friendly the people were.
Despite this particular city’s lack of charm and chaotic nature, the locals were very welcoming and attentive whenever I asked for help about something.
This was even more apparent in Encarnación, however, don’t expect many to speak English though. The official languages here are Spanish and also the native Guaraní, so pick up a bit of español before and you’ll be fine.
Asunción shocked me the most.
Whilst most major capitals in this continent should be treaded with caution, I found the Paraguayan capital to be a breath of fresh air.
Despite being one of the poorest nations, most of the streets were relatively clean, and were even somewhat attractive with many lined with trees along the pavements as well as with colonial buildings in full force.
Things to do in Paraguay
Paraguay has a blend of well-known destinations, and also some incredible off the beaten path gems too.
As well as this, the culture is very unique here, and worth having a looking at (more on the how-to part later).
Ciudad del Este
Itaipu Dam is one of the highlights, with the second largest dam in the world a very interesting visit.
Whilst in the northern areas it’s also worth stopping along the Paraná River, where you can see fishermen go about their business and how it divides the nation from neighboring Argentina and Brazil.
Ciudad del Este is also renowned for its tax-free status, making it a very attractive shopping destination. We recommend heading with this organized tour, where you’ll be guided around the very best malls as well as some insider shopping tips.
Encarnación
This is the most relaxing city, where you can go for a stroll through the Japanese gardens as well as relax on the city’s man-made beaches.
Close-by is the San Rafael Reserve, which is a great place to see rare and exotic animals (over 60% are endemic just to this region alone!). Be sure to go with this memorable tour, which includes round-trip transportation as well as all meals too
In town you can find lots of great local eats, and I recommend trying Chipa (seen in the photo above) and Mbeju which are Paraguayan staples.
From here you must visit the Jesuit Ruins of Tavarangüe and Trinidad de Paraná. Both are close to the small town of Trinidad about an hour away.
Asunción
The capital of Paraguay (Asunción) is great for its architecture and culture!
Here you’ll be able to get more up and close with the native Guaraní people (most live and work around the markets and also in the historic center).
Be sure to head to Mercado Municipal 4, where you can try local foods and also the native Tereré drink.
Those who love nature will want to head to the Ybycuí National Park, which is full of stunning waterfalls and unique sites such as an Iron Factory. Head with this Day Tour, where you’ll visit these gems as well as La Rosada Museum.
Also, if you plan on staying in the capital overnight, the El Nomada Hostel is a great place to meet other like-minded travelers during your stay.
So… Is Paraguay worth visiting?
I for one think it was worth the visit, although any more than a week or two would have felt too much.
It’s definitely a great option for those who don’t want the touristy version of South America, and also for keeping the budget low (Paraguay done right can be as low as $15-20 a day!).
Again it depends on your time and interests, but if you’re heading to, or already in neighboring Brazil or Argentina… then I’d say go for it and see what adventures await you there.
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