🇵🇾Paraguay

South America's least-visited country, and one of its most genuinely unhurried.

Capital

Asunción

Best time

May–September

Language

Spanish, Guaraní

Currency

Paraguayan guaraní

Paraguay rarely makes anyone's shortlist, which means its Jesuit mission ruins, river towns, and riverside capital see a fraction of the visitors found elsewhere on the continent — a real draw if what you want is to feel like you've found somewhere first.

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⛪ Jesuit mission ruins

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🏙️ Asunción's riverfront

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💧 Itaipú Dam

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🌳 Ybycuí cloud forest

Trip essentials

Budget: Budget: €20–35/day · Mid-range: €50–90/day · Luxury: €150+/day — one of the cheapest countries to travel in South America

Visa: Not required for EU, UK, US, and most Commonwealth passport holders for short tourist stays — always confirm current rules before booking.

Suggested days: 5 — 5 days covers Asunción and the Jesuit missions without rushing. Add 2–3 more if combining with Iguazu Falls via Ciudad del Este, which many travelers do since the border is so close.

Getting there: Asunción's Silvio Pettirossi International (ASU) is the main gateway; Ciudad del Este (AGT) is useful if combining with Iguazu

Getting around: Buses link major towns; a rental car or driver is the easiest way to reach the Jesuit missions

Safety: Generally safe for travelers; Ciudad del Este's border-crossing area warrants normal city caution

Tipping: 10% at restaurants is appreciated, rarely mandatory

Power plug: Type C, 220V

Tastes of Paraguay

Sopa paraguaya

A dense, savory cornbread (despite the name meaning "soup") made with corn, cheese, and onion.

Chipa

Cheese bread made with cassava starch, eaten everywhere as a snack or breakfast.

Mbejú

A starchy, cheese-flavored flatbread, crisp outside and soft inside.

Asado paraguayo

Grilled meat, similar in spirit to Argentine and Uruguayan asado, central to weekend gatherings.

Top attractions

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Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná

A UNESCO-listed pair of 17th-century Jesuit mission ruins, with carved stone facades and plazas that hint at the self-contained Guaraní-Jesuit communities that once lived here. They're among the best-preserved Jesuit ruins in South America and see very few visitors relative to their scale.

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Asunción's historic center

A riverside capital mixing faded colonial buildings, the Palacio de los López government palace, and a slow-paced waterfront along the Paraguay River — one of South America's least touristed capital cities.

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Itaipú Dam

One of the largest hydroelectric dams on Earth, built and operated jointly with Brazil on the border river. Tours take visitors across the structure itself, and it's an easy stop when passing through on the way to Iguazu Falls.

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Ybycuí National Park

A patch of Atlantic Forest with waterfalls, hiking trails, and the ruins of a 19th-century ironworks — one of the more accessible ways to see Paraguay's interior nature without a long drive.

Suggested itinerary

Days 1–2

Asunción

The historic center, the riverfront, and the Palacio de los López.

Day 3

Jesuit missions day trip

Trinidad and Jesús de Tavarangue's ruins, usually visited together.

🚗 ~5–6h drive from Asunción, or fly to Ciudad del Este and drive from there

Days 4–5

Ciudad del Este & Itaipú

The dam tour, and a natural gateway to Iguazu Falls just across the border.

🚗 Iguazu Falls (Brazil/Argentina side) is under an hour's drive from here

FAQ

Do I need a visa for Paraguay?

Not for most Western passport holders for short tourist stays — always confirm current rules before booking.

Can I combine Paraguay with Iguazu Falls?

Yes — Ciudad del Este sits right at the tri-border area with Brazil and Argentina, close to the falls.

Is Paraguay worth visiting if I'm short on time?

It rewards travelers more interested in quiet, off-the-radar stops than big-name sights — the Jesuit missions are the clearest highlight if time is limited.

What language is spoken?

Spanish is official and most widely used with visitors, but Guaraní is spoken by the majority of the population and remains culturally central.