Paraguay trips have much to offer. The country is sparsely populated and a true off-the-beaten-track location in the centre of South America. It is an unspoilt and amazing holiday destination – a trip here is to step back in time among an incredible variety of attractions.
For the culture seeker, the country has a history full of upheaval and suffering due to the historic wars with its neighbours and its population decimated. The Jesuits left their mark in incredible mission towns, and immigration from Europe, in particular, influenced the country too. In the early 20th century, Mennonite immigrants settled in the north of the country creating their own closed communities. Many immigrant communities mixed with the native Guarani peoples creating a cultural melting pot that can be enjoyed nowadays in our Paraguay trips. Guarani and Spanish are the official languages of the country.
Paraguay holidays can also offer much to the nature enthusiast. The Chaco is a semi-arid wilderness and one of the least densely populated places in South America. Covering the north of the country, there is an abundance of fauna including puma, tapir, giant armadillo and anteater. The north-eastern part is a wetland which forms part of the Pantanal ecosystem in Brazil. The south-east corner is in the Alto Parana, an area of national parks and amazing waterfalls. This area is close to the Iguazu Falls so a Paraguay holiday can be combined with Argentina and Brazil.
The Golden Circuit is a series of colonial towns around the capital Asuncion. This includes towns such as Aregua and its artisan market, as well as the baroque church of Yaguarón.
The Jesuit reductions in the south of the country, established in the 17th and 18th centuries, are historical museums. The Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue should be part of any Paraguay trip.
The Mennonite town of Fiiladelfia offers and incredible insight into the lives and culture of their communities. It is also a great base from which to explore the Chaco. The Pantanal, in the eastern Chaco, is a remote wilderness bustling with flora and fauna waiting to be explored. The Saltos de Monday waterfalls reach a height of 45 metres and a width of over 120 metres. They are located near Ciudad del Este on the border close to the Iguazu falls. The Itaipu dam is also a man-made wonder to be visited in this area.
Paraguay, being at the “heart” of South America, can also be combined neatly with the neighbouring countries. It is a fascinating destination with a tragic history, an incredible assimilation of the original peoples. An opportunity to visit untouched places by the influences of mass tourism.
Discover our Paraguay trips on this page.
Cultural
Below you will find a few of the many attractions Paraguay has to offer for your holiday.
The Alto Parana region is to the east of Paraguay and its main city is Ciudad del Este on the shore of the Parana River.
Across the Parana River is where you will find Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and the Iguaçu Falls.
The Itaipu dam – one of the largest of the world – can be visited and just South of Ciudad del Este the Monday falls are worth a visit.
The Tati Yupi Biological reserve offers the outdoors enthusiast interpretative trails of the wildlife and fauna as well as bike trails for the more energetic.
Asuncion is the capital of landlocked Paraguay and sits on the shore of the Paraguay River.
Asuncion is one of the oldest cities in South America and its character reflects the harsh and varied history of the region.
It also represents the diverse nature of Paraguay where Spanish and Guiarani – the indigenous language – are the official languages.
Places to visit include the National Pantheon of Heroes and the Independence House Museum.
A guided tour is recommended, to help you get the most out of your visit.
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Alexandra and Daniel, Tailor-made Ecuador, Galapagos and Colombia, July 2024 Kat provided us with the most amazing holiday to Ecuador, the Galapagos and Colombia. She planned it to meet every single need and want we expressed as well as more! The time and effort she went to make the trip as smooth and easy was incredible! We felt totally looked after both by her before the trip as well as during the trip with all the guides and timings of everything that she had arranged. We chose Andean trails as they were the most accommodating, organized and efficient in their communication and coming up with an itinerary with matched 100 % with what we wanted. The tour guides/ drivers both in Ecuador and Colombia were exceptional and every tour arranged in all three destinations was perfect. The whole planning of the trip ran without a single flaw. The dream holiday! Thanks so much Kat!
M. Boerman, Galapagos Land-based tour, May 2024 We loved the wildlife - learning about Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands during the planning of this trip did not prepare me for really being able to see so much diversity in the ecosystems. All the locals we interacted with were very welcoming and friendly. The food was fabulous and hotels were beautifully located and well maintained. We chose Andean Trails because I Googled “eco travel to Galapagos Islands” and Andean Trails came up as one with the best reviews. Kat, I know I have said thank you but really THANK YOU, your attention to details and fine tuning of our trip were wonderful! You were a pleasure to work with for so many years and you gave us the best vacation we could have asked for. Like most of our tour guides they can't guarantee what we will see or experience but I think we checked off all our boxes with this vacation. >> Galapagos Land Based Tour 2024
