Country Overview

Here, in the very heart of South America, is a landlocked country bordered by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil that is divided by the broad Paraguay River.

To the north lies the vast Gran Chaco wilderness comprising two thirds of the national territory; while south of historic capital city Asunción (founded 1537) lie rich fertile, rolling plains that stretch to the Argentine border.

Asunción is the nearest major city and gateway to famed Iguassu Falls. Daily round-trip tours visit the falls (5 hrs. each way via motorcoach or 40 min. by air). Usually coupled with a visit to the falls is a tour of astonishing Itaipú Dam, the world’s largest hydro-electric complex.

Overnight trips to historic Jesuit missions in the south, casino action, plus growing eco-adventure travel (birding, trekking, fishing, ranch stays) in the Gran Chaco are Paraguay’s main visitor attractions.

Spanish is spoken throughout the country, but the national language is Guarani, the ancient, proto language of South America.

Highlights

Asunción: Step back centuries in a historic capital founded in 1537
Iguassu Falls: Paraguay is the gateway to the eighth wonder of the world
Itaipú Dam: World’s largest hydroelectric complex on the Brazil border
Jesuit Trail: Largest & best preserved of the famed Jesuit Missions
El Gran Chaco: Mennonite settlements & ecotourism in true wilderness
Dorado Fishing: Best rivers for anglers to land the fighting “golden” fish

Country Facts

Size: 157,047 sq. mi. (size of California).

Population: Nearing 4 million./td>

Capital: Asuncion (850,000 pop.)./td>

Language: Official language is Spanish; while the national one is Guarani, from the region’s rich, pre-Colombian past.

Electricity: 220 volts, 50 cycles. A voltage converter and a two-prong plug adapter necessary for U.S. appliances.

Religion: Roman Catholic. Mennonite settlements in the Chaco region.

Paraguay offers an array of special interest opportunities and adventure programs in the following fields:

Professional: Cattle raising, farming, engineering, agriculture.

Cultural: Guarani handicraft and language, Spanish Colonial crafts, Mennonite colonies, Jesuit missions.

Hobbies: Railways, bird and butterfly watching, orchid growing, photography.

Sports: Dorado fishing, hunting.

Adventure: Trekking, river expeditions, horseback riding.

Epigraphy: Intriguing ancient inscriptions have been discovered in Paraguay. Visitors may join expeditions searching for new sites.

Travel Facts

American Airlines has daily, Boeing 767 service from Dallas Ft. Worth, Miami, and New York via Sao Paulo to Asunción. TAM Brazilian Airlines, a codeshare partner with American Airlines, also offers daily service via Sao Paulo and Cuidad del Este.

City Codes:

ASU: Asuncion

AGT: Cuidad del Este

Entry requirements: WARNING!!!! Paraguay has recently (2003) instituted a most ill-advised visa requirement for U.S. citizens. A visa is required for entry, and the problem is there are very few Paraguayan embassies or consulates abroad that can complete the requirement. The fee is approx. US$35 for a one time, 30-day entry. Until Paraguay's new government can sort out the procedure for visas it's best to forget Paraguay on a leisure trip. To visit Iguassu Falls go to the Brazilian or Argentina side, and avoid entry into Paraguay. Hopefully the Paraguayans will follow Chile's most sensible procedure, and sell visas upon arrival at the airport. In any even one will need valid passport for entry.

Taxes: International departure tax: $18 payable in $USD or local currency.

Hotel tax and service charges: 4% hotel tax; 10% service charge.

Tipping: Normally service charge is not added to restaurant bills, leave 10-15% depending upon service. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip.

Currency: The Guarani - The U.S. dollar goes a long way in Paraguay. Prices for deluxe accommodations are often half what they'd be in many other countries. Fine food and drink, sightseeing and shopping are real bargains. ATMs readily accessible. Credit cards widely accepted. Currency exchange at hotels and/or banks. Banking hours: 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m, Monday -Friday.

Shopping: Paraguay is a shopper's paradise! In fact, knowledgeable travelers compare Asunción favorably with Hong Kong for electronic bargains. Main shopping streets are Calle Palma and Estrella, Calle Colon and La Recoba del Puerto. Several new, modern malls are located throughout the city. Perfumes, embroidered Aho-Poi shirts, jewelry, textiles, leather goods, souvenirs, and tapes of Paraguay's unique harp music and are bargain priced. The unique ñanduti (spider-web) lace weavings can be found in malls markets throughout the country. Shopping hours: 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Saturday.

Food & Drink: The most popular local restaurants in Asuncion are parrilladas where large open-air courtyards often form the main dining areas. Beef is the popular choice. Also try surubi, an exceptionally fine flavored river fish. Don't be surprised when you discover Sopa Paraguaya is not a soup but rather a very popular type of cornbread made of mashed corn, milk, eggs, onion and cheese. Also very popular is cheese made in the Chaco Mennonite colonies. A delicious first course in Paraguay begins with a heart of palm salad. Paraguay's national drink is caña, a light but potent rum made from sugar cane or honey. Local beer is excellent. Best brands include Pilsen, Bremen and Munich. Try yerba mate, the tea-like national drink that’s very refreshing hot or cold.

Telephone Area Codes: (595) country code: Asuncion (21), Ciudad del Este (61), Encarnacion (71) and Pedro Juan Caballero (36).

Getting Around

From Asunción, Paraguay may be easily explored by bus, car, or low cost domestic flights. In the south the road system is adequate. In the north the TransChaco highway links Asunción to Bolivia, but the final miles are unpaved. River boats still serve as the only means of transportation to some remote regions. The country’s antique steam-powered rail system has fallen in disrepair, and only weekend rail excursions are currently offered between Asunción and the nearby artisan town of Aregua.

The most popular excursion for visitors is Paraguay’s “Golden Triangle” which is a full day excursion named for the triangular road route that joins Asuncion with nearby lakes and small country towns. This part of Paraguay boasts some of the country's main tourist attractions starting with and including:

Asunción: Paraguay's capital city is a thriving river port where quiet parks and wide plazas stand amid historic government buildings, and brand new, ultra-modern skyscrapers.. Here shopping is considered some of South America’s best. Asunción rivals the Far East with a great variety of bargains in electronics, leather and handicrafts. An Asunción city tour will take the visitor to Paraguayan landmarks including the Government Palace, Museum of Natural History, House of Independence, Pantheon of Heros (replica of Les Invalides in Paris), Constitution Square, Municipal Cathedral, Recoleta Church and Cemetery, the commercial Port and Botanical Gardens. Asunción has excellent hotels and restaurants. The city provides easy access to the rest of the country by road, river and air. It is also the port of embarkation for down river trip to Buenos Aires. Day excursions on the Golden Triangle Route are popular and include:

Itaguá: Easily reached by road from Asunción (25 minutes), this small, roadside town is renown for its ñanduti (spider web lace). Visitors will see Guarani women patiently weaving. Here one may select from a wide variety of designs as well as purchase other handicrafts. There is room for bargaining.

Caacupe & San Bernardino: Together with a visit to Itaguá, these two villages make a rewarding full day tour from Asunción. The Holy Virgin of Caacupe is Paraguay's holiest shrine where thousands of faithful pilgrimage every December 8. The town of San Bernardino on Ypacaraí Lake is Asuncion's leading summer resort and provides the perfect setting for a pleasant lunch. Nearby towns of Tobatí (wood carving artisans), Chololo (waterfalls) and Yaguarón (colonial church) are also popular stops.

The Gran Chaco: Paraguay is divided in half by the Paraguay River. To the west and north of the river lies the harsh, rugged plain called the Gran Chaco, which offers limitless possibilities for special interest, adventure and eco-travel.

Filadelfia: Located in the center of the Chaco, Filadelfia serves as the gateway to this often hot, arid and desolate area. It can be reached by air or road (300 mi.) from Asunción. Populated by German speaking Mennonites, who have developed a thriving agricultural economy, the Chaco is still largely unexplored and certainly off-the-beaten path. Two to six day itineraries can be arranged for a variety of special interest programs, including: agriculture, dairy farming, flora and fauna, fishing, trekking and river expeditions.

The Jesuit Mission Trail: In 1606 the first of South America's remarkable Jesuit missions (reductions) were constructed in what is now southern Paraguay. The missions grew and prospered for 180 years, and remain one of the world's most astonishing experiments in colonization.

Encarnación: Paraguay’s third largest city (250 mi. south of Asunción) is gateway to southern Paraguay and the major Jesuit ruins. Passing through beautiful scenery and small towns, the road from Asunción to Encarnación passes Villa Florida, popular with sport fishermen. From Encarnación one can also reach neighboring Posadas, Argentina via the international bridge. There are good hotels in both cities. Also nearby is Ayolas where fishing camps offer good accommodations for anglers who come to tackle the famed, Golden Dorado. Also nearby is the new Argentine-Paraguayan dam at Yaceretá, which rivals Itaipú in size and capacity.

Trinidad: Six miles from Encarnación lies Trinidad, the largest Jesuit mission in the area, and today the best preserved. Most of Trinidad’s original walls are still standing, and some statuary has been restored. Completed in 1745, the complex contains many fine examples of flawless stone carvings made by the Guarani Indians who inhabited the mission. Also near Trinidad, the ruins of San Cosmé and San Damian (impressive altar chair, sun dial), and Jesus (Moorish facade) are major attractions. The Jesuit Mission Museum in nearby San Ignacio is also rewarding.

Iguassu Falls & Itaipú Dam: No visit to Paraguay is complete without seeing the world's largest waterfalls and hydroelectric complex:

Iguassu Falls: Although the falls themselves are not located within Paraguay the country is still known as the major gateway to the area. The Friendship Bridge at Ciudad del Este, Paraguay leads directly to the Brazilian side of the falls. The Iguassu River, which flows into the Parana River 12 miles below the falls, forms a lake some two to three miles wide above the falls. Near this point the three countries of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet. The falls themselves lie on the border between Argentina and Brazil and form one of the world's great natural wonders. Argentina and Brazil have well-developed natural parks on their respective sides. There are many hotels of all categories and an increasing number of motels on both sides. Reservations are recommended during the summer and on most weekends. The 275 individual falls pour over precipices 200 feet deep, spanning well over a mile. It is like Arizona’s Grand Canyon with water pouring over all sides. Iguassu’s water volume is nine times that of Niagara Falls. The surrounding jungle, now a Brazilian national park, is thick with ferns, palms, bamboo and orchids.

Itaipú Dam: Itaipú is the largest hydroelectric complex in the world and one of the largest public projects in history. The dam is as tall as a 55-story building and stretches over five miles from tip to tip. When finished, the dam will have 18 turbine/generator units that will have an installed generating capacity of 12,600 megawatts. That will make Itaipu almost twice as powerful as the United States' Grand Coulee Dam (currently the world's largest), and six times that of the Aswan Dam in Egypt.

Paraguay offers an array of special interest opportunities and adventure programs in the following fields:
Professional: Cattle raising, farming, engineering, agriculture.

Cultural: Guarani handicraft and language, Spanish Colonial crafts, Mennonite colonies, Jesuit missions.

Hobbies: Railways, bird and butterfly watching, orchid growing, photography.

Sports: Dorado fishing, hunting.

Adventure: Trekking, river expeditions, horseback riding.

Epigraphy: Intriguing ancient inscriptions have been discovered in Paraguay. Visitors may join expeditions searching for new sites.

Weather

Paraguay is subtropical. Asuncion's weather is similar to Miami, Florida (don’t forget seasons are reversed below the equator). Weather is moderate all year, though from December thru March it can get very hot and humid during the day. Sunshine is the rule and rain falls occasionally, but when it does it can be a deluge.

Websites

National Tourism Board (Spanish): http://www.senatur.gov.py

Itaipu Dam: http://www.itaipu.gov.py