Explore the Jesuit mission ruins of Trinidad and Jesús de Tavarangue$4–5
UNESCO-listed 17th and 18th-century mission settlements built as largely self-governing Guaraní communities before the Jesuit order's expulsion.
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South America
Things to do in Paraguay
South America's most bilingual country, Jesuit mission ruins swallowed by subtropical forest, and one of the continent's least-visited yet most genuinely welcoming destinations.
Explore Paraguay on the map →Budget$
Best for7-9 days
CapitalAsuncion
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 90 days for UK, EU, Canadian, and most Latin American passport holders; US citizens require a visa obtainable online in advance.
CurrencyParaguayan guaraní (PYG)
LanguagesSpanish and Guaraní (both official)
InternetGood in Asunción, more limited elsewhere
Typical lodging$15–$40/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage220V / 50Hz (Type C plug)
Time zoneUTC-4
Emergency number911
Dialing code+595
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Wildlife★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or filtered water recommended. 10% at restaurants is common.
Paraguay is one of the few countries in the world where an Indigenous language, Guaraní, holds equal official status with the colonial language and is spoken as a first language by a majority of the population regardless of ethnic background, a rare linguistic legacy of relatively deep Indigenous-settler integration. Its Jesuit mission ruins, built in the 17th and 18th centuries as largely self-governing Guaraní communities before the order's expulsion, are among the best-preserved examples of this unusual social experiment anywhere in South America.
When to go
Dry season (autumn/winter)May–September
The most comfortable window nationally, with cooler temperatures and lower humidity, particularly in the Chaco region.
SpringOctober–November
Warming temperatures and blooming lapacho trees, a pleasant transitional season before summer heat.
Summer (peak heat)December–February
Very hot and humid nationwide, with the Chaco region reaching some of the highest temperatures in South America.
Autumn transitionMarch–April
Cooling temperatures as the dry season approaches, a reasonable value window.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
11Wander Asunción's historic center and riverfront
South America's oldest continuously inhabited capital, with colonial-era buildings along the Paraguay River and a relaxed, under-visited pace.
Visit the Itaipu Dam, one of the world's largest hydroelectric plants
A joint Paraguay-Brazil megaproject and one of the largest power-generating facilities on Earth, with tours explaining its massive scale.
Explore the Mennonite colonies of the Chaco
German-speaking Mennonite farming communities settled the harsh Chaco starting in the 1920s, offering a genuinely unusual cultural detour.
Visit the Panteón Nacional de los Héroes in Asunción
A domed national monument and mausoleum honoring Paraguay's military heroes, with a ceremonial guard change in the capital's main square.
Visit the artisan town of Aregua near Asunción
A lakeside town known for pottery workshops and a relaxed weekend-trip atmosphere, popular with residents of the capital.
Watch traditional Paraguayan harp music performances
The Paraguayan harp is a distinct national instrument, with live performances a genuine feature of restaurants and cultural events in Asunción.
Explore the ruins of Humaitá and its Triple Alliance War history$4–5
A riverside town central to the devastating 19th-century War of the Triple Alliance, which reshaped Paraguay's population and borders.
Shop for ñandutí lace in Itauguá
A distinctive spider-web-patterned lace craft unique to Paraguay, still hand-made by artisans in the town credited with originating the style.
Cross to Ciudad del Este near the Iguazu Falls region
A major border-trade city offering a convenient gateway to the Brazilian and Argentine sides of Iguazu Falls, a short drive away.
Visit the ruins of San Cosme y Damián's Jesuit observatory$4–5
A mission site notable for its astronomical observations under the Jesuits, reflecting the missions' role in both faith and scientific study.
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Wildlife
3Explore the Paraguayan Chaco's dry forest wilderness
A vast, sparsely populated wilderness region shared with Bolivia and Argentina, home to jaguars, tapirs, and remote Mennonite farming colonies.
Explore the Ñeembucú wetlands for birdwatching
A lesser-visited wetland region in southern Paraguay, rich in birdlife and offering a quieter alternative to Brazil's more famous Pantanal.
Explore the Botanical Garden and Zoo of Asunción
A large green space in the capital housing native wildlife and Paraguay's natural history museum, a relaxed break from the city center.
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Food & drink
4Eat sopa paraguaya, a savory cornbread despite its name
Despite being called 'soup,' it's a dense, cheese-studded cornbread and considered Paraguay's signature national dish.
Drink tereré, Paraguay's iced yerba mate
A cold version of the mate tradition shared across the Southern Cone, considered a genuine daily social ritual and a point of Paraguayan cultural pride.
Try chipa, Paraguay's cheese bread
A cassava-flour and cheese bread eaten daily across the country, with roots tracing back to Guaraní and Jesuit-era food traditions.
Try Paraguayan bori bori soup
A hearty chicken soup with cornmeal-and-cheese dumplings, a genuine home-cooking staple across the country.
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Nature & scenery
2Visit Cerro Corá National Park
A historic park marking the site of Paraguay's last stand in the War of the Triple Alliance, with hiking trails through granite hill scenery.
Relax by the Ypacaraí Lake near San Bernardino
A popular lakeside weekend destination for Asunción residents, with beaches, restaurants, and a slower pace than the capital.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Paraguay?
UK, EU, Canadian, and most Latin American passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. US citizens need a visa, obtainable online in advance. Check current requirements for your specific nationality before booking.
▾Is Guaraní really an official language alongside Spanish?
Yes. Paraguay is one of the few countries where an Indigenous language holds equal official status, and Guaraní is spoken as a first language by a majority of Paraguayans across all backgrounds, not just Indigenous communities.
▾What are the Jesuit mission ruins?
17th and 18th-century settlements built as largely self-governing Guaraní communities under Jesuit guidance, among the best-preserved examples of this unusual colonial-era social experiment, with two sites recognized by UNESCO.
▾Is Paraguay safe and easy to travel around?
Yes, generally considered one of the safer and more overlooked destinations in South America, with straightforward travel between Asunción, the missions, and the Chaco region.
▾How many days does Paraguay need?
7-9 days lets you combine Asunción, the Jesuit mission ruins, and either the Chaco wilderness or the Iguazu-adjacent Ciudad del Este region.
▾How much does it cost to visit the Jesuit Ruins of Trinidad?
Foreign visitor entry to this UNESCO World Heritage site runs a modest PYG 30,000-40,000 (about $4-5). It's one of South America's more overlooked, and more affordable, colonial-era sites.
