Paraguay Travel Guide


The latest travel Information on Paraguay, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Paraguay Information

Overview

Paraguay is a little-known landlocked country, which has found itself somewhat isolated from even its neighbours in the past by geography and politics. It is one of the continent’s least densely populated countries, made up of mostly mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and Native American descent) but there is also a Japanese community, created by post-WWII migration.

Since 1811, when it became independent, Paraguay has been governed mainly by dictatorships and has endured a number of costly wars against neighbouring countries.

However, Paraguay has taken a number of steps to overcome its political, economic and geographic situation and is building a more welcoming image. The country can boast many attractions: grassy plains and an untamed wilderness of marshes, lagoons, dense forests, jungles, national parks, Jesuit missions and the Chaco, one of South America’s great wilderness areas.

The country will particularly appeal to travellers who have already been to larger, more varied South American destinations, but who are now ready to experience the more subtle attractions of the continent such as learning about the Guarani Indians, watching Nanduti lace being made or seeing a jaguar or alligator. In addition, Paraguay boasts breathtaking waterfalls where the borders of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina come together. For all these reasons, Paraguay is definitely a country worth discovering.


Top Things To See

Explore Asunción, the capital city, situated on the Bay of Asunción, an inlet off the Paraguay River. Planned on a colonial Spanish grid system, it has many parks and plazas. On the way to the waterfront the visitor enters the old part of town, an area of architectural diversity.

Enjoy good views of Asunción from the Parque Carlos Antonio Lopez, high above the city. The Botanical Gardens are situated in a former estate of the Lopez family on the Paraguay River. Among the many religious buildings is the Metropolitan Cathedral.

View the churches of Yaguarón, set in an orange-growing district, 48km (29 miles) from the capital. Yaguarón played a part during the Spanish conquest as a base for the Franciscan missions.

Witness the famous Chaco, a vast, scarcely populated area, consisting mainly of empty plains and forests, that covers 61% of the country’s total surface. It is home to major national parks including the Defensores del Chaco, Tifunque, Enciso and Cerro Cora.

Wildlife and nature enthusiasts can also visit the area’s beautiful biological reserves (in Itabo, Limoy, Tati Yupi) or the protected forests in Mbaracayu and Nacunday, where over 600 species of birds and 200 species of mammals live in a natural habitat.

Prepare to see the breathtaking waterfalls in Ciudad del Este, 326km (204 miles) east of the capital. It is a good starting point for a visit to the majestic Monday Falls and Iguazú Falls, which are a 15- to 30-minute drive from the city.

Discover the seven villages remaining from when the Company of Jesus converted the Guaraní people to Christianity in the 16th century. They housed them in large villages with fairly rigid socioeconomic structures based on Jesuit values. Those in Jesús de Taravangue and Trinidad del Paraná have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Top Things To Do

Visit the National Fine Arts Museum which holds 19th-century paintings and colonial works, the Visual Arts Museum, and the Andres Barbero Museum, which contains works of anthropological value. 

Stop at Luque, near the capital, the home of the famous Paraguayan harps (website: www.paraguayanharps.com).

Follow the popular ‘Central Circuit’, a route of some 200km (125 miles) that takes in some of the country’s most interesting sites clustered around the capital. Head for San Lorenzo, the site of the university halls of residence and an interesting gothic-style church.

Enjoy the San Blas festival in February. Founded in 1539 by Domingo Martínez, it is Ita’s main event. Follow the procession through the streets while eating traditional food. Its main craft speciality is handpainted black clay Gallinita hens.

Conquer the foothills of the Cordillera de los Altos to explore the historic village of Paraguarí and its several old buildings in colonial style.

Rent a bungalow in the holiday centre of Chololo, 87km (54 miles) from the capital.

Purchase the Encaje-yú spindle lace, the ‘sixty-stripe’ Paraní poncho and other handmade goods in Piribebuy (website: www.piribebuy.com), which was the scene of bloody fighting during the war of the triple alliance. It is also famous as a place of worship of the ‘Virgin of Miracles’.

Relax in San Bernardino, a holiday resort situated on Lake Ypacarai, 47km (29 miles) from the capital. Owing to its beaches and lake shores, it’svery popular during the summer months. It also has a camping ground.

Go fishing. International fishing contests are held near Asunción. The dorado can weigh up to 29kg (65Ib). Other smaller fish are peculiar to Paraguay, such as the surubí, manguruyus, armados and bagres.

Visit one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Italpú Dam, the largest hydroelectric complex in the world.The water reservoir provides a unique ecosystem for wildlife and birds and provides tourists withactivities including fishing, watersports and walking tours.

To the south, walk along the sleepy waterfront area of Encarnación. Nearby is the Roque González de Santa Cruz bridge linking Paraguay with Posadas in Argentina across the river Paraná.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Going Out

Food and Drink

There is a wide choice of restaurants in Asunción, most with table service.

Things to know: There are no strict licensing hours and alcohol is widely available.

National specialities:
• Chipas (maize bread flavoured with egg and cheese).
• Sopa paraguaya (soup of mashed corn, cheese, milk and onions).
• Soo-yosopy (a soup of cornmeal and ground beef).
• Palmitos (palm hearts).
• Surubí (a fish found in the Paraná).

National drinks:
• Mosto (sugar cane juice).
• Caña (alcoholic version of mosto, distilled from sugar cane and honey).
• Yerba maté (tea-like drink brewed from dried leaves and stemlets for the Yerba maté tree, can be taken hot or cold).

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: 10 to 15% is normally included in hotel, restaurant and bar bills.

Nightlife

In Asunción, there are numerous bars, casinos and discos. The parrilladas (open-air restaurants) offer by far the best atmosphere, especially in Asunción. There is a casino at the border towns of Ciudad del Este and Encarnación. The most popular traditional music types in Paraguay are polcas and guaranías, which have slow and romantic rhythms and which are used as serenades.

Shopping

There are some modern shopping centres in the capital. A popular shopping street is the Calle Palma. Special purchases include ñandutílace, made by the women of Itagua, and aopoí sports shirts, made in a variety of colours and designs. Other items include leather goods, wood handicrafts, silver yerba maté cups and native jewellery.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1500-1900 and Sat 0730-1300.


Climate

Subtropical with rapid changes in temperature throughout the year. Summer (December to March) can be very hot. Winter (June to September) is mild with few cold days. Rainfall is heaviest from December to March.

Required Clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens are worn in warmer months, with some warm clothes for spring and autumn. Mediumweights are best for winter. Rainwear is advisable throughout the year.


Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
1 Mar Heroes’ Day. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
23 Mar Easter Sunday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
15 May Independence Day.
12 Jun Peace of Chaco.
15 Aug Founding of Asunción.
29 Sep Battle of Boquerón.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
1 Mar Heroes’ Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Sunday.
14 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
15 May Independence Day.
12 Jun Peace of Chaco.
15 Aug Founding of Asunción.
29 Sep Battle of Boquerón.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.


Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Rabies

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: Sometimes*

Health Care

Health insurance is essential.

Note

* Vaccination is not usually necessary, but is recommended for travellers visiting Iguazú Falls. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from an infected area.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Guaraní (PYG; symbol Gs). Notes are in denominations of Gs100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of Gs500, 100, 50, 10 and 5.

Currency Exchange

Paraguay maintains a free monetary exchange policy and the purchase and sale of foreign currencies is not subject to any controls or regulations. US Dollars, which are more easily negotiable than Pounds Sterling, are widely accepted throughout the country. Travellers are advised to use an official bureau de change and not deal with people offering services on the street as false banknotes are common.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted (though not in smaller hotels), while Diners Club has more limited use. ID is required, such as a passport, when making a purchase with a credit card. ATMs are widespread; many accept Cirrus, Maestro and Visa cards.

Traveller's Cheques

US Dollar traveller’s cheques are not widely used in Paraguay.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0845-1500.


Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: Yes
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: Yes
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: Yes
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Passports

Passport valid for six months after the intended length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) 1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK for stays of up to 90 days;
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within six hours provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Nationals  not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

Postal applications are accepted only from Australia and will not be processed until return post is paid or a courier service is arranged. A self-addressed envelope must be included with all postal applications.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist and Business: Single-entry: £36. Multiple-entry: £52.

Validity

90 days from date of issue.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Two to three days. May take 20 to 30 days for countries with no diplomatic relations with Paraguay.


Contact Addresses

Secretara Nacional de Turismo

Palma 468, casi 14 de Mayo, Edificio Central, Asunción, Paraguay
Tel: (21) 494 110.
Website: www.senatur.gov.py

Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in the UK

Third Floor, 344 Kensington High Street, London W14 8NS, UK
Tel: (020) 7610 4180.
Website: www.paraguayembassy.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1630 (consular section, Mon-Fri 1000-1500).

Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in the USA

2400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 483 6960.


Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Paraguay are trouble-free. The threat from terrorism is low. But travellers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Visitors should be aware that violent crime is increasing; be on guard and exercise caution at all times, particularly in cities at night.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel




Disclaimer
We've tried to make the information on this page as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel.