Saltos del Monday, Photo: Cverascuderi, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Paraguay
Paraguay, made simple: tereré in the shade, red stone Jesuit missions and the wide open Chaco, without the worry
Paraguay is South America's quiet heart: a warm, friendly, little visited country where people switch between Spanish and Guaraní mid sentence and share tereré with strangers. Asunción has colonial streets and a lively food scene, the Jesuit missions near Encarnación are among the finest on the continent, and the Chaco is pure frontier. This guide explains entry, money, safety and getting around so you can travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, vaccinations, seasons and money, answered
- LandingSilvio Pettirossi airport, your first taxi and your first chipa
- Your days in ParaguayCapital, lakes, missions and the Chaco, at an easy pace
- Home againBorder crossings, shopping limits and last day tips covered
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain how guaraníes, cards and exchange work, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Paraguay should feel like a warm welcome, not a gamble. We answer the questions about heat, buses, borders and money before they start, so you arrive relaxed and ready to find your Bliss.
First time in South America, or coming home from Buenos Aires, Spain or the United States to see family? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your ParaguayAsunción, the lakes of the Cordillera, Encarnación and the missions, Ciudad del Este or the Chaco: start with the destinations.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, yellow fever and dengue advice, insurance and the right season, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for chipa stops, asado grills, museums, beaches and stays in each area.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to match long bus rides, hot afternoons and festival dates to your days.
Everything your Paraguay trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Asunción, San Bernardino and Lake Ypacaraí, Encarnación, Ciudad del Este and the Chaco, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, cafés, museums, markets, parks and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Asunción and Ciudad del Este and stays in each area.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Paraguay trip
Capital, lakes, missions, then the falls
Most first trips begin with two or three days in Asunción, then a day or two around Lake Ypacaraí, Areguá and San Bernardino. A comfortable bus south reaches Encarnación, the base for the UNESCO listed Jesuit missions of Trinidad and Jesús. From there you can head east to Ciudad del Este for the Itaipu dam and the Monday falls, and cross to the Iguazú Falls.
- Colonial streets and the riverside in Asunción
- Ceramics and strawberries in Areguá
- The night light show at the Trinidad mission
- The Itaipu dam and the Monday falls
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the lakes, the missions and the east fit together.
Paraguay destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Paraguay rewards an easy pace: travel early in the day, rest through the hottest hours, carry some cash in guaraníes and allow for long bus journeys between regions. Our free planner helps you shape a route around the distances, the heat and the festival calendar.
- Realistic bus and border crossing timings
- Seasonal tips for the hot summer and mild winter
- Festival dates such as Carnival and San Juan
Where to go in Paraguay
Five bases that cover the capital, the lakes, the missions, the eastern border and the Chaco.
Capital District, on the Paraguay River
Asunción
One of South America's oldest cities, a laid-back riverside capital of colonial landmarks, green avenues, markets and asado grills.
Read the guidePhoto: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Cordillera and Central departments, east of Asunción
San Bernardino and Lake Ypacaraí
A lakeside resort town in the Cordillera hills, with German heritage, summer nightlife and easy day trips to Areguá and Caacupé.
Read the guidePhoto: Cmasi, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Itapúa department, southern Paraguay
Encarnación
Paraguay's summer capital on the Paraná River, with sandy beaches, a famous carnival and the UNESCO listed Jesuit missions close by.
Read the guidePhoto: FFE.Franco, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Alto Paraná department, eastern Paraguay
Ciudad del Este
A busy border city on the Paraná, the base for the Itaipu dam, the Monday falls and the Iguazú Falls across the triple frontier.
Read the guidePhoto: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Boquerón, Presidente Hayes and Alto Paraguay departments, western Paraguay
The Chaco
A vast, hot frontier of thorn forest and savanna, with Mennonite colonies, rare wildlife and the battlefields of the Chaco War.
Read the guidePhoto: Rodney Damián, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Do I need a visa to visit Paraguay?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can visit visa-free for a short stay, while others need a visa arranged in advance. Check the Dirección General de Migraciones and the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the nearest Paraguayan embassy, before you book.
Is Paraguay safe for tourists?
Most visits are trouble free. Petty theft, phone snatching and bag theft are the main risks in Asunción and Ciudad del Este. Some governments advise extra caution in parts of the north near the Brazilian border, so read your government's travel advice before you go.
What is the best time to visit Paraguay?
April to May and August to October are the most comfortable months, with warm days and cooler nights. December to February is very hot and humid but brings the Encarnación carnival, while June and July are mild and hold the San Juan festivals.
What language do people speak in Paraguay?
Spanish and Guaraní are both official, and most Paraguayans speak both. Spanish will get you everywhere, a few Guaraní greetings such as mba'éichapa win smiles, and English is limited outside hotels and some restaurants in Asunción.
Can I use cards in Paraguay?
Cards work in most hotels, supermarkets, shopping centres and better restaurants in Asunción, Encarnación and Ciudad del Este. Carry cash in guaraníes for buses, markets, small towns and the Chaco, and use bank ATMs inside shopping centres.
How many days do I need in Paraguay?
One week covers Asunción, the lakes and the Jesuit missions at an easy pace. Ten to fourteen days lets you add Ciudad del Este, the Iguazú Falls across the border and a trip into the Chaco.
Ready to find your Bliss in Paraguay?
Use the free trip planner to shape your route, or send us a question through the contact page.