Paraguay is a country geographically and historically hidden. Little is known or normally heard about this land. Good. Its anonymity represents its major attraction. Would you like to know why?
- Surrounded by rivers, crossed by creeks, spotted by lakes, lagoons and wetlands, Paraguay´s biodiversity it’s a secret Mecca for Nature lovers. Several eco-regions of global importance spread across this country of less than six million. Think about it. Undisturbed and diverse lands filled with amazing wild life and geological marvels, a subtropical hideout with reasonably low human population. You do the math.
- Being land-locked, its cultural characteristics have been notoriously preserved over the centuries. Today, one can still enjoy the tranquility and slow pace of its cities and towns while having access to all the infrastructure and services of any global metropolis. That is for half the price of any other regional destination.
- Its history is filled with epic chapters of wars, revolutions and colonial domination. If you thought you knew everything there is to know about History, wait until you hear these tales!
- Its relaxed people, a mixture of Spanish and native descents, most of whom speak two languages, enjoy treating visitors with the highest attention, always looking to show the best of its traditions and culture.
- Its food. Almost too good to believe it! Local dishes that will make any exotic food you had before look like bananas. Plus, one of the best meat-cuts in the region at a price out of this world. And great Asian and Italian food, with the touch provided by generations of Paraguayans of foreign descent.
Geographical Situation
Paraguay, the heart of South America, is a landlocked country located between latitudes 19º 18´ S and 27º 36´ S and longitude 59º 19´ W and 62º 38´ W. It borders on the Northern side with Bolivia and Brazil, on the Eastern side with Brazil and Argentina, on the Southern side with Argentina, and on the Western side with Bolivia and Argentina. The average Summer temperature is between 25ºC and 35ºC while the average Winter temperatures is between 10ºC and 20ºC
Weather
Tropical to Subtropical
Average Temperature: 26ºC to 35ºC during Summer and 10ºC to 20ºC during Winter.
Time Zone
GMT-4.
Population
6.068.000 inhabitants.
Official Languages
Spanish and Guaraní (Native language widely spoken throughout the country).
A mixture of both languages yields “yopara”.
Currency
Guarani, US Dollars are also accepted.
Airport Tax
25 dollars.
Tipping
10% on restaurants and room service bills is customary.
Commercial Schedule
From Monday to Friday 08:00 am to 07:00 pm
Saturdays 09:00 am to 01:00 pm
Bank Schedule
From Monday to Friday 08:30 am to 01:30 pm
Drinking water
Running water is drinkable.
Power supply
220 volts and 50 cycles.
Official Holidays
January 1 - New Year’s Day;
March 1 - Heroes Day;
Holy Thursday and Good Friday
May 1 - Labor Day;
May 15 - Independence Day
June 12 - Peace of the Chaco War
August 15 - Foundation of Asunción
December 8 - Virgin of Caacupé
December 25 - Christmas Day
Religion
Constitutionally guaranteed religious freedom. Predominant Religion: Apostolic Roman Catholic .
Government
Republic. Representative Democracy. The Executive Power (Presidential System), the two-chambers Legislature Power (Senators and Deputies) and the Judiciary.
ASUNCIÓN
The City of Asunción, capital of Paraguay, on the left margin of the Paraguay River, is seated on a slightly uneven territory.
With a subtropical climate like the rest of the country, Asuncion changes with the light. The one that lets itself be seen during the different times of the day, as well as the one that flows with the passing of months. Seasons in the city do not follow one another, they rather intercalate. The undulation not only takes place in the land, also the climate is “undulated”.
Asunción is a city to be felt through its temperature, its light, its vegetation, through one´s own way of looking. To feel Asuncion during the season when lapacho trees bloom, to see the succession of colors pink, white and yellow. To feel Asunción with the jacarandá flowers, with those of the samu’u, to watch how they fall to the floor and cover it. To see the light that shifts through the vegetation. To see, afterwards, the other light: that of the moon that rises as a Chinese lamp in the middle of the night. To feel Asuncion from its different heights, always small, different. To feel Asuncion from the river, a different Asuncion from the bay, to wonder its streets and listen to the sounds of a city that speaks two languages. And to enjoy the quiet and the everyday things, still. All those things that big cities are losing in a hurry.
CULTURE
Paraguay shows marks of a history that forged a rich and diverse culture, scarcely known in the world. The preterit pages of this country lodges epochs of glory, of convulsions and revolutions. Fortunately for the visitors, these chapters can be read through an important inheritance that has remained in different towns and cities in Paraguay.
A colonial process that started in the 16th Century saw the foundation of towns and cities that still remain today, guarding the legacies and relics from those epochs. Pleasant strolls through calm towns will give the tourist an interesting glance at churches, popular festivities, local museums and samples of colonial architecture.
The passing of Franciscan and Jesuitical congregations also left marks that today conform parts of Paraguayan culture´s diverse amalgam. Not far from Asuncion, one can access the ancient reductions that began to be founded in the year 1585 and that today constitute small towns where life runs calmly through dappled streets, churches adorned with sacred art and old colonial houses.
Of course, the city of Asuncion lodges, in its facade, an interesting architectonic story that tells part of the history of this country. The capital also has a large variety of museums that have been in charge of preserving the historic memory and the new expressions of Paraguayan culture: museums of contemporary art, indigenous art, popular art, anthropologic museums, ethnographic museums, museums of natural indigenous history, philatelic museums, and museums of military history, in addition to various cultural centers where shows and exhibits of art, plays, independent cinema, courses, seminaries and talks take place. Our tours and circuits are designed for the visitor to see and feel Asuncion and Paraguay’s cultural diversity.
NATURE
Without a doubt, Paraguay is a country made for the enjoyment of nature. Magnificent geographical accidents and a biodiversity that still preserves its greatness allows the combination of ecotourism, birdwatching and adventure sports. A true paradise for activities like trekking, mountainbiking, canoeing, horseback riding, rapel, canopy, snorkeling, travels of study and exploration.
Come to Paraguay and enjoy its natural and cultural treasures, at the lowest prices in the continent and with a cordial service you will not find elsewhere in the world!
PARAGUAYAN CHACO
The Great South American Chaco, which spreads from the southeast of Bolivia to the west of Paraguay, the north of Argentina and a small portion of Brazil, constitutes one of the most important, although least known, ecosystems of the world.
In Paraguay, the so-called Boreal o Paraguayan Chaco, occupies 61% of the country’s territory. This unknown land has been classified in diverse forms due to the great diversity of eco regions that describes it.
Only 2,8 % of the total country´s population of lives in the Chaco. However, the zone characterizes itself by an interesting mixture of communities and cultures: three large Mennonite colonies, a few populations of Paraguayans and more than 12 different indigenous villages. This diversity of population implies a multi-cultural richness that reflects in the fact that, both the indigenous villages and the Mennonite colonies, conserve their languages and their economical and cultural activities.
PARAGUAY CRUISE
Imagine a land practically untouched… in the heart of South America. Imagine a vast river that runs through one of the most unique eco regions of the world. Imagine extensive forests, wild animals, romantic sunsets and breathtaking moonlighted skies. Now imagine yourself on a week-long journey through this paradise… in a luxury river boat.
Experiment one the last corners of Earth with the comfort of a five-star hotel. A boat specially built for the adventure of plowing through the wild and impressive rivers of the heart of South America.
Enjoy birdwatching, walking, fishing, photographic safaris, historical sites, or simply relax by the pool with a refreshing cocktail while the scenery passes by.
On-board entertainment: movies, games, discotheque, and the best typical food!
ATLANTIC FOREST
The Atlantic Forest of Alto Paraná, known as BAAPA, conforms the regional complex eco Atlantic Forest, categorized by the WWF as one of the most important places of the planet, biologically speaking. This sanctuary of humid and millenary jungles overflows with wild life and constitutes, nowadays, a true natural “luxury”. The Mbaracayú Reserve and the Managed Resources Reserve of San Rafael, are top exponents of this area, including a large variety of habitats, from lowland jungles, natural prairies and wetlands, to caverns and forestall formations, such as Cerrado.
In these places, mountain ranges and hills undulate the green tapestry of forests that run along the tributaries of the Paraná River, one of the mightiest rivers in the world. In fact, many of these rivers have stretches of rapids that are ideal for kayaking. Birdwatchers will not find a better place than BAAPA, home of more than 530 species of birds, 76 % of all the species registered in Paraguay.
WETLANDS OF ÑEEMBUCU
Vast pastures and extensive wetlands attract aquatic birds that feed themselves gently during the day. With the sunset, they take off and, like a large swarm, let themselves be heard them in thousands of voices until nightfall.
Such is the spectacle offered each day by the great wetlands of Ñeembucú, a region that conforms the most extensive system of wetlands of the planet, originating itself in the Great Wetlands of Brazil and connecting with diverse sub-systems across the Paraguay River, including the Lower Chaco, Arroyos y Esteros and the gigantic Ypoa Lake.
This region is even more interesting due to the fact that one can find areas in which the vegetation and fauna are those associated with the Lower Chaco. This makes it able for the traveller to experience all the diversity associated to the great wetlands, as well as the typical connotations of the Chacoan profile.
Enjoy canoe trips through wetlands and pastures that look like oceans, hiding birds of vivid colors, like the Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus) and the Rusty-collared Seedeater (Sporophila collaris), or families of otters that, once in a while, show their moustaches above the surface.
The great wetlands of Ñeembucú is an encounter with southeast Paraguayan nature; an encounter one can not postpone.
CERRADO
In northeastern Paraguay, between the Paraguay and the Paraná rivers, one finds one of the most fabulous eco regions of this country. The system of “Campos Cerrados”, a very particular formation of savannah that includes a mosaic of forests and xerophitic pastures, extends through a very important part of Brazil and Paraguay. Up until now, this type of eco region was a mystery for scientists, since it is characterized by being a relatively dry area and, at the same time, having an important vegetation mass, endemic in its majority. During the spring months, crossing these forests means becoming an spectator of a symphony of colors and forms played by the flora as well as by the wild life that erupts everywhere. Flocks of Peach-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga aurea) and Toucans (Ramphastos toco) accompany the traveler constantly and, when heard on top of that humming silence that characterizes the jungle, in pristine places like the Tagatiyá River, they give the sensation of being in a hidden paradise of the world.
This is an area rich in rivers, streams and lagoons with forests and extensive beaches of white sands. The diversity of the Cerrado makes it perfect to enjoy snorkeling, fishing, trekking, canoeing and birdwatching. Also, in the city of Vallemí, the traveler has the opportunity to deepen himself in the insides of the earth and poking millenary caves where even one’s voice can seem to come from a remote past. Meet the rich fauna that inhabits these humid obscurities and witness the monuments that nature took years to build: stalactites and stalagmites adorn this true underground museum.
PARAGUAY CENTRAL
From an ecological point of view, the most heterogeneous region of the country: an ample territory that reflects the transitions from the mosaic of forests common to the Cerrado, to the great Wetlands of the South and the jungles of the Alto Parana, including a system of cordilleras and hills with tops that allow for the contemplation of Central Paraguay’s horizons.
Both for its natural qualities and for its rich pages of Paraguayan culture and history, this zone bursts touristic attractions for all kinds of tastes. Visiting the artisans’ shops, where traditional Paraguayan fabrics are made, is a cultural experience of high value: the techniques that the artisans use when making the laces of the Ñandutí or the embroideries of the Ao’poí have been passed on by oral tradition along the centuries. Or, taking a shower of sweet waters while hanging from a rope of rapel: the falls of the Salto Suizo hide in a gallery forest from where the sky looks like shiny patches that filter through the trees.
Tops of rocky hills, ancient inscriptions on rock and old steel foundries from the 19th Century complement the diverse tours around Central Paraguay: an excellent way to start feeling this country!
FARM TOURISM
Farm tourism in Paraguay is a matchless opportunity to feel the texture and flavor of the countryside, its traditions and its people.
One of the fundamental characteristics of farm tourism in Paraguay is that the visitor, in most cases, is welcomed as another member of the family, staying at the host’s houses, cabins or camping areas, according to his/her election. Guests enjoy one or more days in contact with nature, admiring the biological diversity that each region of the country offers, participating in the different typical activities of each rural establishment and a large variety of customs and traditions.
But farm tourism would not be the same without the appetizing dishes of the local gastronomy: from asado a la estaca (Paraguayan-style barbeque) and sopa paraguaya (Paraguayan corn cake), to artisan cheeses and tropical seasonal fruits. Delight yourself with fresh and homemade food, with the taste of the land that created it.
Fishing, swimming, and navigating through rivers and streams. Horseback riding or walking through hidden paths in the forest. Participating in popular festivities and sharing the traditions of the countryside. Observing birds and identifying stars. Making contact with indigenous groups and experimenting their rituals. Visiting historical sites and learning about the past. The variety of options that farm tourism offer are up to you!
We invite you to this pleasant and relaxing experience that will remain in your memories for years to come.
PATRON SAINTS FESTIVITIES PATRONALES
Visit the web page of the Senatur www.senatur.org.py
Paraguay is always full of festivities! Each month of the year, in some place of Paraguay, a Patron Saint Festivity is celebrated. Enjoy one of the most interesting attractions of the diverse culture and history of Paraguay: religious celebrations mixed with pagan ceremonies and indigenous rites, accompanied by typical gastronomy, running of the bulls, horseback riding and popular dances.
These festivities can be included in any tour. Tourists can experience the act of maintaining centuries - old traditions as well as sharing with people and feeling the joy of each town.
In each town, in each corner, there is a celebration that will connect you to the diverse cultural imaginary of Paraguay.
The main festivities:
Party of Missionary Tradition – January
Party of Doma & Folklore - January
San Blas – February
Patron Saint Festivity of San José – March
Holy Week – Tañarandy – April
Party of the “Ovecha Rague” or “Party of the Wool” – June
Patron Saint Festivity Juan M. Frutos- Great Horseback Ride - June
San Juan – Saint of the Fire - June
San Ignacio Guazu - July
Traditional Party of the Paraguayan Folklore– August
International Festival of the Ypacarai Lake – September
Leather Expo Atyra - September
Party of the Virgin of Caacupé – Massive urban and rural peregrination up to the basilica - December
