Paraguay

Key facts

• Region: South America — Sovereign states
• Capital: Asunción
• Currency: Paraguayan guaraní (PYG)
• Languages: Spanish and Guaraní, both official
• Main airport: ASU — Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, serving Asunción
• Best time to visit: May to September, the dry and mild stretch; summer from December to March is hot and humid

Overview

Paraguay is one of South America's least-visited countries, landlocked between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. It is bilingual, with Guaraní spoken alongside Spanish, and its history includes the Jesuit missions and the devastating War of the Triple Alliance. Travellers come for colonial ruins, the Chaco wilderness and a quieter, cheaper version of the region.

Airports

Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) serves Asunción and is the country's main gateway; it is located in the town of Luque just outside the capital. Guaraní International Airport (AGT) serves Ciudad del Este in the east and the tri-border area. Smaller regional airports include Doctor Luis María Argaña International (ESG) at Mariscal Estigarribia in the Chaco and Juan de Ayolas Airport (AYO) in the south.

Main cities

Asunción is the capital and the country's only large city, with a low-rise centre and a riverside setting. Encarnación in the south is the base for the Jesuit mission ruins and has a popular summer beach scene. Ciudad del Este is a large border shopping city next to the Itaipú Dam. Areguá and San Bernardino are small towns near the capital used for day trips and weekends.

Places to go

The Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue, near Encarnación, are UNESCO World Heritage sites and the country's main historic attraction. Itaipú Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world, sits beside Ciudad del Este. The Chaco to the west is a vast dry forest with wildlife and Mennonite colonies, accessed from Filadelfia. Ybycuí National Park and the nearby Salto Cristal offer waterfalls and forest within reach of Asunción.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Paraguay, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked