COUNTRY OF TOURISM
Paraguay has many interesting places to go and activities to do.
The capital of Paraguay, Asunción has lively festivals and nightlife, cheap shopping, boating and horse-riding trips as well as the normal cathedrals and museums of a capital city. It has been named “the least expensive city in the world” for many consecutive times. There is the Golden town with silver and gold mines near Asunción there is. Cheap precious metal products ara available for purchase.
Besides the February carnivals in Asuncíon, the religious center of Caacupé also has important local festivals in December. Caacupe, has long been considered Paraguay’s, “Religious Capital”. It is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Caacupe and the center of town is dominated by a massive Cathedral called the Nuestra Senora de los Milagros. There’s an abundance of religious monuments and statues in Caacupe, but most important of all, it’s the home of the Virgin of Miracles.
Ciudad del Este in western Paraguay is a busy border town, but also home to the Itaipú Dam, the world’s second largest hydroelectric project. The reservoir created also offers recreational facilities. The small city of Concepción along the Paraguay River has sandy beaches, lovely old buildings and horse-drawn carts, and the nearby national park of Cerro Corá has many hiking trails, waterfalls, caves and rock paintings, as well as many rare birds and animals. Close to the town of Encarnación, the ruins of historic Jesuit missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue are a World Heritage Site and a remainder of the peaceful co-existence of Jesuit missionaries and local indigenous people in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the west of Paraguay, the vast arid plains of Chaco offer plenty of untouched wilderness for outdoor enthusiasts.
Hotels and guesthouses can be found in major towns in Paraguay. Tourist accommodation is less common in the countryside, but can be found near all major attractions. Restaurants in Paraguay are cheap and plentiful, offering mainly local dishes. Nightlife can be found in all major cities in Paraguay. Knowledge of English is not common in Paraguay.
Rural/Eco Tourism
In the last few years, ranchers and farmers from the Paraguayan countryside have discovered the great opportunities that tourism can offer. These ranches and farms offer the possibility of living the charm of the rural lifestyle. With daily activities, such as long horseback rides, rodeos, sheep shearing, trekking paths, visits to indigenous communities, wagon and cart rides, and canoeing along rivers and streams, a fisherman's delight! All of these establishments are located in places privileged by their beauty.
Adventure Tourism and Sport
The diversity of the Paraguayan landscape allows visitors to enjoy unforgettable adventures along ridges, streams, and waterfalls that offer excellent conditions for sports including; biking, rappeiling, cascading, trekking, and other stimulating sports that everyday attracts more people, young and old. The Tagatiyá stream, the Mbaracayú Forest, the Ybytyruzú Sierras and the Vallemí Caverns, are some of the favorite destinations.
Paraguay is a paradise for competitive sports, with professional and internationally renowned golf courses such as that of Carlos Franco, PGA Champion. At the same time, sport fishing allows visitors to discover the Paraguay Paraná, Tebicuary, and other rivers spread throughout the country.
Food
Traditional meals are made with beef, corn, and the manioc as primary ingredients, and are the basis of the Paraguayan gastronomy. "Chipa" and "Mbeyu" are among the typical delights (breads made with starch and fresh cheese), the "Chipa Guazú" (corn souffle), the "Payaguá Mascada" (cake made from manioc and beef) and the "Sopa Paraguaya" (not a soup but bread made with corn flour, fresh cheese, and onion). Important part in everyday life plays Yerba Mate Tea which contains minerals, vitamins and antioxidants useful for human body.
Safety for travellers
Paraguay is not an unsafe country to travel. There is crime such as theft and pickpocketing in the cities, and police may ask you for bribes in the countryside, but crime is less common than in the cities of the neighboring Brazil or Argentina. Using common sense and avoiding walking around in the cities at night should keep you out of troubles.