🌟 What to Do & Local Tips
Explore experiences and tips to get the most from your trip in Paraguay
Paraguay does not perform for tourists. That is precisely what makes it extraordinary. Asunción’s colonial waterfront at sunset, the Paraguay River going gold behind the palaces. The Jesuit mission ruins at Trinidad when the buses leave and it is just you and the carved red sandstone. The Chaco at night, with jaguars and tapirs moving across your headlights 300km from the nearest city.
This is where Guaraní is spoken alongside Spanish on every street corner—the only country in South America where an indigenous language is co-official and genuinely universal. Where tereré is not a tourist attraction but the social fabric of the day. Where the world’s best soup (vorí vorí, TasteAtlas 4.8/5) costs USD 3 at a 70-year-old lunch counter.
Activities here centre on culture, wildlife, and genuine engagement—not packaged tourism. The rewards are proportional to curiosity.
📍 Book Activities & Experiences
Jesuit Mission Circuit — Trinidad & Jesús
UNESCO World Heritage Jesuit mission ruins in the south. Trinidad: 8 hectares of carved red sandstone—church, bell tower, stone angels. Jesús: unfinished but haunting. Best after 4pm when tour buses have gone. Entry Gs. 60,000 (USD 8) each. Near Encarnación, 370km south of Asunción.
More info →Chaco Wildlife Safari
Multi-day expeditions into remote Chaco national parks: jaguar, puma, tapir, giant anteater, Chacoan peccary on night drives. Up to 10 mammal species per night. Expert wildlife guides. One of South America’s most underrated wildlife destinations—far fewer visitors than the Pantanal.
More info →Asunción City Walking Tour
Historic centre—Panteón de los Héroes, Casa de la Independencia (1772), Palacio de los López, Manzana de la Rivera colonial complex, Costanera waterfront. Tip-based local guides via GuruWalk; private guided tours via GetYourGuide. Half day.
More info →Iguazú Falls Day Trip from Asunción
Full-day private transfer from Asunción to Iguazú Falls—one of the Seven Natural Wonders. Brazilian side: elevated walkways over the gorge, Devil’s Throat. Paraguay is the cheapest regional base. The most popular day excursion from Paraguay.
More info →⭐ Top Experiences in Paraguay
⭐ Tereré culture
Cold yerba mate with herbs, shared in circles. UNESCO Intangible Heritage. The social language of Paraguay—accept every round offered. Free everywhere, all day.
More info →⭐ Trinidad Jesuit Ruins
UNESCO mission ruins at dusk. Carved sandstone church, bell tower, stone angels on 8 hectares. Go after 4pm. Entry ~USD 8. Most atmospheric historic site in Paraguay.
More info →⭐ Costanera sunset
Asunción’s riverside promenade at sunset—the Paraguay River going gold behind the Palacio de los López. Free. Best at dusk. White sand beach at the south end.
Free walking tour⭐ Vorí vorí soup at Lido Bar
World’s best soup (TasteAtlas 4.8/5) at Asunción’s legendary lunch counter since 1953. USD 3. Open from 6:30am. The most Paraguayan food experience possible.
More info →⭐ Chaco jaguar night drive
Multi-day expedition. Remote national parks. Jaguar, puma, tapir, giant anteater on night drives. Expert wildlife guides. Up to 10 mammal species per night.
More info →⭐ Encarnación Carnival
Five Saturday nights Jan–Feb at the Sambódromo. Samba school parades, elaborate costumes. Tickets from USD 3. Street parties from the afternoon. Book accommodation 3–4 months ahead.
More info →⭐ Cerro Tres Kandú summit hike
Paraguay’s highest point at 842m. Ropes, ladders, streams through jungle. 2–3hrs to summit. Camping available. Sunrise panoramas. Entry ~USD 6.
More info →⭐ Iguazú Falls day trip
Full-day from Asunción to one of the Seven Natural Wonders. Brazilian side for the best views. Paraguay is the cheapest base for this iconic experience.
More info →⭐ Circuito de Oro craft villages
Day tour east of Asunción: black clay ceramics (Itá), nandutí lace weaving (Itaúa), colonial Franciscan church (Yaguaron), art town Areguá. Working artisan workshops.
More info →⭐ San Rafael birding
430+ bird species in Paraguay’s most biodiverse reserve. Atlantic Forest endemics: Helmeted Woodpecker, Saffron Toucanet. 3–day expeditions from USD 780.
More info →⭐ Villa Florida river fishing
Golden dorado and surubí on the Tebicuary River. White sand beaches. Private guide outings from riverside hotels. Best season February–October.
More info →⭐ El Superclásico at La Nueva Olla
Olimpia vs Cerro Porteño. 45,000 voices. One of football’s great derbies played 450+ times. Pure passion. Asunción at its most intense.
Get tickets⭐ Lago Ypacaraí boat tour
5-hour guided tour on the lake that inspired Paraguayan love songs for a century. San Bernardino colonial streets, Hotel del Lago (Roosevelt slept here). From Asunción.
More info →⭐ Mercado 4 at lunchtime
Asunción’s legendary market since 1942. Thousands of stalls across multiple blocks. Lunch USD 1–2. Featured in the Paraguayan film “7 Cajas”. Go 11am–1pm.
More info →⭐ Casa de la Independencia
Paraguay’s oldest building (1772) and site of the 1811 independence declaration. Original furniture and documents. Free entry. Heart of Asunción’s historic centre.
More info →⭐ Colonia Independencia wine country
Paraguay’s only wine region in the Guairá hills. German-Swiss heritage, informal winery tasting rooms, Salto Cristal waterfall. Guesthouses from USD 20. 3 hours from Asunción.
More info →⭐ Asunción late-night asadito
From 10pm, charcoal grills appear on street corners citywide. Skewered beef, pork, chicken at Gs. 5,000–10,000 per stick. Paraguay’s great street food ritual.
More info →⭐ Pakuri restaurant
Latin America’s 50 Best. Chef Sofía Pfannl’s contemporary Paraguayan cuisine in recycled shipping containers. Tatakua-oven meats, native fish. Average USD 20. Reserve ahead.
Reserve⭐ Monday Falls adventure
40-metre waterfalls near Ciudad del Este with zip-lining, rappelling, tree climbing. At dusk: thousands of swifts gather in the mist. Free to drive, taxi ~USD 8 from Ciudad del Este.
More info →⭐ Asunción bike tour
4-hour guided cycling tour of the historic centre and Costanera waterfront. Bike, helmet, English guide included. Hotel pickup. Covers Panteón, Cathedral, López Palace.
More info →📋 Booking Tips
- Book tours early: Chaco wildlife expeditions and San Rafael birding have limited departures—book 4–6 weeks ahead
- Encarnación Carnival: Book accommodation 3–4 months ahead for January–February carnival weekends
- Cancellation policies: Check carefully for weather-dependent activities (Chaco, outdoor hikes)
- Compare platforms: GetYourGuide and Viator both cover Paraguay; prices can vary
- GuruWalk: Free tip-based city walking tours in Asunción—excellent for day one orientation
💡 Local Tips
Everything you need to know before you go
💡 Essential Info
PYG — Guaraní
USD widely accepted in hotels and tourist businesses. ATMs dispensing Guaranís throughout Asunción. Cards accepted at hotels, restaurants, supermarkets—not at markets or street vendors. Carry small Guaraní notes for buses and street food.
Spanish & Guaraní
Both are co-official. Most people speak Guaraní as their first language. English is limited outside of hotels and tour operators. Learning a few Guaraní words is genuinely appreciated by locals—unusually meaningful in a country this proud of its indigenous language.
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Emergency: 911 (police), 131 (ambulance), 132 (fire)
Good 4G mobile coverage in Asunción and major cities. Coverage drops in rural eastern Paraguay and disappears in remote Chaco. Buy a local SIM from Tigo or Personal at the airport or any phone shop—tourist plans from USD 10 for 5GB.
Yellow fever vaccine recommended if visiting jungle border areas. Dengue present—use DEET repellent, especially in summer. Malaria risk in very remote Chaco—consult your travel doctor before going.
Tap water: NOT safe to drink. Use bottled water everywhere—widely available and very cheap (Gs. 3,000–5,000 for 1.5 litres).
🤝 Cultural Tips
💵 Tipping
Not mandatory but appreciated. 10% at restaurants in Asunción is standard for good service. Nothing expected at street food stalls or markets. Round up for taxi drivers. Tour guides: USD 5–10/day is appropriate.
👋 Greetings
Formal: Handshake with direct eye contact. Paraguayans are warm and direct.
Informal: Women often greet with a single cheek kiss (both genders do this in social settings). First names used quickly. Relationships valued over punctuality in social contexts.
🍽️ Dining
Etiquette: Wait for host. Toast with “Salud!” Lunch (12–2pm) is the main meal of the day—many restaurants close in the evening outside of Asunción. Dinner from 8pm.
Tereré: Always accept when offered in a social setting. Drink the full guampa. Refusing is mildly rude and misses one of Paraguay’s great social customs.
⏰ Punctuality
Business: Reasonably punctual in professional contexts. Arrive within 15 minutes of agreed time.
Social: “Paraguayan time” exists—social gatherings often start 30–60 minutes after the stated time. Relax accordingly. Buses do leave on schedule, though.
👔 Dress Code
General: Casual and practical. Heat requires light clothing most of the year. Smart-casual for better Asunción restaurants. Nightclubs enforce dress codes—no shorts or flip-flops. Sunscreen is essential year-round.
🚨 Safety & Health
- Asunción is generally safe for tourists in tourist areas—take normal city precautions with bags and phones
- Avoid walking in unfamiliar neighbourhoods after dark—use InDriver or Uber at night
- Chaco travel: always carry extra water (minimum 4 litres per person per day in summer), fuel, and food
- Purchase travel insurance covering medical emergencies—Paraguay’s public hospitals are under-resourced
- Use DEET repellent, especially in summer and near water (dengue risk)
- Yellow fever vaccine recommended for jungle border areas
- Know emergency numbers: 911 (police), 131 (ambulance), 132 (fire)
💰 Money-Saving Secrets
- Paraguay is one of South America’s cheapest destinations—USD 40–60/day covers accommodation, food, and transport comfortably
- Lunch at local restaurants (almuerzo del día): USD 3–5 for a full meal with soup, main, and drink
- Use intercity buses—far cheaper than domestic flights and surprisingly comfortable
- Markets and street vendors accept only Guaraní—draw local cash from ATMs rather than exchanging USD
- Travel in shoulder season (April–June, August–October) for lower prices and cooler temperatures
- Drink tap water alternatives: refillable water bottle + purification tablets save significantly over bottles
📅 Best Time to Visit
Summer
December–February ~ 30–38°C Asunción, 38–45°C Chaco, high humidity, afternoon storms
✅ Pros: Encarnación Carnival (Jan–Feb), lush green countryside, rivers at full volume, Atlantic Forest birding good
❌ Cons: Extreme heat especially in the Chaco (dangerous for travel), dengue season, flooding possible in low-lying areas, fishing ban November–January
Autumn
March–May ~ 20–30°C, cooling rapidly, lower humidity, decreasing rainfall
✅ Pros: Excellent weather, fishing season opens (February+), Chaco accessible, countryside green, fewer tourists, lower prices
❌ Cons: Some early cool spells in May can be grey; Carnival has ended
Winter
June–August ~ 13–23°C, dry, occasional cold fronts (“sur”) dropping to 5–8°C briefly
✅ Pros: Best weather for outdoor activities—comfortable temperatures, minimal rain, excellent wildlife viewing in Chaco, marathon season (August), best birding months
❌ Cons: Occasional cold fronts can be sharp; some budget accommodation has no heating for cold nights
Spring
September–November ~ 22–33°C, warming, increasing storms, wildflowers and lapacho trees blooming
✅ Pros: Lapacho trees in bloom (August–September, spectacular in Asunción), comfortable temperatures through October, good birding (migrants arrive), fishing in full season
❌ Cons: November gets hot quickly; fishing veda starts November; Chaco access increasingly difficult as rains begin