Travel guide Paraguay
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Paraguay : Practical information for travel
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Edition 2016
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Paraguay : What to see, what to do ?
Paraguay : Where to go?
The most beautiful tourist sites
Paraguay : Other destinations
Paraguay : Petit Futé's best addresses
Discover the most beautiful addresses selected by the authors of Petit Futé.
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Paraguay : How do I travel?
How to go alone
Here are a few steps to ensure a successful solo trip:
Create a flexible itinerary, but have a general idea of your route.
Always inform someone (family, friend) of your itinerary.
Choose places with a reputation for safety; youth hostels are good options for solo travellers.
Make sure you have a reliable means of communication: a local SIM card or an international package is very useful.
Travel light to facilitate travel and reduce the risk of loss or theft. Always carry a copy of your important documents.
Travelling alone is an opportunity to meet new people. Then learn a few key words and phrases in the local language. This makes communication easier and shows your respect for the culture. Travelling alone in Paraguay is an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. Appreciate every moment, even those that may seem difficult. Every experience, good or bad, is part of the journey!
How to go on a tour
Travelling to Paraguay on a package tour is an excellent idea for those who want to discover the country without the hassle. These turnkey holidays often offer a combination of cultural visits, natural adventures and moments of relaxation. You're taken care of as soon as you arrive at the airport, with well-thought-out itineraries that allow you to see the must-see sites. You travel in the company of a local guide, guaranteeing authentic immersion. It's also an opportunity to meet other travelers who share your interests. If you want to keep your zen attitude, organized travel is the way to go!
How to get around
Explore every corner of Paraguay like a local! Buses, metros and streetcars are not only affordable, they'll give you that everyday thrill of adventure. However, if you have a taste for (moderate) risk, why not rent a bike or scooter and zigzag your way around? Beware, however, of the surprises that local traffic can throw at you. If you're more of a stroller, your two feet will be your best allies in unearthing the country's hidden secrets. And if you ever get lost (which is also part of the adventure), a good old map in your pocket will get you back on the right track.
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Paraguay : Travel
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Paraguay
In this overwhelmingly Catholic country, it is possible to attend a patronal feast every week or more. These feasts are usually held on the weekend, before or after the day of the patron saint, and are much awaited by all generations. It is an opportunity to attend concerts, folk dances, or jineteadas (equestrian shows), but also to taste the specialities of the regional gastronomy. National days paying tribute to the victims of armed conflicts (the Triple Alliance and Chaco wars), or to the key dates of the country's independence, are also very popular, with long speeches and military parades. Mother's Day, Father's Day, Youth Day, or Love and Friendship Day are also very popular. Here are a few emblematic events, which you are bound to hear about if you are in Paraguay at that time.
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Paraguay : Discover
How much do you know about Paraguay? If you can place this "island surrounded by land" on a planisphere, that's a good sign! Did you know that Paraguay has two official languages? That there are Japanese and German villages everywhere? That Paraguayans are world piki champions? That they love beer and eat chipas and solid soup? That you have to offer Pombero rum to seduce a woman? And why are they the world's biggest consumers of ice cubes per capita? As you can see, this land is completely atypical, even intriguing. All the more reason to enjoy your trip! Here are a few tips to help you discover this strange country, its geography, its history, its people, its music, its cuisine and some of its ancestral legends..
Paraguay : The 12 keywords
#Chipa
Chipa is a bread roll made from cassava starch, milk, cheese, egg, sometimes aniseed, or other ingredients. There are more than eighty different kinds! They're eaten at all hours of the day, and it's always a pleasure for bus passengers to see the chiperas with their sweet-smelling baskets. ¡Chipa, chipa, chipachipa!
#Estancia
Time stands still on these vast farms dedicated to cattle breeding. In these estancias, lost in the middle of nowhere, you'll usually find the owner's house and more basic staff quarters. Some estancias have recently opened their doors to tourists in search of nature and long rides through the wild expanses of the campo.
#Guarani
The term Guarani is truly associated with Paraguay. It refers to the indigenous people, the co-official language (with Spanish), the national currency, the name of an aquifer, a soccer club and the nickname of the national team! It's also the name of a famous hotel in Asunción and of countless businesses throughout the country.
#Harpe
The harp is the national instrument par excellence. Introduced in the seventeenth century in the Jesuit missions in Guaraní, el arpa paraguaya has acquired its own identity, with additional strings, its shape and the wood used by the violin makers. It is played in banquets, restaurants, village festivities and at the Festival Mundial del Arpa in Asunción.
#Jopará
The third language of Paraguayans! In fact, a "mixture" of Spanish and Guarani, or rather the introduction of Guarani words into Spanish, or vice versa. It is also the name of a dish that is prepared on October 1st, to impress Karaí Octubre, this legendary character who comes to punish families in case of bad harvest...
#Mandioca (mandi'o)
Manioc, the staple ingredient of Paraguayan cuisine. This tuber was cultivated by the natives before the arrival of the conquistadors. It is eaten boiled, to accompany theasado, or fried(Mandi'o Chyryry), with cold beers. Mashed cassava is also used to make a traditionalempanada: pastel mandi'ó.
#Patria
Paraguayans are proud of their country, a patriotism that goes far beyond supporting the national football team. In the past, an entire people has sacrificed itself to defend the Patria. The names of great men, memorials and the national flag, in red, white and blue, can be found everywhere in the public space.
#Silla Cable
You might not notice it right away, but this chair made of colorful plastic cable is part of the Paraguayan landscape. Sitting in front of the house, it's where you watch passers-by, chatting over a tereré. The drivers of the rickety old buses sometimes sit in one of these comfortable, airy armchairs too!
#Soy
Introduced in the 1970s, soybeans have established themselves as the spearhead of the national economy. While Paraguay is proud to be the world's leading soybean exporter (taking into account the country's surface area), the "soyization" of the economy has led to deforestation, pollution and the exodus of more than a million peasants in thirty years.
#Tatakuá
Tatakuá, literally the "hole" (kua) of the "fire" (tata). It is the traditional wood oven, made of earth or bricks, with a hole on each side, which can be seen in all country gardens. This is where chipa, chipa guazú or sopa paraguaya is prepared. But it's also Pombero's favourite hiding place to spy on us...
#Terrible
This iced infusion of Ka'a (mate) leaves is the Paraguayan drink par excellence. Inherited from the Guaranís, the tereré ritual is a true symbol of sharing and friendship. You can't understand Paraguay without taking part at least once in a tereré jere (tereré round) and tasting this thirst-quenching, invigorating traditional beverage.
#Y
Y means "water" in Guarani. Y" is found in many local words and names. Not surprising, given the sheer number of rivers in the country! Paraguay means "waters(y) from(gua) the ocean(para)". But accents and association with other letters change the meaning. For example, Yvy means Earth. Vy'a'ỹ, melancholy.
You are from here, if...
You can't express yourself in Spanish without introducing Guarani words, or vice versa.
You always arrive on time... Paraguayan time, and have a habit of saying you're on your way when you're still in the shower.
In the countryside, you clap your hands to announce your presence and never arrive at siesta time.
You give a thumbs-up every 2 minutes, with a smile!
On a motorcycle, you rarely wear a helmet, but ride with two or three passengers in the back.
At the gas station, you buy bags of ice cubes (for the tereré)more often than fuel.
You know where to find the best meat for Sunday'sasado.
You know all the medicinal virtues of yuyos for tereré.
You don't mess around with mitos and never even pronounce the name of some of them...
You're a passionate supporter of your favourite club and don't miss a single Superclásico between Cerro Porteño and Olimpia. You love one as much as you hate the other!
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