PUERTO DE ASUNCIÓN ET CHACO'I

Asunción's river port is one of the oldest on the continent. Facing the Bay of Asunción, a stone's throw from the Palacio de López and the arcades of La Recova, it has long played a major role in the movement of goods to and from the capital. It was abandoned a few years ago, with the relocation of its main activities to the ports of Villeta and Pilar, but its rusty old cranes give it a charming old-fashioned atmosphere. The historic central customs building has undergone extensive restoration in recent years and now hosts temporary cultural exhibitions and festive events. The whole area is currently being revitalized, and the port may soon be revitalized as a commercial and tourist attraction (gymnasium, cafés, banks, etc.).

At the bottom of Montevideo street, you can board a small, picturesque boat, called a tucú tucú, which takes around 20 minutes to reach the village of Chaco'í ("Little Chaco"), renamed Nueva Asunción, on the other side of the Río Paraguay, for a lovely view of Asunción. Longer excursions on the river are also possible with agencies. Guyra Paraguay, for example, organizes birdwatching tours of Asunción Bay, an Important Bird Area recognized by Birdlife International. The bay lies on the border between the eastern and western regions of the country, and is home to a third of the country's bird species.