Le Paraguay - Show Me The Road

Paraguay is a country generally forgotten by tourists who come to South America. It is true that its larger and more touristy neighbors are very attractive, and yet Paraguay is worth a visit! Knowing nothing about this country, we wanted to take too visit it. So we took two weeks to appreciate and discover this country whose tourism is underdeveloped. It was very pleasant, a real return to culture, authenticity, nature and conducive to frank friendly encounters.

We share with you here what we really appreciated during our stay. For more information on the places we visited in this beautiful country, you can consult our itinerary. In addition, you will find in this article useful information to prepare your trip, such as our good addresses, our budget or even some tips and good plans.

Enough chatter, we are now showing you why we loved Paraguay and what there is to discover in this beautiful South American country:

1. The tranquility of Paraguay

After 5 months of madness in Brazil, we must admit that we found Paraguay very calm. It did us good to take the time to meet people rather than visit tourist sites. The majority of the population is concentrated in the southern part of the country, there are some big cities like Ascencion, Ciudad del Este or Encarnacion. Between these cities we find rural life with small villages and lots of nature. The northern part of the Rio Paraguay is called El Chaco, it is a huge, very wild and natural reserve and mainly populated by Guaranni communities who are the natives of Paraguay.
The places we visited were not of great tourist interest, which allowed us to savor simple pleasures, such as camping and enjoying the warmth of a fire, Boris's chess games with the locals, the smiles of strangers, moments spent with new friends, the joy of sharing and learning.

2. The history of Paraguay

In addition to Paraguayan history and culture, we had the opportunity to discover the Guaranni culture. The Guarannis are the natives of Paraguay who already lived in this part of the world long before any external invasion. Between colonization and dictatorship, this culture has been endangered many times. But the will to protect and transmit it was stronger than anything and that is why there are for example two official languages in Paraguay: Castilian and Guaranni. Language is the basis of any culture, so we thought it was great that Guaranni was officially recognized. It is a real chance that we had to have been able to discover and exchange with people who are so proud and protective of their culture. It's a real wealth for the country and we can't wait to come back to learn even more.

3. The Jesuit ruins

The Jesuit ruins are the trace of an era of evangelization of peoples that marked this region of the world. We had a lot of fun visiting this place steeped in history. There are several sites of Jesuit Ruins in the region of Encarnacion but to be able to visit them all it is better to have you own vehicle because in transport it is not possible. We therefore only visited the Trinidad site, which is one of the largest Jesuit ruin sites in this part of the globe. The ruins of Trinidad are well maintained and very pleasant to visit.

4. Tereré in Paraguay

As always during our travels, we take great pleasure in discovering the culinary specialties of the countries, no exception here in Paraguay. It's always a pleasure to discover new flavors, like biting into a hot Chipa during a long bus ride. We were also carried away by the smells of the many "Asados" (barbecue) that we find everywhere. Yes, meat is an integral part of Paraguayan cuisine, it is found at every meal! But what we preferred in Paraguay was the Tereré, this refreshing and energizing drink made from Yerba and other plants. But more than just a drink, the Tereré is above all an opportunity to share a moment with friends, to discuss and enjoy the present moment. A true tradition in Paraguay.

5. The Paraguayans

Throughout these two weeks we have met generous, curious and caring people. Our trip would not have been the same without these precious moments shared with these people. It is by their side that we were able to learn a lot of things, indeed who better than its inhabitants to tell us about the history and culture of Paraguay. Go camping on an island where we would never have gone without them, share a traditional meal, listen to Paraguayan reggae, learn how to properly prepare your Tereré… and so many other things that we could not have discovered without them. So to you who welcomed us so well in your beautiful country, THANK YOU.

To sum up, our two weeks in Paraguay were really full of discoveries, encounters and learning. Meetings and exchanges with people are for us the very essence of this journey. Speak a new language, discover another culture, learn from others to get to know each other better. And that's why these two weeks in Paraguay have been so wonderful!
Our only regret is not having our own vehicle to visit Paraguay, because some places are difficult to access by bus. If we return to Paraguay it will therefore be with our vehicle in order to have the freedom to be able to stop where we wish and be able to explore the northern part of the country: El Chaco.

For more information about our trip you can check our itinerary. We also put you below some good addresses, our budget or information on transport or Paraguayan gastronomy.

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