Travel Guide to Paraguay 2026: Asunción, Jesuit Missions & the Chaco
Looking for South America's best-kept secret? This travel guide to Paraguay covers everything for 2026: where Paraguay is, the best time to go, entry rules, the 10 best places to visit, a 7-day itinerary, realistic costs, safety tips, and the best hotels and universities. From the riverside capital Asunción and the UNESCO-listed Jesuit Missions of Trinidad and Jesús to the giant Itaipú Dam, the wildlife of the Chaco and the Paraguayan Pantanal, this guide shows why this friendly, affordable and bilingual country deserves more visitors.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and costs in this travel guide to Paraguay were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Paraguay
- Capital: Asunción💡 Founded in 1537 on the Paraguay River
- Currency: Guaraní (PYG)💡 Cash is still important outside cities. Check rates
- Languages: Spanish and Guaraní💡 Most people speak both, often mixed as Jopara
- Population: About 6.9 million💡
- Area: 406,752 km²💡 The Chaco covers about 60% of the land
- Time zone: UTC−3 all year💡 Paraguay moved to permanent UTC−3 in 2024. Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 1💡 Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue
- Power: 220 V, plug types C and N💡 Bring a European-style adapter
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Paraguay are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Paraguay?
Paraguay is one of only two landlocked countries in South America (with Bolivia). It borders Argentina to the south and south-west, Brazil to the east and Bolivia to the north-west. The Paraguay River splits the country in two: the green, populated Eastern Region with Asunción, Encarnación and Ciudad del Este, and the hot, dry Chaco to the west, with thorn forest, Mennonite colonies and wildlife. In the north-east, the Paraná River forms the border with Brazil at the Itaipú Dam.
Most visitors fly to Asunción via São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Panama City, Santiago or Madrid, or cross by land from Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) or Posadas (Argentina). Long-distance buses connect all main towns. Check distances with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Paraguay
The best time to visit Paraguay is the cooler, drier season from April to October, with pleasant days (about 18–26°C) and cool nights; June and July can be cold for a few days. Summer (November to March) is very hot and humid, often over 35°C, with heavy storms. The Chaco is best visited from May to September. Paraguay's Carnival is biggest in Encarnación in February.
Warm days and fewer storms.
Cool and dry; the best time for the Chaco.
Lapacho trees in bloom across Asunción.
Very hot; Carnival in Encarnación.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Paraguay to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Paraguay Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
No visa for many visitors: citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can visit Paraguay visa-free for up to 90 days under a visa waiver that runs until August 2027, and citizens of the UK and the EU are also visa-exempt for up to 90 days. Stays can usually be extended once at the immigration office in Asunción.
- PassportValid for your whole stay; 6 months is safest.
- Entry stampGet it at the border: it is easy to miss on the Ciudad del Este bridge.
- Yellow feverVaccination recommended, and required from some countries.
- ExtensionOne 90-day extension is possible.
🔗 Official sources: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones · US State Department: Paraguay. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Paraguay were last checked in October 2026.
⛪ 10 Best Places to Visit in Paraguay
These are the places we recommend most in this travel guide to Paraguay, with the best months to see each one.
The Palacio de los López, the Pantheon of Heroes and the Costanera riverside.
💡 Best time: Apr–OctThe UNESCO ruins of Trinidad and Jesús near Encarnación.
💡 Best time: Apr–OctRiver beaches on the Paraná and Paraguay's biggest carnival.
💡 Best time: Nov–MarOne of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world.
💡 Best time: All yearA 40 m waterfall near Ciudad del Este.
💡 Best time: All yearMennonite towns, salt lagoons and jaguar country.
💡 Best time: May–SepWetlands near Bahía Negra with huge numbers of birds.
💡 Best time: Jun–OctA summer lake town close to Asunción.
💡 Best time: Nov–MarAn artists' village of pottery and strawberries.
💡 Best time: Jul–SepA reserve protecting the Atlantic Forest.
💡 Best time: Apr–Oct🗺️ 7-Day Paraguay Itinerary: Asunción, the Missions & Itaipú
Comfortable long-distance buses link Asunción, Encarnación and Ciudad del Este. Renting a car gives more freedom for the missions and smaller towns.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Paraguay day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Asunción: the Palacio de los López, the Pantheon of Heroes and the Costanera.
- Around Asunción: Areguá, Lake Ypacaraí and San Bernardino.
- To Encarnación: a bus south and an evening on the river beach.
- Jesuit Missions: Trinidad by day and the light show at night; Jesús nearby.
- To Ciudad del Este: drive north along the Brazilian border.
- Itaipú and Saltos del Monday: a dam tour and waterfall.
- Iguazú Falls (optional): a day trip across the border, then back to Asunción.
➕ With more time: join a Chaco tour to Filadelfia and the Mennonite colonies, or travel to the Pantanal at Bahía Negra.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Paraguay Cost?
Paraguay is one of the cheapest countries in South America. These are approximate daily costs per person in 2026, excluding flights. Use our currency converter.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$30–50 | Hostels, local food and buses |
| Mid-range | US$80–140 | Good hotels, taxis and tours |
| Luxury | US$200 + | Top hotels and private Chaco tours |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Paraguay are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
🧉 Try tereré, cold yerba mate, which is part of daily life and on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Paraguay
Paraguay is one of the calmer countries in South America for visitors. The US rates it Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, the lowest level, but flags more crime in five departments: Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepción and San Pedro, where drug and smuggling gangs operate. In Asunción and Ciudad del Este, watch for pickpockets and phone theft, use app-based taxis at night, and avoid showing valuables. The Chaco is remote: travel with a guide and plenty of water.
Accept it if offered; it is a sign of friendship.
Bolt and Uber work in Asunción.
At land borders, always visit immigration.
Summer can top 40°C: plan for mornings.
Needed in small towns and markets.
"Mba'éichapa" means hello, how are you?
🏨 Best Hotels in Paraguay: 6 Top Picks
Most travellers stay in Asunción, with a night or two in Encarnación for the missions and in Ciudad del Este for Itaipú.
A large hotel in the business and shopping district.
Check prices on Booking.com →A landmark modernist building on the Plaza de los Héroes.
Check prices on Booking.com →A design hotel in a quiet residential street.
Check prices on Booking.com →Stays near the river beach and the missions.
Check prices on Booking.com →A base for Itaipú and the waterfalls.
Check prices on Booking.com →Ranch stays and lodges for wildlife tours.
Check prices on Booking.com →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Paraguay: chosen for location, reputation and a mix of city, river and Chaco stays. Prices and availability change daily, so the buttons open live Booking.com results for each property.
🤝 Affiliate disclosure: hotel buttons are affiliate links. If you book through them, AtlasWise may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which hotels we list.
🎓 Top Universities in Paraguay
Paraguay's main universities are in Asunción, with regional public universities across the country.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) | San Lorenzo / Asunción | Public |
| Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción | Asunción | Private (Catholic) |
| Universidad Nacional de Itapúa (UNI) | Encarnación | Public |
| Universidad Americana | Asunción | Private |
| Universidad del Norte (UNINORTE) | Asunción | Private |
The oldest and largest university, founded in 1889.
Visit website →A leading private university with regional campuses.
Visit website →The public university of the south.
Visit website →Business, law and health sciences.
Visit website →A large private university.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Paraguay: the best-known public and private universities. Last checked: October 2026.
🧉 Paraguayan Culture & Food
Paraguay is one of the few countries in the Americas where an Indigenous language is spoken by most people: about 90% of Paraguayans speak Guaraní, an official language with Spanish. Traditional crafts include ñandutí lace from Itauguá and the harp music of polca paraguaya and guarania. Football and tereré, cold yerba mate shared from one cup, are part of daily life.
Food is based on corn, cassava (mandioca), cheese and beef. Try sopa paraguaya (a solid cornbread, despite its name), chipa (cheesy cassava bread), mbejú, vori vori (soup with corn balls) and asado barbecue. In winter, Karú Guasú food fairs and the 24 June San Juan festival bring traditional dishes and games.
❓ Travel Guide to Paraguay: FAQ
Is Paraguay safe for tourists?
Yes, it is one of the calmer countries in South America; take normal city precautions.
Do I need a visa for Paraguay?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens do not, for up to 90 days.
What is the best time to visit Paraguay?
April to October, when it is cooler and drier.
What languages are spoken in Paraguay?
Spanish and Guaraní, both official.
Can I visit Iguazú Falls from Paraguay?
Yes, it is a day trip from Ciudad del Este across the border.
Is Asunción the oldest city in South America?
No, but founded in 1537 it is one of the oldest, and is called the "mother of cities".
What is tereré?
Cold yerba mate, Paraguay's national drink.
What currency does Paraguay use?
The guaraní (PYG).
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Paraguay
- SENATURThe national tourism office
- UNESCO: Jesuit MissionsThe World Heritage listing
- US State Department: ParaguayEntry rules and safety
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