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Paraguay Experiences, Stories & Photos from a Backpacker

Political Map of Paraguay
 Paraguay

Experiences & Stories:
Paraguay, home of the Gran Chaco, exotic wetlands, amazing butterflies and birds! Enjoy the history with the Jesuit ruins and colonial towns. Experience the beautiful green interior, eat the tastiest beef, meet the friendly and welcoming people, visit national parks and go shopping.

Paraguay is the only country in South America so far that I have needed a visa, it costs $50USD, they gave me 5 days, I hope I can get more days next time I visit. Here are my experiences and story.

Ciudad del Este:
A friend and I arrived in Ciudad del Este from Puerto Iguazu in Argentina, we had to pay $50USD for a visa and were given 5 days to be here. Not a long a time, but long enough to have a look around some of the country. The aim of our travel in Paraguay was to head west across to Asuncion via a detour south to see the national park in Ybycui. More

Ciudad del Este to La Colmena to Paraguari to Ybycui:
This 5 - 6 hour bus journey through the countryside of Paraguay was definitely one of the highlights for me. I took a lot of photos out of the window of the bus during the day. The local buses are always crammed to the max. with people, in the seats and isles and half falling out the doors, it is quite fun really, especially if you have a seat. More

Ybycui and Parque Nacional Ybycui (National Park):
The bus rolled into the small town of Ybycui shortly after midday and we went to find a place to stay. We found a little hospedaje not far from the bus stop, a hospedaje is basically a place where a family live and they have rooms for people to stay in and you share meals with them if you like. More

Asuncion:
It was a brief and uneventful 1 night stay in Asuncion, we arrived at the busy bus terminal, stayed across the road in a budget hotel, ate a meal next door, it was raining in the morning so we didn't go into the center, we travelled by bus out of the city and over the Paraguay River into Argentina to Corrientes where my friend had a plane to catch the next day. More

Photos:
All Paraguay Photos
A spider and web in Ybycui National Park. Cattle grazing at a wood-mill in the Paraguayan countryside. A crystal blue sunset. Tractor mowing field and an anthill.
Palm trees and cows. Waterwheel from above, Ybycui National Park. Country life in Paraguay. Ybycui National Park.
Water towers and trees. The statues of 2 men at Ybycui National Park. Water, rock and trees at Ybycui National Park. Nice wooden cart.
Yellow butterfly at Ybycui National Park.
The road out of Asuncion towards Argentina.
A building in Ybycui.
Small farm.
A light green and brown house in Ybycui.
View more photos from Paraguay

Recommended Things To Do:
  • Head inland between Ciudad del Este and Asuncion to see the beautiful countryside and cattle ranches.
  • Visit the Pantanal by river boat up the Rio Paraguay.
  • Explore the Jesuit ruins at Trinidad, 28kms from Encarnacion.
  • See colorful and metallic blue butterflys at Parque Nacional Ybycui.
  • Meet the locals, they are very hospitable and much more reserved than in other South American countries.
  • If you enjoy cities that have a slow pace, visit Asuncion where you will find great cuisine and great people.
  • Cross the border into Argentina to see Iguazu Falls.
  • Visit the National Parks and Gran Chaco to see well over 300 species of birds.
  • If you are able to get to Parque Nacional Defensors Del Chaco, you can see puma, jaguar and ocelot.
  • Shop until you drop in Ciudad del Este.

    • Visa Requirements:
    Links:
    Paraguay - Wikipedia
    Lonely Planet
    Weather for Paraguayan Cities
    Art Prints and Posters
    Infoplease
    Travel Blogs
    Newspapers
    Backpacking South America
    Blog: Inside South America
    Find Accommodation:

    Videos:
    Across the Bridge From Asuncion to Argentina Video
    Across the Bridge From Asuncion to Argentina    		 The Busy Streets of Ciudad del Este Video
    The Busy Streets of Ciudad del Este

    See more videos from Paraguay & South America

    My Hostel & Hotel Reviews:
    Hotel Austria, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay (May 2009 - 1 night) - Good room and nice bathroom on the 3rd floor, restaurant downstairs, fantastic complimentary breakfast, nice views over the city. It has an extremely European feel to it for obvious reasons. The reception told us to keep our eyes open when walking in the area outside, so we did.
    Fujimi Hotel, La Colmena, Paraguay (May 2009 - 1 night) - It was good fortune finding this hostel owned by a Japanese family, they are very nice, they gave us a 5 star Japanese meal with sushi, chicken, soup and more, even cake and tea, it was like we were their special guests. The rooms are very basic but fine for a night. Recommended. photo
    Hospedaje La Esperanza, Ybycui, Paraguay (May 2009 - 1 night) - More great Paraguayan hospitality here with a nice family, the lady makes nice food that you can partake in. Her husband took us for a drive around Ybycui and to his friends house who spoke english so the we could have a chat. Recommended. photo
    Hotel Yasy, Asuncion, Paraguay (May 2009 - 1 night) - Across the road from the bus terminal, very basic room and not a very nice bathroom and not very quiet being on the main road, but convenient. Some restaurants are right outside the door but there is nothing else to see in the area along the street. photo

    Maps:
    Satellite View

    View Larger Map
    		 Standard View
    Paraguay Map

    Festivals and Holidays in Paraguay during September:
    Month Date When Festival / Holiday Where / Location
    SeptemberFestival of Alfalfa (Harvest Festival)Sapucai

    Yearlong Festivals and Holidays of Paraguay

    Recommended Reading:


    Weather:
    Weather Stations: Asuncion  Encarnacion 
    Current conditions in Asuncion
    Click for Asuncion, Paraguay Forecast

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