Paraguay Experiences, Stories & Photos from a Backpacker

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, La Colmena, 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 & 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




The road out to Ybycui National Park. A horse and cart in Asuncion. A donkey and cart. Hornets nest at Ybycui National Park. Central Ciudad del Este.
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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.

Videos:

Across the Bridge From Asuncion to Argentina

The Busy Streets of Ciudad del Este

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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 (photo and review) (May 2009 - 1 night)

Hospedaje La Esperanza, Ybycui, Paraguay (photo and review) (May 2009 - 1 night)

Hotel Yasy, Asuncion, Paraguay (photo and review) (May 2009 - 1 night)

Festivals and Holidays in Paraguay during February:

Month	Date	When	Festival / Holiday	Where / Location
February	3		San Blas (Saint Blaise) Fiestas	National

Yearlong Festivals and Holidays of Paraguay

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:
	Political Map of Paraguay	Paraguay Flag

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