Top 10 Tourist Places in Paraguay

1. Asuncion – Paraguay’s vibrant capital

This capital city of more than two million people, Asuncion is the political, economic and cultural heart of modern Paraguay.

The center adheres to the eastern banks of the Paraguay River, which meanders around the city center along the border with Argentina to the west.

Asuncion city

Here, visitors delve into what is considered – believe it or not – one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Americas.

Asuncion, first established by the conquistadors, was in fact the base from which the Spaniards set out west into the wilds of Peru andPatagonia.

Today, the city is home to the magnificent National Heroes Temple, as well as a vibrant nightlife along the up-and-coming Paseo Carmelitas.

2. Encarnacion - The Pearl of Southern Paraguay

What is it called? The “Pearl of the South” leans on the banks of the Parana River. It draws crowds from the capital Asuncion during the summer. With the promise of pristine riverside beaches and the country’s most developed boardwalk, a wide, tree-lined boulevard.

The best sand is found at the end of Curupayty, where it is well-maintained and popular with fashionistas and sunbathers alike.

Incarnation

Water sports are also very popular. Jet skis zip around the meanders of the Parana, beneath the glittering high-rises of the city's brand-new residential neighborhoods across the bay.

And when you're done relaxing and dusting off, be sure to soak up the culture at the UNESCO-certified Jesuit ruins on the outskirts of town.

From the beaches of Encarnacion

3. Cerro Cora National Park – One of the best tourist places

This small nature reserve is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and interesting sections of the backcountry in all of Paraguay.

Cerro Cora National Park

Only recently established, it comprises a vast expanse of rolling savanna and elevated terrain, where otherworldly hills peak above swaying grasses and mosquitoes buzz around armadillo shields.

Moralia Peak is a great place to start here; it offers sweeping panoramas of the region's forests and arid plains, while there are also curious cultural encounters to be had with indigenous tribespeople and a small collection of mysterious ancient petroglyphs to pique the curiosity.

Cerro Cora National Park

4. Yebequi National Park – One of the top 10 tourist places in Paraguay

Capuchin monkeys swing through canopies as howler monkeys climb tree trunks in Ybycui National Park, a small, intact protected section of what remains of the upper Atlantic Paraná forest.

Capuchin monkeys in Yebiqui National Park

Most travelers make the relatively short 150-kilometre drive directly from the capital, eager to see the cascading waterfalls that cascade through the rocky undergrowth of the forest into steps and plunge pools.

Yebiqui National Park

Another attraction is the ruins of a former iron foundry, where the hard-fought Paraguayan war forces manufactured weapons and ammunition while hidden in the hills.

5. Aregua – The Jewel of Tourist Attractions in Paraguay

Just a short drive from the heart of Asuncion's busy downtown streets, now almost contiguous with the capital thanks to the continued expansion of its outer suburbs, the small lakeside town of Aregua is a great place to escape the heat and energy of Paraguay.

Aregua

Travelers can expect a beautiful maze of cobblestone streets and alleys where the lingering facades of colonial Spain still stand tall.

From the streets of Aregua

All of this borders the waters of Lake Ypacarai, and sailboats and ferries bound for San Bernardino bob forever on its azure waters.

Then there are the magnificent hexagonal geological formations of the Koi and Choruri Hills, looming on the edge of town.

Koy and Choruri Hills

6. Concepcion

Located on the cusp of the Grand Chaco and benefiting from excellent river connections with major cities to the south, Concepcion enjoyed an economic golden age before being plunged into conflict during the Paraguayan War.

Concepcion

Today, its central streets and cobblestone alleys still bear all the hallmarks of a colonial outpost that actually did well in its various agricultural endeavors.

Visitors embark and disembark on their fast-paced river cruises along the meandering Paraguay River, marveling at the elegant facades and painted Spanish-style churches, and enjoying the fresh tropical air as they go.

7. La Santisima Trinidad de Parana – One of the historical tourist places in Paraguay

This piece of history can be found in Paraguay just north of the fun-loving southern hub of Encarnacion. It rises from the rolling hills a stone's throw from the Parana River.

La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná

A UNESCO World Heritage Site (and the most visited in the country, at least), the site showcases crumbling churches and priests' quarters, many decorated with European artwork, others finished in a curious mix of Indian and Italian styles.

8. San Cosme Damian

Standing on the way to the massive oxbow lakes and flooded plains that swell as the Paraná River weaves along the border with Argentina to the south, the village of San Cosme y Damián is a true sight to behold.

Saint Cosme and Damian

It is surrounded by shimmering yellow sand dunes dotted with palm trees, which ebb and flow across the landscape before plunging directly into the water.

9. San Bernardino – For a quiet and beautiful tourist destination

San Bernardino was protected from the chaos of the capital by the great barrier of Lake Ypacaray, and it firmly established itself as one of the main gateways for the wealthy aircraft manufacturer Asuncinos.

Ferries depart several times a day from the outer areas of Aregua. People are transported to the streets of Bernardino overlooking the water, between swaying palm trees and artificial stretches of sand that have been created there.

Nestled in the shadow of the rugged Ybyturuzu Highlands, Villarrica is a proud and historically rich city. It is also a place where monuments to national heroes line the squares and some of the country's most important cultural institutions and traditions are located.

From the city of Villarrica

Take in the Maestro Fermin Lopez Museum in the heart of the city. It displays collections of old ammunition and weapons from the Chaco War alongside ancient Indian weapons.

Then there are the thriving Easter celebrations, which erupt in the squares and between the towers of the magnificent Spanish-style Franciscan church – a fascinating colonial relic to say the least!

Franciscan Church