Paraguay holidays
Paraguay holidays at a glance
Our Paraguay holidays take you to one of South America’s least visited countries, a friendly, quirky place wedged between Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. It feels different from the moment you arrive. This is the only country on the continent where an indigenous language, Guaraní, is spoken by most of the population alongside Spanish, and where life moves at an unhurried pace.
Most holidays begin in the riverside capital, Asunción, before heading south to the Jesuit Missions of Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue, UNESCO-listed ruins set in quiet cattle country. North and west stretches the Chaco, a vast, flat wilderness of dry forest, salt lagoons and ranches. It remains one of the continent’s last frontiers.
Iguazú Falls sits just across the border from Ciudad del Este, so many trips combine the two. Add the food markets, the Paraguayan harp and a welcome that puts visitors at ease, and you have a country made for travellers who want to go somewhere truly off the map.
Paraguayan cooking is hearty and distinctive. Sopa paraguaya, a dense cornbread made with cheese, onion and egg, is a national favourite;, grilled beef is excellent, and chipa (cheese bread) is sold from baskets at bus stops and markets across the country. Tereré, cold yerba mate, is sipped throughout the day.
In the evening, Asunción’s food markets serve empanadas, grilled meats and local craft beer, often with live music, as the Paraguayan harp and polka run deep in daily life.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Paraguay
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Trinidad at dusk is special. Time your visit for the son et lumière, and you’ll have the ruins lit up and almost to yourself.
When to visit Paraguay
Paraguay has a subtropical climate, and the best time to visit depends on what you want to do and how much heat you can handle. Seasons run opposite to the UK, so the hottest months fall around the turn of the year.
You can visit the Jesuit Missions year-round, though the shoulder months of April to May and September to November are the most pleasant. Iguazú Falls, just across the border, is at its most powerful between November and March when river levels are highest.
Warm days and high humidity starts from mid-September with high summer from December to February feeling very hot indeed – temperatures easily reach 35°C in Asuncion and Encarnacion, in the Chaco up to 42°C. February / March is marked by a 5-day event celebrating carnival with plenty of festivities, music and dancing particularly in Asuncion.
Considered to be the best time to visit Paraguay, it is less humid but still pleasantly warm but cool fronts can bring chilly days, rain and surprisingly cool nights between June and September. However, this is the best time to visit the Chaco.
Places to visit in Paraguay
Paraguay is compact and easy to combine with its neighbours. Most trips start in Asunción, then head south to the Jesuit Missions and out into the Chaco. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
Asuncion and the heartland
Asunción holidays combine graceful colonial architecture, a riverside setting and a growing cultural scene in the heart of Paraguay. Once little more than a stopover, the capital has been revitalised by renewed public spaces, creative energy and a newfound confidence that makes it well worth exploring.
The Jesuit Missions of the south
Jesuit Missions Paraguay holidays trace one of South America’s more unusual historical chapters, an ambitious 150-year experiment in faith, farming, art and community, built by Jesuit missionaries and the Guaraní people together. Ornate churches, weathered plazas and UNESCO-recognised sites sit scattered across the rolling countryside of Misiones and Itapuá.
The Chaco
One of South America’s last great wildernesses, the Paraguay Chaco is a place of thorn forests, salt pans, wetlands and savannahs where the wildlife still outnumbers the people. It’s a destination for adventurous travellers, keen birdwatchers and anyone drawn to one of the continent’s least-explored corners of Chaco wilderness.
Top Things to do in Paraguay
Paraguay’s appeal lies in its off-the-beaten-track character, Jesuit ruins, remote wildlife and a culture you won’t find anywhere else. Here’s what we recommend.
Visit the UNESCO-listed, ruined Jesuit Missions of Trinidad and Jesus in southern Paraguay.
Visit the former railway town Sapucai, and view the haunting, rusting trains testament to an abandoned British-engineered service.
An atmospheric illuminated night walk through the ruins of the Jesuit Mission at Trinidad.
Accommodation in Paraguay
Paraguay’s accommodation is characterful rather than glossy, and we hand-pick every property for location and quality. In Asunción, we book well-placed hotels in the revitalised centre, close to the riverside and the markets. On the Ruta Jesuítica, small guesthouses put you on the village plaza within walking distance of the mission ruins. In the Chaco, rooms are simple but comfortable, in or near the Mennonite town of Filadelfia.
Well-appointed, centrally located hotel with a large pool and decking area, a marble lobby and a once-futuristic, now rather retro appearance.
Arty Hotel La Misión is a first class, stylish boutique property in a smart district of Asunción.
Pleasant motel-style accommodation on Filadelfia, Mennonite colony in the Chaco.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Paraguay
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Escorted Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays to Paraguay.
Group Paraguay Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Jabiru: Wildlife, wine and Jesuit Missions
Places visited: Buenos Aires · Colonia and Carmelo · Montevideo · Asuncion and the heartland · The Jesuit Missions of the south · Ibera wetlands
14 days from £5,249
Jacana: Crossing the continent
Places visited: Lima · Cusco · Sacred Valley of the Incas · Machu Picchu · Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side · Lake Titicaca – Bolivian side · La Paz and the altiplano · Asuncion and the heartland · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side · Rio de Janeiro
19 days from £4,583
Tailor-Made Paraguay Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Signature Paraguay: The Missions and the Chaco
Places visited: Asuncion and the heartland · The Chaco · The Jesuit Missions of the south · Iguazu Falls – Argentinian side · Iguazu Falls – Brazilian Side
11 days from £3,550
FAQs about visiting Paraguay
Paraguay is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to go to Paraguay?
The climate of this low-lying country is sub-tropical. Summer is extremely hot and humid, with average temperatures in Feb reaching 35°C. In winter temperatures are variable and it can be very cold at night. Most precipitation falls Oct- Apr but it can rain at any time of the year.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What is the official language of Paraguay?
The official languages of Paraguay are Spanish and Guaraní.
- What is the official currency of Paraguay?
The official currency of Paraguay is Guaraní. Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs in Asunción using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows. There are also many exchange houses in the capital and on the border where you can exchange US dollars and South American currencies cash.
- What is the time difference between Paraguay and the UK?
The time difference between the UK and Paraguay is GMT-4 hours.
- Do I need a visa for Paraguay?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate. If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
- What vaccinations do I need for Paraguay?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- Which countries combine well with Paraguay?
Argentina combines well with Paraguay, accessing Puerto Iguazú (close to the Falls) by road via the frontier at Ciudad del Este; Iguazú Falls, Brazil, crossing over the frontier via the Friendship Bridge from Ciudad del Este.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.