Cultural relics, natural sites and folklore make the charm of Paraguay, a Latin destination still unknown.

Located in the heart of South America, Paraguay is also one of the least known countries. Without access to the sea, Paraguay has no lack of interest in its landscapes and culture. We could talk about two Paraguayans. This country is indeed cut in two, from north to south, by the river which gives it its name (the Rio Paraguay) and on each side of which two quite distinct regions extend. To the west, the Chaco which covers 60% of the territory but shelters only 5% of the population. It is the wildest part of the country with its green plains, its marshes and ponds, its stunted thorny forests. It is populated by wild animals, jaguars, pumas, tapirs... In the center of the Chaco, stands Filadelfia, the capital of the Mennonite community. German-born, much like North American Amish, Mennonites live as they did in the 19th century. The eastern part presents a face of natural meadows, lush forests, tropical and subtropical jungles. It is also more civilized with the four main cities of the country: Asunçion (the capital), Conceptcion, Encarnacion and Cuidad del Este. There is a concentration of Paraguay's main tourist attractions: the ruins of the Jesuit missions of Encarnacion or Trinidad, the Itaipu dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, and the Iguaçu Falls, bordering Argentina and Brazil, near Cuidad del Este. 5.7 million people live in Paraguay. A 95% mixed population that still speak Guarani, an indigenous language that resisted the colonization of the Conquistadores and today still considered as the official language in the same way as Spanish. More than a quarter of the Paraguayan population lives in Asunçion, the capital, on the banks of the Rio Grande River and close to the border with Argentina. Asunçion is a city of contrasts, where many colonial-style buildings, old tramways and skyscrapers rub shoulders... If the country has no access to the sea, it also has its seaside resorts near Lake Yparacai. Close to Asunçion, the most famous are San Bernardino and Caacupé, also a place of Catholic pilgrimage. The best time to stay in Paraguay, with its subtropical climate, is from May to September. Paraguay is a country where it is relatively hot all year round (from 17 to 27°C in Asunçion, up to 40°C during the southern summer, from January to March, in the Chaco). Temperatures can still drop to 5°C from July to September. Paraguay is also very humid, which can make heat and cold difficult to bear. The crossbreeding of its Paraguayan population is the fruit of a rich and complex history. Some true Guarani tribes still live as tribes in the jungle in the north of the country. But they are less and less numerous and their territory, threatened by deforestation, is considerably reduced. The rest of Paraguay's population is composed of Spanish, German, Dutch or Italian descendants. The country is also home to a Mennonite community, particularly in the Chaco. Baptists of German origin for whom time seems to have stopped in the 19th century. The community runs its own banks, schools and hospitals, and speaks almost exclusively German. Off the beaten track, Paraguay is a country with a lot to discover. A country with two faces: a wild north where live Guarani tribes, Mennonite community, pumas, jaguars and anacondas; a south more civilized and which presents itself as a concentration of the New World with its Jesuit missions and colonial cities. A trip to Paraguay is full of surprises.

Internal flights are the best way to connect Paraguay's main cities. If the bus network is relatively developed, journeys can be long on a road network in poor condition. The notice applies to those who would rent a car. Note that there are no trains in Paraguay.

Art and culture in Paraguay
Paraguayan culture is a mixture of traditional indigenous culture and popular culture imported by the Spanish during colonization. Folk music is very rich, mainly played with guitar and harp (introduced by the Jesuits and adopted by the Indians), like the dynamic polkas that animate every popular festival in the country or the more romantic guaranias. Violinists, double bassists and bandoneonists complete the typical Paraguayan orchestra. As for crafts, the manufacture of nanduti lace is a speciality of the Guarani community. The country is also famous for its watermark jewellery.

What to visit in Paraguay
The visit of the capital Asunçion includes the tour of the main monuments