Paraguay trips have much to offer. The country is sparsely populated and a true off-the-beaten-track location in the centre of South America. It is an unspoilt and amazing holiday destination – a trip here is to step back in time among an incredible variety of attractions.
For the culture seeker, the country has a history full of upheaval and suffering due to the historic wars with its neighbours and its population decimated. The Jesuits left their mark in incredible mission towns, and immigration from Europe, in particular, influenced the country too. In the early 20th century, Mennonite immigrants settled in the north of the country creating their own closed communities. Many immigrant communities mixed with the native Guarani peoples creating a cultural melting pot that can be enjoyed nowadays in our Paraguay trips. Guarani and Spanish are the official languages of the country.
Paraguay holidays can also offer much to the nature enthusiast. The Chaco is a semi-arid wilderness and one of the least densely populated places in South America. Covering the north of the country, there is an abundance of fauna including puma, tapir, giant armadillo and anteater. The north-eastern part is a wetland which forms part of the Pantanal ecosystem in Brazil. The south-east corner is in the Alto Parana, an area of national parks and amazing waterfalls. This area is close to the Iguazu Falls so a Paraguay holiday can be combined with Argentina and Brazil.
The Golden Circuit is a series of colonial towns around the capital Asuncion. This includes towns such as Aregua and its artisan market, as well as the baroque church of Yaguarón.
The Jesuit reductions in the south of the country, established in the 17th and 18th centuries, are historical museums. The Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue should be part of any Paraguay trip.
The Mennonite town of Fiiladelfia offers and incredible insight into the lives and culture of their communities. It is also a great base from which to explore the Chaco. The Pantanal, in the eastern Chaco, is a remote wilderness bustling with flora and fauna waiting to be explored. The Saltos de Monday waterfalls reach a height of 45 metres and a width of over 120 metres. They are located near Ciudad del Este on the border close to the Iguazu falls. The Itaipu dam is also a man-made wonder to be visited in this area.
Paraguay, being at the “heart” of South America, can also be combined neatly with the neighbouring countries. It is a fascinating destination with a tragic history, an incredible assimilation of the original peoples. An opportunity to visit untouched places by the influences of mass tourism.
Discover our Paraguay trips on this page.
Cultural
Below you will find a few of the many attractions Paraguay has to offer for your holiday.
The Alto Parana region is to the east of Paraguay and its main city is Ciudad del Este on the shore of the Parana River.
Across the Parana River is where you will find Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and the Iguaçu Falls.
The Itaipu dam – one of the largest of the world – can be visited and just South of Ciudad del Este the Monday falls are worth a visit.
The Tati Yupi Biological reserve offers the outdoors enthusiast interpretative trails of the wildlife and fauna as well as bike trails for the more energetic.
Asuncion is the capital of landlocked Paraguay and sits on the shore of the Paraguay River.
Asuncion is one of the oldest cities in South America and its character reflects the harsh and varied history of the region.
It also represents the diverse nature of Paraguay where Spanish and Guiarani – the indigenous language – are the official languages.
Places to visit include the National Pantheon of Heroes and the Independence House Museum.
A guided tour is recommended, to help you get the most out of your visit.
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J. Parks, USA, Terra Luna, Aysen Chile 2026
Visiting the Marble Caves has been on my bucket list for some time. With our planned trip to SA ending in Santiago this was the chance I had been waiting for. I started researching how to get to the Marble Caves and stumbled across Andeans Trails and Terra Luna by chance. The more research I did the more this seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. (a shuttle to and from the airport, lodging, food, and other outdoor activities besides the Cave Tour) Plus it had good reviews and seemed reputable. I contacted Andean Trails and Kathy (you) responded immediately, and our conversation continued until we had everything booked and in place. I was extremely pleased at how promptly every question or concern I had was addressed! I was a little nervous about flying to such a remote area where I did not know the language very well. A few days before we arrived our guide Andres sent me a msg that had such a welcoming tone all my fears were erased.
From the minute we landed in Balmaceda until we returned home the trip was magical!!! Part of it was like taking me back to my childhood. A long gravel road I walked often to my grandma’s log cabin in the woods with a wood stove. And so much of the vegetation was the same! I found out Puerto Gaudal is close to the 45th parallel S, and I live on the 45th parallel N! I was like deja vu! (Except for the Andes, GC Lake and Northern Icefield.)
I knew there were other outdoor activities available but I didn’t do any serious research on them, my mind was on getting to the Caves. That lead to a wow moment around every corner! My love of glaciers was rewarded in the trip to Leones Glacier with lunch on the moraine. The horseback ride on Erradica taught me new glacial terms! The time spent in Patagonia NP was very moving, esp Doug Tompkins grave. The hike to the Confluence and the waterfall was awesome. The fossil bed hike was challenging but Andres took his time with us and was so encouraging. Well worth the effort to get there!
To sum this up: Andean Trails very nicely made my dream to see the Marble Caves come true. They were easy to work with, replied promptly and did everything they could to make sure the trip went smoothly.
Terra Luna – A hidden gem in the heart of Patagonia! the lodging - wonderful, the scenery - breathtaking, the activities – invigorating , food – delicious, staff – top notch (every single one), Phillipe – so welcoming, Andres – (guide) top notch!
The only critique would be Terra Luna needs to clean the hot tub. It is a beautiful tub, beautiful view and the water was hot but the boards were a little slimy. Overall the place was awesome and I give them 99.9 rating.
JoAnn
JoAnn Parks, Dec 2025 » Terra Luna Lodge In Aysen, Patagonia
Veera Raghavan, US, Tailor Made Patagonia, Dec 2025 The highlight was the El Chalten Full-Day Trek with family to Laguna de los Tres. It was a very strenuous day trek, but the beautiful views up to Fritz Roy and the iconic shot of the two lagunas at the top made the trek totally worth it. We wanted to visit Patagonia and found Andean Trails with options from easy to difficult, covering both Argentina and Chile. The family had a blast with both the day hikes. Overall organization was impressive, and we really liked the Perito Glacier kayaking. The vegetarian lunch options were excellent, with plenty of protein.
Veera Raghavan, US » Lodge-based Patagonia Hiking Trip
