Paraguay Attractions

Eastern Paraguay

Many of Paraguay's finest attractions are just a short hop from Asunción. They include the weaving capital of Itaguá, where the famous ñandutí (aka spiderweb lace) is made, and the lakeside resorts of Areguá and San Bernadino, both on Lago Ypacaraí.

West of here is Caacupé, Paraguay's most important religious center and the site of an annual pilgrimage. The tranquil and undeveloped Parque Nacional Ybycuí, preserving one of the few remaining areas of rainforest in the country, is to the south.

Asunción

Paraguay's energetic capital is built on unassuming hills above the Río Paraguay. At heart she is beautiful, with a sprinkling of colonial and beaux-arts buildings. Her glitzy modern demeanor, however, merely shades the old blemishes: shanty shacks, diesel-spewing buses and oppressive humidity.

Asunción's recent construction boom added a seemingly endless stretch of suburbs fit for its population of 1.2 million. Most key sights are bound by the riverfront including Palacio Legislativo and Avenida Colón. Watch out for dengue fever-carrying mosquitos - they're poised to spoil the experience.