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🇵🇾Things to Do in Paraguay
From the Jesuit ruins of Trinidad to the world's most productive hydroelectric dam - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Paraguay remains one of South America's least-visited countries, landlocked between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia with none of the marquee natural wonders of its neighbors - which means what it does offer, from UNESCO Jesuit mission ruins to a genuinely enormous hydroelectric project, tends to be seen without any crowds at all. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Jesuit Ruins of Trinidad
A UNESCO World Heritage 18th-century Jesuit mission, among the best-preserved of the Jesuit reductions built across the region before the order's expulsion in 1767.
📍 Trinidad, Itapúa
🚉 Buses on the Encarnacion-Ciudad del Este road stop at the Trinidad turnoff, 30km from Encarnacion, leaving a short walk to the mission - the night-time light show is worth timing for.
Asuncion Old Town
Paraguay's capital, with the Palacio de los Lopez (the presidential palace) along the riverfront and a noticeably slower, less touristed pace than most South American capitals.
📍 Asunción
🚉 Asuncion has no rail or metro: city buses run to the Plaza de los Heroes and the riverfront, and the Palacio de Lopez and the Panteon are all within a few blocks on foot.
Itaipu Dam
One of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world by annual output, shared with Brazil on the Parana River - tours of the facility are available on both sides of the border.
📍 Ciudad del Este
🚉 Free tours leave from the visitor centre 20 minutes north of Ciudad del Este; local buses along the Supercarretera pass the entrance, and the Brazilian side has its own separate tour.
Ybycui National Park
A subtropical forest reserve with waterfalls and the ruins of a 19th-century iron foundry, a couple of hours from Asuncion.
📍 Paraguarí Department
🚉 Buses from Asuncion reach Ybycui town in three hours, and the park is a further 30km with only irregular local transport - most visitors hire a car or a taxi for the last stretch.
Gran Chaco
A vast, sparsely populated dry forest region in western Paraguay, home to Mennonite farming communities and wildlife including jaguars, though access requires real planning given the remoteness.
📍 Western Paraguay
🚉 The Trans-Chaco highway runs north-west from Asuncion, with buses to Filadelfia taking about eight hours; beyond the Mennonite colonies the roads are dirt and need a 4x4 in the wet.
Mark Paraguay, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Paraguay?
4-5 days covers Asuncion and the Jesuit Ruins of Trinidad well, often combined with a stop at Itaipu Dam near the Brazilian border.
What's the best time to visit Paraguay?
April-June and September-November have milder temperatures, avoiding both the intense summer heat (December-February) and the coolest winter nights.
Is Paraguay good for a first-time visit?
It's manageable but rewards some Spanish (or Guarani, the country's other official language), since English is less commonly spoken here than in more touristed South American countries.
Do I need a visa to visit Paraguay?
Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays; other nationalities need a visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: mre.gov.py.
What are some things to do in Paraguay on a tight budget?
Paraguay is one of the least expensive countries in South America for food and accommodation, walking Asuncion's old town costs nothing, and Itaipu Dam's basic visitor tour is free.
Can I rent a car in Paraguay, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it makes the Jesuit missions and the Chaco far easier to reach. A foreign licence is accepted for visits alongside an International Driving Permit, and the minimum age is generally 21 to 25. The Trans-Chaco highway is paved as far as the colonies and dirt beyond, where a 4x4 and extra fuel are needed; distances between services are long. Crossing into Brazil or Argentina with a hire car requires paperwork arranged in advance. Official visitor information is published by the National Tourism Secretariat at senatur.gov.py.