A short, intense road trip across Paraguay that combines cities, colonial history, nature, and the Iguazú Falls. Over seven days, we’ll visit the capital Asunción, head south to Encarnación, pop over to Argentina and Brazil for a few hours, and go from UNESCO-listed Jesuit missions all the way to one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. The itinerary is designed to balance sightseeing, travel time, and downtime.
Day 1 – Arrival in Asunción (PRY)
After arriving in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay and one of South America’s oldest cities, we’ll head to our accommodation. We’ll keep the rest of the day for rest and a slow acclimatization—after all, local weather (hot, humid summers and warm winters) and the time difference are waiting for us. In the evening, over dinner, we’ll go through the plan for the coming week in Paraguay, during which we’ll also pop over to Argentina and Brazil for a few hours.
Day 2 – Exploring Asunción
We’ll spend the second day discovering the capital. In the center, we won’t miss one of the most beautiful buildings—the presidential palace, Palacio de los López—the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Museo Casa de la Independencia, and other interesting spots. We’ll stop by the La Recova craft market and stroll along the Costanera promenade by the Paraguay River. Throughout the day, we’ll gradually taste local specialties—sopa (corn cake), chipa (cheese bread), and tereré (maté). If you still have energy, you can head out in the evening to the Villa Morra or Carmelitas neighborhoods, where you’ll find great restaurants and bars.
Day 3 – From Asunción to Encarnación
On the third day, after an early breakfast, we’ll set off by car to the southeast. Our first stop will be the town of Villarrica, about 170 km from Asunción. In its colonial center, we’ll grab a coffee and a quick snack. Villarrica is also a good base for climbing Paraguay’s highest peak—Cerro Peró (also known as Cerro Tres Kandú, 842 m a.s.l.) in the Cordillera del Ybytyruzú range. This time, though, we’ll save it for another trip and continue south to the country’s third-largest city, Encarnación. In the evening, no matter how tired we are from the drive, we’ll take a walk along the riverside promenade, with views of Argentina’s Posadas on the other side of the Paraná River. Of course, we’ll also have some good street food and something to drink.
Day 4 – Posadas (ARG) – Jesuit missions
In the morning, we’ll visit the Argentine city of Posadas on the opposite bank of the Paraná River, which we can reach by train across the bridge in just a few minutes. We’ll soak up the city’s atmosphere and enjoy a good coffee at Plaza 9 de Julio. Then we’ll head back to Encarnación and set off for the UNESCO-listed Jesuit missions—La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue. In the evening, we’ll treat ourselves to dinner at local all-you-can-eat restaurants.
Day 5 – Heading to Ciudad del Este
Ciudad del Este is about a five-hour drive from Encarnación. We’ll sleep in a bit, have breakfast, and set off east before lunch. The city sits on the border with Brazil and Argentina, is one of the world’s three largest duty-free shopping zones, and it’s pure chaos. For us, though, it’s mainly the gateway to the Iguazú Falls, which we’ll visit the next day.
Day 6 – Iguazú Falls and the Itaipú power plant (BRA)
Iguazú Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, lie on the border of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. It’s the largest waterfall system in the world, and we’ll see it from the Brazilian side. From Ciudad del Este, we’ll cross the Friendship Bridge to the city of Foz do Iguaçu, from where the national park is only a few dozen minutes away. We won’t miss Parque de Aves either, a bird park focused on protecting rainforest species. To wrap up the day, we’ll also stop by the Itaipú hydroelectric power plant, the third-largest in the world, built on the Paraná River.
Day 7 – Return to the capital
On the last day, we’ll travel back to Asunción. Depending on the mood and energy of the whole crew, we can also stop and hike up Paraguay’s highest peak, Cerro Tres Kandú (842 m a.s.l.). The hike is moderately challenging and takes about 4 to 6 hours, depending on pace.
Route overview
- Duration: 7 days
- Start: Asunción (Paraguay)
- End: Asunción (Paraguay)
- Pace: moderately fast, several transfers, but with enough time for the main highlights
- Route type: loop route, a road trip returning to the starting point