Paraguay is undoubtedly among the few overlooked countries, together with Suriname, Guyana and French Guyana, in South America. Travellers tend to avoid visiting this country for a simple reason: very little information available. We’ll give you that the country is tiny, doesn’t really have any huge tourist attractions and only share with Argentina and Brasil arguably the “worst” view of the Iguazu Falls. But there’s much more to Paraguay than that!
And there’s nothing better to start visiting a country, than exploring its capital, in this case Asuncion. The city is the perfect basecamp to explore the amazing country’s nature, small colonial towns and interesting traditions scattered around. That said, only in La Capital you’ll find thousands of cultural activities to understand what Paraguay really is, a destination that all travellers should include in their itinerary. A cheap country, well-well-connected to everything and full go culture at every corner.
Here’s the top 10 activities you can easily do in and around Asuncion.
1. Museo de las Memorias
Opening Times: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm
Location: Chile 1066 jn/Manduvirá y Jejuí
About the museum: This museum is extremely interesting to understand the history or Paraguay, the 34 years of dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner and what is known as the “Archivo del Terror”. You’ll see photographs of people who were made disappear during those years, prison cells where they were tortured and a political art exhibition of 16 artists aimed to focus the status of the current democracy established by the military.
What we liked the most: Having a chance to see the royal cells where they tortured prisoners.
2. Centro Cultural de la República El Cabildo
Opening Times: Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 5pm /Weekends and holidays from 9am to 6pm.
Location: Avenida República jn/ Plaza Juan de Zalazar
About the museum: On-site you’ll find several rooms featuring different exhibits. The first room is dedicate to the textiles of Paraguay. There you’ll learn anything from how textile components are extracted from nature, to where to find them and also to which indigenous population used to belong. The second room hosts a photography exhibition about landscapes in Salamanca (“50 años de fotografia) by Jesus Ruiz Nestosa in order to commemorate 50 years as a photographer. Adjacently, the third room holds a small art exhibition by the artist Carlos F. Reyes. Lastly, going up the stairs you’ll find the “Masters of Art”, a black-an-white hall of fame dedicated to those artists who actively contributed to the spread of the Paraguayan culture.
What we liked the most: The representation of indigenous wearing unique textiles on a real scale in the textile room.
3. Casa de la Independencia
Opening Times:Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm/Saturdays from 8am to 1pm
Location: Esquina 14 de Mayo jn/ Presidente Franco
About the museum: This government house from the 19th century was converted in the secret headquarters for those militaries who overthrown the dictator with a military golpe back in 1989. Inaugurated by Stroessner himself in 1965, you can still see how the rooms used to be back at that time. People say that here is where supposedly the golpe was “pre-planned” in order to free the country peacefully. On-site you can also find a huge updated city map of Asuncion.
What we liked the most: An old map of Asuncion showing the city view back in the 19th century.
4. Centro Cultural Manzana de la Rivera
Opening Times: Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm
Location: Ayolas Nro.129 jn/ Benjamín Constant
About the museum: This cultural center features a library, auditorium, painting exhibition about Paraguayan artists, bar and even a small internal patio. Additionally, in the patio you can also find the Broadcasting Center for Audiovisual & Photographic material of Paraguay, a huge collection of old movies, VHS and TV programmes of cultural/historical value for the country.
What we liked the most: Undoubtedly, the audiovisual and photographic archive is the most beautiful bit.
5. Loma San Jerónimo
Opening Times: Always open.
Location: Piraveve and Av. República
About the place: The Loma San Jeronimo, located just west of the city center, is a small and colourful neighbourhood sitting on top of a small hill. On top of that, the narrow pedestrian streets and tiny passages all feature funny names tags. Around the area there are some places where to eat some local food or better have a drink overlooking the city rooftops. Walking there during the day is safe but during the night taking a taxi to/back can be the best option.
What we liked the most: The beautiful city views from the open-air bar Ko’ape. Highly suggested to visit at sunset!
6. Areguá
How to get there: Bus Nº11, 2300Gs or 3500Gs (depending on whether it has AC or not)
About the place: This little lakeside town is located about 1h30min away by public bus from Asuncion. The place is pretty quaint, full of green areas and cobblestone streets bring you back to the old times. Give yourself a good half-day to visit the town’s church, the artisans stands and the unique Carlota Palmerola castle.
What we liked the most: The Carlota Palmerola was definitely the highlight of our visit. Be aware that the place is only open on Sundays from 12pm onwards and has an entrance price of 10.000Gs. It was built by an aristocratic family back in the days but it’s currently being managed by nouns who tried kept it they way it was. The garden is huge and you also get a chance to climb on top of the roof to see a bird’s eye view of the area.
7. Panteón Nacional de los Héroes
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm
Location: Palma jn/ Chile
About the place: This majestic building holds the remains of the country’s heroes e.g. Mariscal Francisco Solano Lopez, several generals and soldiers. Visiting the place doesn’t take long (about 10min max) but thankfully it’s free. On top of seeing the architecture, you can also get lucky and be there for the change of guard.
What we liked the most: The beautiful architecture of the panteon.
8. Museo del Barro
Opening Times: Wednesday to Saturday from 9am to 12pm and from 3.30pm to 8pm
Location: Calle Grabadores del Kabichu’i
About the museum: The museum is a beautiful collection of rooms containing different type of art. From contemporary art of Asuncion to popular indigenous art, the danger of getting lost while wandering the place is real! If you like art, this museum will not disappoint you. You’ll be able to see visual installations, serigraphy, contemporary photography, mud sculptures and plenty of indigenous pottery. There are rooms dedicated to just a single artist but also others shared between various ones. On site, you’ll also find the museum’s bar and shop.
What we liked the most: The truth is that we loved every single bit of it! The variety and quality of art exhibited is absolutely amazing.
9. CONMEBOL
Opening Times: From Monday to Friday, from 8am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm
Location: Autopista Silvio Pettirossi and Avda. Sudamericana (Luque)
Note: If you visit as a group (+3 pax) you need to call (find number here) beforehand to book a time slot
About the museum: If you are an avid watcher of football, the Southamerican Confederation of Football will make you fall in love. Here you’ll have the chance to take a tour throughout the history of south american football, get to know all of its famous clubs, see the real cups won by the teams on this side of the globe and finish with short yet great summary clip inside of a football ball-shaped cinema. All of this can be seen during the 1h guided tour that the company offers for free (having a guide though its obligatory).
What we liked the most: We had the chance to hold the real cups won during famous south american tournaments. Not something you can do every day!
10. Mercado 4
Opening Times: All days from morning to late afternoon. Sunday closed.
Location: Av Eusebio Ayala 454
Note: Before you visit, make sure to watch the movie “7 cajas” entirely shot within the market
About the market: The market is nothing but the city’s biggest local market where you can literally buy anything from veggies to tyres (a bit like El Alto market in La Paz). It covers a pretty huge area and even though it might seem dangerous at first it’s mostly safe apart from some light pickpocketing. The location was also used to shot the famous paraguyan movie “7 cajas” (must-watch) so it’s normal for market people to see tourists taking pictures with cameras within the market. Don’t be scared of bringing your camera with you!
What we liked the most: Having a peak into the real traditional paraguyan lifestyle.
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