I Spent 72 Hours In Paraguay, And Now I'm Convinced It Needs To Be Added To Your Travel Bucket List

2 hours ago 5

And present I'm craving sopa paraguaya.

Did you ever play that crippled arsenic a kid wherever you'd rotation a globe, halt it with your finger, and ideate surviving successful immoderate spot you landed on?

A manus points astatine a spinning globe, suggesting exploration and question planning

Well, that's precisely however I archetypal recovered retired astir Paraguay 20-something years ago.

Map of South America highlighting Paraguay with its emblem plan overlay

Paraguay was ever 1 of those "so random I saw it connected a globe" places that I wanted to sojourn someday, adjacent though I had nary thought what was really there. So erstwhile the accidental came up portion I was successful South America, I figured what the hell, and booked a flight.

A idiosyncratic successful a sleeveless garment and shorts poses adjacent to a ample emblem by the h2o nether a partially cloudy sky

Here's what I saw spending 72 hours successful Asunción, Paraguay (that's the capital).

1. First off, Paraguay is 1 of the least-visited countries successful South America. Some random website says it's the 4th slightest visited. It's fundamentally smack dab successful the mediate of the continent, wholly landlocked, and I decidedly got a fewer "Where the hellhole are you?" messages from radical who person my location.

Map of South America with icons for time, Wi-Fi, and apps connected a mobile screen. Location marked centrally connected the continent

2. Likewise, that makes the capital, Asunción, 1 of the slightest visited superior cities connected the continent. That mightiness beryllium changing, though! In 2025, Paraguay had the highest tourism maturation complaint successful South America.

Airport gross 15 with a destination motion for Asunción; an hose unit subordinate assists a rider astatine the counter

3. Paraguay has its ain airline, Paranair (though it is not a government-owned nationalist carrier). I person a peculiar spot successful my bosom for airlines named aft a country, truthful I was excited for this. It made for a bully melodramatic departing-the-plane picture.

A idiosyncratic disembarks from a Paranair level holding a bluish bag, smiling, with the "Visit Uruguay" logo visible

Matt Stopera

4. The archetypal happening I noticed was however Asunción is very, precise green. Like, determination are tons and tons of trees.

A scenic presumption of a metropolis scenery surrounded by lush greenery nether a wide sky

5. Paraguay was, afloat stop, the hottest spot I've ever been. I went successful January, which is the mediate of their summer, truthful I should person known. But Jesus Christ, each time felt similar 100 degrees by 10 a.m. I felt similar I was successful a real-life aerial fryer.

95°F, feels similar 101°F, nary precipitation for astatine slightest 60 minutes, with partial sunshine and a accidental of thunderstorms tonight

6. Tereré is the quintessential Paraguayan portion made with yerba mate and ice-cold h2o that eveeeeeryone drinks. I'm telling you, everyone, and astatine each times of the day.

Cafe array with a metallic jug, a tiny metallic cup, a java cup, and condiments. Windows uncover a sunlit plot view

7. I'm not joking, radical transportation their ain idiosyncratic h2o coolers for their tereré. Keys, wallet, phone, and big-ass jug. It's an indispensable Paraguayan accessory.

Assorted leather thermos covers with decorative substance and logos displayed connected shelves

8. As for the taste, I'd accidental EXTREMELY refreshing and astir a small minty. I besides fto it steep for somewhat excessively long, truthful I was BUZZZIN.

A ample thermos with straws and a metallic cupful beryllium connected a woody crate by a roadside, adjacent to a woody stool

9. Paraguay is simply a bilingual state wherever some Spanish and Guaraní are authoritative languages, and astir people, indigenous oregon not, really talk both. It's 1 of the lone countries successful the satellite where the bulk of the colonisation speaks an indigenous language.

Large "ASUnción" motion successful a parkland with metropolis buildings successful the background

10. There are mangoes everyplace successful Asunción. Like, virtually falling from the trees, connected the ground, EVERYWHERE.

A manus holds a ripe mango connected a chromatic aboveground with a bare ft disposable successful the corner

11. Mall civilization is THRIVING successful Paraguay, and was decidedly a reliably air-conditioned spot of refuge. It was connected this travel that I yet understood the entreaty of mall-walking.

Shopping promenade interior with festive decorations hanging from the ceiling, featuring spiral ornaments and colorful baubles supra assorted storefronts

12. RadioShack inactive exists here.

Store entranceway displays electronics, gadgets, and a decorated Christmas tree. A ample motion reads "RadioShack."

13. I recovered this "American Store" successful the mall, and they were selling this shirt:

Yellow T-shirt connected a hanger with the substance "Junk Food Are My Friends."

14. Now, let's speech astir Paraguayan nutrient due to the fact that that's my shit.

Five accepted Colombian food breadstuff rings, almojábanas, displayed connected a decorative cloth background

15. The 2 astir celebrated restaurants successful Asunción are Bolsi and Lido Bar. Both are looong-standing institutions known for their accepted Paraguayan dishes.

Man connected sidewalk adjacent a café named BOLSI connected a sunny day, looking astatine his phone. Nearby, a pistillate stands astatine the café entrance

16. My idiosyncratic favourite was Lido Bar. I could person eaten present each day. The food, the service, the vibe. I was living. Now, let's get into particulars. It instantly, and I'm not exaggerating, became 1 of my favourite restaurants successful the world!!

Man successful casual outfit posing happily successful beforehand of Lido Bar connected a sunny thoroughfare corner

17. Lido Bar has been unfastened since 1953, and aft decades conscionable moved into a caller spot. The edifice itself is precise overmuch diner vibes, wherever you drawback a spot astatine the antagonistic and ticker the waiters divvy retired each those sweet, saccharine (and besides savory) Paraguayan treats.

People ordering and eating astatine a engaged cafe counter, with unit taking orders and preparing food

18. Food-wise, I person to outcry retired the OG Paraguayan staple: sopa paraguaya. Yes, it's technically translated to "Paraguayan soup," but it's not crockery astatine all. It's similar a heavy cornbread.

Man successful casual attire with a shot headdress smiling astatine an outdoor cafe array with grilled sandwiches and drinks

19. As idiosyncratic who perfectly loves cornbread, this was the nutrient I was astir excited to effort successful Paraguay. It turned retired to beryllium delicious. The information was besides huge, and present that I deliberation astir it, each repast I had successful Paraguay was yuge.

Slice of cornbread connected a achromatic plate, placed connected a array adjacent to a solid with a lime wedge and a metallic container

20. Another must-try is simply a crockery called Bori Bori. I know, crockery successful summertime is chaotic, but you gotta effort this one. The crockery had catfish successful it due to the fact that of the Paraguay River. I ne'er had river fish earlier (TBF I ne'er adjacent knew 'river fish' was a thing), but nary complaints. A coagulated 9/10.

A idiosyncratic successful a casual achromatic garment eating astatine a restaurant, with a creamy crockery and different crockery connected the table

21. My implicit favourite happening astatine Lido Bar were the empanadas. Those were TOP TOP TOP tier. 100/10.

Empanadas filled with a savory nutrient stuffing are chopped unfastened connected a achromatic plate

22. Oh, and meat. Duh.

Various grilled meats connected skewers displayed connected a antagonistic astatine a restaurant, with a idiosyncratic successful the background

23. Something I wholly didn’t expect, since it astir ne'er happens extracurricular the US, was that successful Paraguay, I was served h2o with ice. Yes, existent ice.

Two glasses of sparkling h2o connected a array with bottled h2o and java cups successful a casual setting

24. The main it attraction, similar the gathering you spot successful pictures erstwhile you hunt "Asunción," is the pinkish house.

Historic authorities gathering with arched facade and ample flagpole. Manicured tract and vintage lamp station successful foreground

25. The different main thing successful Asunción is the Paraguay River (fifth largest stream successful South America!). There's a boardwalk called the Costanera de Asunción stretching on the riverbank, and I could lone marque it down present successful the evening because, similar I said, it was blistery arsenic each hell.

City skyline astatine sunset with silhouettes of buildings against the evening entity and a ample assemblage of h2o disposable to the right

26. I'd besides similar to springiness a shoutout to immoderate of the parks. My favourite happening to bash successful a caller metropolis is to cheque retired the greenish spaces, and determination were immoderate beauteous bully ones.

A idiosyncratic poses nether a streetlamp successful a sunlit parkland with gangly trees lining the path

Here is an absorbing garbage receptacle I found:

A idiosyncratic pushes a greenish cart on a tree-lined pathway successful a park-like mounting with buildings successful the background

27. The downtown country of Asunción has a clump of historical buildings and assemblage architecture, but it besides has immoderate abandoned ones that springiness the country a precise The Last of Us vibe. I cognize that mightiness dependable unappealing to immoderate of you, but the juxtaposition was something.

A idiosyncratic stands extracurricular an aged gathering with barred windows and arches, with a tall, weathered operation successful the background

28. The main thoroughfare successful downtown Asunción is Calle Palma. That's wherever I recovered this thing.

Artistic metallic sculpture of 2 abstract figures successful dynamic poses placed connected a tiled sidewalk

29. One happening to support successful caput successful Asunción is that the sidewalks are fundamentally an obstacle course. Step incorrect and it’s crippled over, truthful PAY ATTENTION.

Sidewalk with a spread and debris nearby, posing a tripping hazard to pedestrians

30. Another happening I kept connected seeing successful Asunción were these people/things/creatures. I person nary thought who oregon what these things are...but I'm definite idiosyncratic successful the comments volition archer maine lol.

Person poses connected a level with cardboard cutouts of phantasy characters, acceptable successful beforehand of a car, outdoors astatine an event

31. Now, let's speech beverages. There's thing much I emotion than a bully convenience store beverage conception successful a antithetic country, and fto maine archer you: Paraguay does not disappoint successful this department. Guaraná drinks are precise fashionable here, and they person immoderate fantabulous sugar-free varieties.

Person holds a integrative vessel labeled "Pulp," filled with a drink. The inheritance shows a car interior and extracurricular view

32. Another absorbing bev I saw everyplace was tonic water. As idiosyncratic with a unusual affinity for earthy tonic h2o (no gin), I loved to spot it.

Person holding a wide vessel labeled "Agua Tónica," wrong a car with sunny thoroughfare presumption outside

33. Shoutout to the amazingly caller Biggie convenience stores. It's similar their CVS.

A tiny supermarket named "Biggie Express" with cars parked successful front, acceptable successful a leafy area

34. I cognize this mightiness dependable weird, but I emotion a cemetery. Asunción has a truly neat 1 close successful the mediate of the city. The Recoleta Cemetery feels similar a (literal) metropolis of the dead.

A idiosyncratic stands casually successful a historical cemetery with ornate mausoleums and a domed operation successful the background

35. Unfortunately, immoderate of it is successful disrepair. That's a quality skull.

Abandoned chapel with a checkered floor, decaying walls, and a breached altar. Cobwebs and debris are scattered astir the space

36. Paraguay is beauteous level and stuck close successful the mediate of South America (duh, I told you this), truthful radical similar to gag that it’s the Kansas of the continent. Obviously, determination aren’t melodramatic mountains oregon coastlines, but there’s thing truly chill astir each of that wide unfastened space. I wanted to cheque retired much than conscionable the capital, truthful we rented a car for the time to cheque it out.

Person successful a vessel apical and shorts stands connected a rocky ledge, overlooking a vast, greenish scenery with hills nether a wide sky

37. I emotion a hike, and I recovered 1 connected a "hill" astir an hr from Asunción astatine a spot called Cerro Hu. That scrappy hike truly gave maine a consciousness for just however large and vast this spot is.

Person successful casual clothing, wearing a cap, looking astatine a scenic scenery with trees and distant hills nether a partially cloudy sky

38. I was besides the sweatiest I've ever been successful my life. Drenched! But I did spot a gigantic lizard I named Suzie Toot.

Person successful casual deterioration crouches connected a rocky ledge, with immense forested scenery and hills successful the background

She was prehistoric.

A blurry lizard walks connected a sunny stone aboveground successful a natural, leafy environment

39. Another municipality we visited was Areguá, a charming small spot known for its artsy vibe, colorful (and weird) pottery, and water views.

Gothic-style religion with gangly spire and arches, acceptable against a partially cloudy sky. A idiosyncratic stands successful beforehand of the building

40. The pottery...was...something...lol.

Various ceramic piggy banks, featuring superhero and cartoon quality designs, displayed connected a woody array astatine a marketplace stall

41. Now, let’s speech astir Ypacaraí Lake. Yeah, it’s polluted, but honestly, inactive gorgeous. We saw it successful San Bernardino, which I’m beauteous definite is Asunción’s mentation of the Hamptons.

Two reddish paddle boats connected a sandy formation by a calm water nether a partially cloudy sky

42. Lastly, and this mightiness beryllium the astir random thing, it conscionable made maine laugh. These Christmas histrion cloth decorations were everywhere. I'm guessing it's 1 of those "Christmas successful lukewarm places" things. A existent trade-off erstwhile you’re celebrating Christmas successful the summer.

A rod outdoors is covered by a mesh netting, viewed from a car window. A ceramic partition and histrion are successful the background

And that, folks, was my travel to Paraguay, a existent bucket database destination I was pleasantly amazed by (especially the food). Even though it was conscionable a fewer days, I came distant with mode much than I expected: colorful towns, water getaways, astonishment crystal cubes successful my water, and sidewalks that rather virtually kept maine connected my toes. And yes, I’ll beryllium dreaming of sopa paraguaya for a agelong clip to come. <3

Person posing playfully connected ample "ASU" motion successful beforehand of a historical gathering with thenar trees. Casual summertime attire

Thank you for speechmaking different variation of "Fave Stops with Matt" (that’s what this is lol). It’s a bid astir my favourite places successful the world. Last week, I wrote astir the Faroe Islands, the week earlier that the Upper Peninsula, and adjacent week I’ll beryllium penning astir Mars. Thank you for your time. XO.

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