Paraguay: South America's Best Kept Travel Secret

Paraguay is not on the itinerary of most travelers to South America. The reasons are various: it was for example ruled by a ruthless dictator for many years. But those days are long gone and today Paraguay is one of the best kept travel secrets of this continent. The more you get to know it, the longer you will want to stay.

Let's start with the capital, Asuncion. When you arrive at the Asuncion bus terminal, you will find quite a modern building with a restaurant and lots of little shops selling everything a traveler needs. From here you can take buses not only to anywhere in the city, but from the long distance section you will be able to take a bus to virtually anywhere in Paraguay.

The old city center of Asuncion, with buildings dating back hundreds of years, is a charming, atmospheric place. As you walk down the main street (called Palma) you will often hear the beautiful sounds of harp music coming from many shops. (The harp is the national instrument of Paraguay). Or you will hear the melancholic sound of Paraguayan folk music gently floating on the airwaves.

There are numerous shops offering the renowned spiderweb lace that Paraguay is famous for. The stall owners are not as pushy as their counterparts in many other South American countries. The numerous money changers will, however, accost you quite aggressively with their calls of 'cambio, cambio!'.

The second largest city of Paraguay is Ciudad del Este in the east of the country. In many respects the atmosphere of Ciudad del Este more resembles that of a city in the Far East, like Bangkok. Travelers often compare it one huge shopping mall. Here you can buy virtually anything you can think of: from the latest electronics to spiderweb lace. From ebook readers to an old used black helmet. Prices are generally very competitive.

The beautiful little towns around Asuncion, like Aregua and San Bernardino, are all special in their own kind of way. Many of these towns have become widely known for the products of their artists. Whether it's spiderweb lace, ceramic chickens, beautiful ceramic pots or paintings, you are sure to find something that will become a prized possession back home and that will forever remind you of a great country with wonderful, warm people.

Make sure you have enough scrapbooking paper: Paraguay will make you want to remember every single moment. From the wide open spaces of the Chaco, to the cool breezes beside the Paraguay river, from the many vendors shouting 'pan, pan!' (bread) to the flashy shopping malls of eastern Asuncion, it's a country that will never allow you to forget it.