Ciudad del Este
Located on the border with Brazil, Ciudad
del Este is the second largest city in Paraguay and is considered
the top shopping destination in the country. The border crossing
gets a steady stream of traffic from neighbouring countries for
this reason, with visitors taking advantage of the low taxes. The
city may not be particularly attractive to tourists otherwise,
though there are some sightseeing options and a variety of good
restaurants to enjoy. Ciudad del Este is also conveniently situated
for tourists heading to Iguazu Falls or the Salsto del Monday
waterwall.
Cathedral of Ciudad del Este
Leon Petrosyan
Encarnacion
The market town of Encarnacion lies 200
miles (374km) from Asuncion and is Paraguay's most attractive city.
Known as the Pearl of the South, the city's main attractions are
the ruins of the Jesuit Missions of La Santisima, Trinidad de
Parana and Jesus de Tavarangue, listed jointly as a UNESCO World
Heritage site and depicted in the famous 1986 film, The Mission.
The city also boasts a pleasant artificial beach along the river,
which is a popular place for sunning, swimming, and watersports
such as boating, jet skiing and wakeboarding. Paraguay's most
famous carnival celebrations take place here in January and
February, making this a fun time to visit the city and join in the
revelry.
Encarnacion skyline
Motorway065
Filadelfia
Founded as a Mennonite colony in 1930,
Filadelfia is a pocket of German culture in Paraguay. This small,
neat farming community resembles a German suburb more than it does
a Paraguayan city, and life largely revolves around its huge dairy
cooperative. Visitors can learn about the colony's history at the
Jakob Unger Museum, which offers tours in German and Spanish; and
the Haushaltsmuseum, which has a particularly interesting exhibit
on the Chaco War. Filadelfia also acts as a sort of gateway to the
Chaco region, as it is the last stop for groceries and other
essentials before heading into the wild.
Filadelfia, Paraguay
Ilosuna
Asuncion has a humid subtropical climate characterised by hot,
humid summers, and mild winters. The city is relatively rainy
throughout the year, but with noticeably less rain between June and
September. The climate is hot and humid most of the year, with
average high temperatures of between 84°F (29°C) and 92°F (33°C)
between October and March.
The coldest time of year is June to August, when average
temperatures are between 55°F (13°C) and 76°F (24°C). The cooler,
drier months are generally considered more comfortable for travel,
with most travellers choosing to visit between March and
October.
Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
Location: The airport is situated in Luque, a suburb of the capital
Asuncion, about six miles (10km) from the city centre.
Time: GMT -4.
Getting to the city:
A bus and taxi services connect to the city. The bus is a short
walk away from the terminal and trips take around 40 minutes. Taxis
are more expensive but can get passengers to the city in around 20
minutes.
Car Rental:
Several car rental companies are represented at the airport,
including American Rent A Car, Sudamerica Rent A Car, and Travel
Rent A Car.
Facilities:
The airport terminal offers currency exchange facilities, ATMs,
baggage wrapping, a duty free shop, and restaurants.
Cathedral of Ciudad del Este
Leon Petrosyan
Encarnacion skyline
Motorway065
Filadelfia, Paraguay
Ilosuna
