Ciudad del Este
Located on Paraguay's border with Brazil, Ciudad del
Este is the second largest city in Paraguay and is considered the
top shopping destination in the country and the wider region. The
border crossing gets a steady stream of traffic from neighbouring
countries for that reason, with visitors taking advantage of the
low taxes of the region.
Outlets range from high-end electronics shops selling
the latest in computers and televisions to street vendors selling
all manner of goods. Crowds of visitors swamp the city on Black
Friday, the day following the fourth Thursday in November, when
sales reach a frenzied peak.
Shopping is the major draw card to Ciudad del Este
and the city is not considered particularly attractive to tourists
beyond the retail opportunities, but there are some sightseeing
options and a variety of good restaurants to enjoy. The city is
conveniently located for tourists heading to Iguazú Falls or the
Saltos del Monday waterfall, and idyllic camping is available less
than two miles (3km) away in the Refugio Tati Yupi.
Cathedral of Ciudad del Este
Leon Petrosyan
Encarnacion
Encarnacion, located 200 miles (374km) from Asuncion,
is primarily a market town. The entire city was relocated when the
Yacyreta Dam was built, and now a massive bazaar occupies the old
town, offering all manner of goods for sale. Many good places to
eat are found within this wonderful chaos.
The main attractions of Encarnacion 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 1981 film The Mission.
The city also boasts a pleasant artificial beach
along the river, which is a popular place for sunning, swimming,
and recreational fun like jet skiing and boating. Encarnacion hosts
Paraguay's most famous carnival celebrations in January and
February, making this a fun time to visit the city and join in the
revelry.
Encarnacion skyline
Motorway065
Filadelfia
An island of German culture in Paraguay, Filadelfia
was founded as a Russian Mennonite colony in 1930. The neat little
community resembles a German suburb more than a Paraguayan city,
and lacks a town centre.
Visitors can learn about the history of the colony 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.
One of the most idiosyncratic sights in Filadelfia is
the statue of Fred Astaire on the Avenue Hindenburg, while the
shady park is filled with butterflies. The tiny town has only a few
bars and restaurants and is supposedly secretly patronised by
celebrities in disguise as there are no televisions.
It is a quirky sort of place but Filadelfia continues
to attract a steady stream of curious visitors. The town is also a
sort of gateway to the Chaco region because it is the last stop for
things like groceries before heading out 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 10 miles (16km) from the city centre.
Time: GMT -4.
Getting to the city:
A bus and taxi service connects to the city; buses are very
cheap although slow; travel time is about 45 minutes. The bus stop
is a short walk from the terminal, and services run from about 5am
to 8pm. Taxis are available 24 hours a day.
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.