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How many days in Paraguay? 7 days from Asunción to the Jesuit missions and Itaipú
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Paraguay is one of the least visited countries in South America, and that is the appeal: no queues, low prices and a strong culture of its own, where most people speak Guaraní as well as Spanish. In seven days, start in Asunción, loop round the lake towns of the Circuito de Oro, head south to the 18th-century Jesuit missions, and finish at the Itaipú dam and the Iguazú Falls across the border. Distances are long but the buses are cheap.
Short answer
Five days covers Asunción, the Circuito de Oro and the missions near Encarnación. Seven adds Itaipú and a day at the Iguazú Falls.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Asunción: the historic centre and the Costanera
Morning. Start at the Palacio de López, the pink presidential palace on the bay, then walk 5 minutes to the Panteón Nacional de los Héroes, where national heroes lie under a dome guarded by soldiers (free). Visit the Casa de la Independencia, where independence was planned in 1811 (free).
Afternoon. See the Cathedral on the Plaza de la Independencia and the Manzana de la Rivera, a block of restored colonial houses with a small city museum. Walk out along the Costanera, the riverfront promenade.
Evening. Have dinner in the Villa Morra or Carmelitas districts, and drink your first tereré, cold yerba mate with herbs, which UNESCO added to its intangible heritage list in 2020.
Asunción is very hot from November to March, often above 35°C. Walk early and rest in the afternoon, as locals do.
Day 2: Mercado 4, the Museo del Barro and Loma San Jerónimo
Morning. Explore Mercado 4, the city's sprawling market, for medicinal herbs for tereré, leather and chipa sellers. Keep valuables close.
Afternoon. Take a taxi to the Museo del Barro, one of the best collections of indigenous, folk and contemporary art in South America (small fee or donation).
Evening. Walk up the painted steps of Loma San Jerónimo, a hillside barrio near the port, for small bars and views over the river at sunset.
Use Bolt or Uber in Asunción; most rides cost ₲15,000-40,000.
Day 3: The Circuito de Oro
Morning. Drive or tour east to Areguá on Lake Ypacaraí, about 45 minutes, a town of ceramics workshops and strawberry stalls in season. Continue to San Bernardino, the lakeside resort founded by German settlers.
Afternoon. Visit the Basilica of Caacupé, Paraguay's main pilgrimage church (huge crowds on 8 December), then Itauguá, where women make ñandutí, fine spiderweb lace.
Evening. On the way back, stop at Yaguarón for its 18th-century Franciscan church with a painted wooden interior, and return to Asunción.
A driver for the day costs roughly ₲500,000-800,000 per car; tours from Asunción are cheaper per person.
Day 4: South to Encarnación
Morning. Take a bus from Asunción's main terminal to Encarnación, about 5-6 hours (roughly ₲100,000-150,000); companies include La Encarnacena and NSA.
Afternoon. Encarnación, on the Paraná River opposite Posadas in Argentina, has a long Costanera with sandy river beaches.
Evening. Dinner on the Costanera. From late January to February, Encarnación holds Paraguay's biggest carnival.
Book a 'cama' seat on overnight or long buses; they recline almost flat for a small extra cost.
Day 5: The Jesuit missions of Trinidad and Jesús
Morning. Drive about 40 minutes to La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, the best-preserved of the Jesuit reductions, with carved angels playing instruments on the church frieze. A combined ticket for the missions is roughly ₲25,000-50,000.
Afternoon. Continue 12 km to Jesús de Tavarangüé, whose unfinished church was abandoned when the Jesuits were expelled in 1767.
Evening. Return to Trinidad after dark for the sound and light show among the ruins, usually around 19:00-20:00.
Stay at a guesthouse in Trinidad to see the show without driving back late.
Day 6: Ciudad del Este and the Itaipú dam
Morning. Bus north to Ciudad del Este, about 4-5 hours, the trading town on the Brazilian border.
Afternoon. Take a tour of the Itaipú dam, one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world, shared with Brazil (the panoramic tour is free; book the technical visit online).
Evening. Visit the Saltos del Monday, a 40-metre waterfall 10 km from the centre, before sunset.
Ciudad del Este's shopping streets are chaotic; watch your bag and avoid them after dark.
Day 7: The Iguazú Falls
Morning. Cross the Friendship Bridge to Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil, about 30-60 minutes depending on queues. Get your passport stamped.
Afternoon. Walk the trails of the Iguaçu National Park to the Devil's Throat viewing platform, about 2-3 hours (park fee about R$100, roughly ₲150,000-180,000).
Evening. Return to Paraguay, or fly home from Foz do Iguaçu or Asunción.
The Argentine side, in Puerto Iguazú, needs a full extra day; the Brazilian side gives the panorama in half a day.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, spend two in Asunción, one on the Circuito de Oro, and two around Encarnación for the missions.
Got extra days?
Add the Chaco, a vast dry plain with Mennonite colonies such as Filadelfia and wildlife including jaguars and giant anteaters, or the Ybycuí National Park waterfalls.
Where to stay in Paraguay
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Asunción centre / Encarnación | Hostels and simple hotels near the sights. | ₲200,000-350,000 |
| Mid-range | Villa Morra / Carmelitas (Asunción) | Safe, with restaurants and shopping centres. | ₲450,000-750,000 |
| Mid-range | Encarnación Costanera | Hotels by the river beaches. | ₲350,000-650,000 |
| Comfort | Asunción luxury hotels / San Bernardino | Business hotels in the east of the city, or lakeside resorts. | ₲900,000-1,800,000 |
Getting around
Long-distance buses leave from the Terminal de Ómnibus in Asunción and are cheap but slow. Car hire costs about ₲250,000-400,000 a day; roads are paved between the main cities. In Asunción, use Bolt or Uber. From Silvio Pettirossi Airport, the centre is about 30 minutes by taxi (roughly ₲100,000-150,000).
What to eat in Paraguay
Paraguayan food is built on corn, cassava and beef. Sopa paraguaya is not soup but a dense cornbread with cheese and onion; chipa guasu is its softer, fresh-corn cousin. Chipa, cheese-and-cassava rolls, are sold on every bus. Try vori vori, chicken soup with cornmeal balls, mbejú (cassava pancake), pastel mandi'o and asado on Sundays. Drink tereré all day. A set lunch costs ₲30,000-50,000, dinner ₲80,000-150,000.
Best time to visit
May to September is the mild season, with highs of 20-27°C, though cold fronts can bring nights near 5°C. Summer, from December to February, is very hot and humid, 33-40°C, with heavy storms. Carnival in Encarnación and the Caacupé pilgrimage on 8 December are the big events.
Month-by-month weather for Paraguay →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ₲150,000 | ₲350,000 | ₲700,000 |
| Food & drink | ₲100,000 | ₲200,000 | ₲400,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₲30,000 | ₲100,000 | ₲250,000 |
| Local transport | ₲50,000 | ₲120,000 | ₲300,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about ₲330,000 | about ₲770,000 | about ₲1,650,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Paraguayan guaraníes (roughly ₲7,500-8,000 to US$1); prices include 10% IVA, and the Iguazú park fee is paid in Brazilian reais.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Paraguay safe for tourists?
Paraguay is generally calm for visitors, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Take normal care in Asunción's centre at night, at Mercado 4 and in Ciudad del Este's shopping streets. Use ride-hailing apps at night, and carry a copy of your passport rather than the original.
Do people speak English in Paraguay?
Little, outside hotels and some tour companies. Spanish is spoken everywhere and Guaraní is the everyday language of most people, especially in the countryside. A few phrases of Spanish and a translation app make a big difference; Paraguayans are patient and helpful with visitors.
Can I visit the Iguazú Falls from Paraguay?
Yes. Ciudad del Este is about 30-60 minutes from Foz do Iguaçu, on the Brazilian side, across the Friendship Bridge. Most nationalities need only a passport, but check visa rules for Brazil and Argentina. Allow extra time for border queues on weekends.
What currency should I bring to Paraguay?
Use guaraníes. Notes go up to ₲100,000, so prices look large. US dollars are easy to exchange in Asunción and Ciudad del Este. ATMs work with foreign cards but often charge a fee per withdrawal, and cards are widely accepted in cities but less so in small towns.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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