Bella Vista
The colony Bella Vista was founded about 100 years ago by German immigrants. It is near the third largest river in the world, the Rio Parana. The district is best known for the cultivation of the mate tree, from which the Paraguayan national drink Teréré and mate are made. There are also former reductions of the Trinidad del Paraná Jesuits. The Guaraní Indians, under the guidance of Spanish Jesuits, set up large reductions in the 17th century, in which an extremely successful way of living together with what was then an extremely efficient agriculture and very high-quality artistic works was practiced. One of the largest and most impressive facilities from this time is the ruined city of Trinidad – a huge facility, which at the time was made up of defensive towers in the middle of an impenetrable jungle,
Ciudad del Este
The city of Ciudad del Este, which lies in the country triangle between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, was founded as a residential and shopping city for the workers of the nearby Itaipú dam and is now the second largest city in Paraguay. Today it is considered to be one of the largest trading centers in the world. As a result, the city center is characterized by trade and has the character of a bazaar because of the many stalls of outpatient traders. From the city you can cross the Friendship Bridge, which connects Paraguay with Brazil, to Foz de Iguazú. The largest waterfalls in the world flow in the midst of a picturesque landscape. The Iguazú waterfalls flow through a national park in the middle of the jungle. You can admire and explore the flora and fauna.
Asunción
Today’s capital Asunción was founded by the Spanish in 1537 on the left bank of the Río Paraguay. Today it has about 1.9 million residents. The city has a rich history, from Spanish colonial times to independence and the heyday under President López to the modern age. Sights include the “Casa de la Independencia”, the historic train station with the oldest railway in South America, the Pantheon, the Metropolitan Cathedral and other churches. In the vicinity of Asunción is Yaguarón, a province in which the Guaraní Indians under the supervision of the Franciscan monks built a baroque wooden church, which is exemplary of the architecture of the mission churches in the 18th century. And San Bernardino, a small town on Lake Ypacarai that was founded in 1881 by German immigrants.
Filadelfia
Filadelfia is located in the Gran Chaco, a savannah landscape that covers all of western Paraguay and extends south into Argentina and north into Bolivia. The city is the center of Fernheim, one of the largest Mennonite settlements in Paraguay. From the Mennonite colony you come to Fortín Boquerón – once the scene of one of the countless battles during the Chaco War, which was fought between Paraguay and Bolivia in 1932-35. The Laguna Capitan salt lagoon is also nearby. It is one of the many salt lakes in this region, where every year from May to September thousands of flamingos from the Andes come to winter. In the city is the Jakob Unger Museum, which tells the story of the first Mennonite immigrants.
Paraguay River
The incredible natural beauty of Paraguay is reflected in the Río Paraguay. The name of the river comes from the indigenous language of the Guarani Indians and is often translated as “source of the ocean” or sometimes as “parrot river”. The incomparable, colorful sunrises and sunsets on the Rio Paraguay and its countless tributaries are particularly worth seeing. If you are lucky you can see capybaras, peccaries, armadillos, anteaters and even tapirs and jaguars in Paraguay. Caimans also live in the rivers and various birds such as hummingbirds, colorful parrots and various species of toucans live in the forests. Nature lovers have countless opportunities to observe animals and discover the fascinating landscapes of Paraguay.
Frequently asked questions about Paraguay
What are the entry requirements for Paraguay?
For a stay of up to 90 days, German citizens must present a passport valid for the entire duration of the stay, the “international entry card” issued by the airline before landing and the form with the affidavit that no plants or animal foods and no Foreign currencies worth more than 10,000 USD are introduced. Visit computerdo for South America Tourism.
What vaccinations do you need to travel to Paraguay?
Travelers arriving from a country with yellow fever endemic areas must be able to provide proof of valid yellow fever vaccination on entry. Since yellow fever also occurs in Paraguay itself, proof of vaccination may also be required if you are (on) traveling to a third country. In addition, vaccination against yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, possibly whooping cough (pertussis) and hepatitis A is recommended for the stay in Paraguay, and against hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid for long-term stays over four weeks. We definitely recommend taking out health insurance abroad with repatriation.
