Did you ever play that recreation as a child the place you’d spin a globe, cease it along with your finger, and picture residing in no matter place you landed on?
Properly, that is precisely how I first discovered about Paraguay 20-something years in the past.
Paraguay was all the time a kind of “so random I noticed it on a globe” locations that I wished to go to sometime, regardless that I had no thought what was truly there. So when the possibility got here up whereas I used to be in South America, I figured what the hell, and booked a flight.
Here is what I noticed spending 72 hours in Asunción, Paraguay (that is the capital).
1.
First off, Paraguay is likely one of the least-visited international locations in South America. Some random website says it is the fourth least visited. It is principally smack dab in the midst of the continent, utterly landlocked, and I positively acquired a number of “The place the hell are you?” messages from individuals who have my location.
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Likewise, that makes the capital, Asunción, one of many least visited capital cities on the continent. That is likely to be altering, although! In 2025, Paraguay had the highest tourism progress charge in South America.
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Paraguay has its personal airline, Paranair (although it isn’t a government-owned nationwide provider). I’ve a particular place in my coronary heart for airways named after a rustic, so I used to be excited for this. It made for dramatic departing-the-plane image.
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The very first thing I observed was how Asunción may be very, very inexperienced. Like, there are tons and tons of timber.
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Paraguay was, full cease, the most well liked place I’ve ever been. I went in January, which is the center of their summer time, so I ought to have identified. However Jesus Christ, day by day felt like 100 levels by 10 a.m. I felt like I used to be in a real-life air fryer.
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Tereré is the quintessential Paraguayan drink made with yerba mate and ice-cold water that eveeeeeryone drinks. I am telling you, everybody, and always of the day.
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I am not joking, individuals carry their very own private water coolers for his or her tereré. Keys, pockets, telephone, and big-ass jug. It is an important Paraguayan accent.
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As for the style, I would say EXTREMELY refreshing and virtually just a little minty. I additionally let it steep for barely too lengthy, so I used to be BUZZZIN.
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Paraguay is a bilingual nation the place each Spanish and Guaraní are official languages, and most of the people, indigenous or not, truly converse each. It is one of many solely international locations on this planet where the vast majority of the inhabitants speaks an indigenous language.
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There are mangoes in all places in Asunción. Like, actually falling from the timber, on the bottom, EVERYWHERE.
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Mall tradition is THRIVING in Paraguay, and was positively a reliably air-conditioned place of refuge. It was on this journey that I lastly understood the attraction of mall-walking.
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RadioShack nonetheless exists right here.
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I discovered this “American Retailer” within the mall, they usually had been promoting this shirt:
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Now, let’s discuss Paraguayan meals as a result of that is my shit.
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The 2 most well-known eating places in Asunción are Bolsi and Lido Bar. Each are looong-standing establishments identified for his or her conventional Paraguayan dishes.
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My private favourite was Lido Bar. I may have eaten right here day by day. The meals, the service, the vibe. I used to be residing. Now, let’s get into particulars. It immediately, and I am not exaggerating, grew to become one in all my favourite eating places on this planet!!
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Lido Bar has been open since 1953, and after many years simply moved into a brand new spot. The restaurant itself may be very a lot diner vibes, the place you seize a seat on the counter and watch the waiters divvy out all these candy, candy (and in addition savory) Paraguayan treats.
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Meals-wise, I’ve to shout out the OG Paraguayan staple: sopa paraguaya. Sure, it is technically translated to “Paraguayan soup,” nevertheless it’s not soup in any respect. It is like a thick cornbread.
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As somebody who completely loves cornbread, this was the meals I used to be most excited to strive in Paraguay. It turned out to be scrumptious. The portion was additionally big, and now that I give it some thought, each meal I had in Paraguay was yuge.
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One other must-try is a soup known as Bori Bori. I do know, soup in summer time is chaotic, however you gotta do that one. The soup had catfish in it due to the Paraguay River. I by no means had *river fish* earlier than (TBF I by no means even knew ‘river fish’ was a factor), however no complaints. A strong 9/10.
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My absolute favourite factor at Lido Bar had been the empanadas. These had been TOP TOP TOP tier. 100/10.
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One thing I utterly didn’t count on, because it virtually by no means occurs exterior the US, was that in Paraguay, I used to be served water with ice. Sure, precise ice.
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The principle *it* attraction, just like the constructing you see in photos whenever you search “Asunción,” is the pink home.
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The opposite predominant factor in Asunción is the Paraguay River (fifth largest river in South America!). There is a boardwalk known as the Costanera de Asunción stretching alongside the riverbank, and I may solely make it down right here within the night as a result of, like I mentioned, it was scorching as all hell.
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I would additionally like to provide a shoutout to a few of the parks. My favourite factor to do in a brand new metropolis is to take a look at the inexperienced areas, and there have been some fairly good ones.
Right here is an attention-grabbing rubbish receptacle I discovered:
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The downtown space of Asunción has a bunch of historic buildings and colonial structure, nevertheless it additionally has some deserted ones that give the realm a really The Last of Us vibe. I do know that may sound unappealing to a few of you, however the juxtaposition was one thing.
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The principle avenue in downtown Asunción is Calle Palma. That is the place I discovered this factor.
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One factor to remember in Asunción is that the sidewalks are principally an impediment course. Step improper and it’s recreation over, so PAY ATTENTION.
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One other factor I stored on seeing in Asunción had been these individuals/issues/creatures. I don’t know who or what these items are…however I am certain somebody within the feedback will inform me lol.
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Now, let’s speak drinks. There’s nothing extra I like than comfort retailer beverage part in a special nation, and let me let you know: Paraguay doesn’t disappoint on this division. Guaraná drinks are very fashionable right here, they usually have some glorious sugar-free varieties.
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One other attention-grabbing bev I noticed in all places was tonic water. As somebody with a wierd affinity for uncooked tonic water (no gin), I liked to see it.
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Shoutout to the surprisingly new Biggie comfort shops. It is like their CVS.
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I do know this would possibly sound bizarre, however I like a cemetery. Asunción has a extremely *neat* one proper in the midst of the town. The Recoleta Cemetery looks like a (literal) metropolis of the useless.
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Sadly, a few of it’s in disrepair. That is a human cranium.
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Paraguay is fairly flat and caught proper in the midst of South America (duh, I instructed you this), so individuals prefer to joke that it’s the Kansas of the continent. Clearly, there aren’t dramatic mountains or coastlines, however there’s one thing actually cool about all of that vast open house. I wished to take a look at extra than simply the capital, so we rented a automotive for the day to test it out.
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I like a hike, and I discovered one on a “hill” about an hour from Asunción at a spot known as Cerro Hu. That scrappy hike actually gave me a way for *simply how large and huge* this place is.
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I used to be additionally the sweatiest I’ve ever been in my life. Drenched! However I did see a huge lizard I named Suzie Toot.
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One other city we visited was Areguá, a *charming* little place identified for its artsy vibe, colourful (and peculiar) pottery, and lake views.
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The pottery…was…one thing…lol.
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Now, let’s discuss Ypacaraí Lake. Yeah, it’s polluted, however truthfully, nonetheless beautiful. We noticed it in San Bernardino, which I’m fairly certain is Asunción’s model of the Hamptons.
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Lastly, and this is likely to be probably the most random factor, it simply made me chuckle. These Christmas tree fabric decorations had been in all places. I am guessing it is a kind of “Christmas in heat locations” issues. An actual trade-off whenever you’re celebrating Christmas in the summertime.
And that, of us, was my journey to Paraguay, a real bucket checklist vacation spot I used to be pleasantly shocked by (particularly the meals). Though it was only a few days, I got here away with far more than I anticipated: colourful cities, lake getaways, shock ice cubes in my water, and sidewalks that fairly actually stored me on my toes. And sure, I’ll be dreaming of sopa paraguaya for a very long time to return. <3
Thanks for studying one other version of “Fave Stops with Matt” (that’s what that is lol). It’s a sequence about my favourite locations on this planet. Final week, I wrote concerning the Faroe Islands, the week earlier than that the Upper Peninsula, and subsequent week I’ll be writing about Mars. Thanks to your time. XO.
