Did you ever play that recreation as a child the place you’d spin a globe, cease it along with your finger, and picture dwelling in no matter place you landed on?
Well, that is precisely how I first came upon about Paraguay 20-something years in the past.
Paraguay was at all times a type of “so random I saw 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’s what I noticed spending 72 hours in Asunción, Paraguay (that is the capital).
1.
First off, Paraguay is among the least-visited nations in South America. Some random website says it is the fourth least visited. It’s principally smack dab in the midst of the continent, fully landlocked, and I positively obtained a number of “Where 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 may be altering, although! In 2025, Paraguay had the highest tourism progress price 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 an excellent dramatic departing-the-plane image.
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The very first thing I seen was how Asunción could 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. But Jesus Christ, daily 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’m telling you, everybody, and always of the day.
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I’m not joking, individuals carry their very own private water coolers for his or her tereré. Keys, pockets, telephone, and big-ass jug. It’s a necessary Paraguayan accent.
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As for the style, I’d say EXTREMELY refreshing and nearly 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’s one of many solely nations on the earth where the vast majority of the inhabitants speaks an indigenous language.
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There are mangoes all over the place 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 enchantment of mall-walking.
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RadioShack nonetheless exists right here.
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I discovered this “American Store” within the mall, they usually have 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 two most well-known eating places in Asunción are Bolsi and Lido Bar. Both 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 daily. The meals, the service, the vibe. I used to be dwelling. Now, let’s get into particulars. It immediately, and I’m not exaggerating, turned one in all my favourite eating places on the earth!!
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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 could 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 likewise savory) Paraguayan treats.
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Food-wise, I’ve to shout out the OG Paraguayan staple: sopa paraguaya. Yes, it is technically translated to “Paraguayan soup,” nevertheless it’s not soup in any respect. It’s 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 enormous, and now that I give it some thought, each meal I had in Paraguay was yuge.
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Another must-try is a soup known as Bori Bori. I do know, soup in summer time is chaotic, however you gotta do this 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 stable 9/10.
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My absolute favourite factor at Lido Bar have been the empanadas. Those have been TOP TOP TOP tier. 100/10.
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Something I fully didn’t count on, because it nearly by no means occurs exterior the US, was that in Paraguay, I used to be served water with ice. Yes, precise ice.
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The foremost *it* attraction, just like the constructing you see in photos if you search “Asunción,” is the pink home.
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The different foremost factor in Asunción is the Paraguay River (fifth largest river in South America!). There’s 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 sizzling as all hell.
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I’d additionally like to present a shoutout to a number 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.
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 which may sound unappealing to a few of you, however the juxtaposition was one thing.
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The foremost avenue in downtown Asunción is Calle Palma. That’s 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 flawed and it’s recreation over, so PAY ATTENTION.
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Another factor I saved on seeing in Asunción have been these individuals/issues/creatures. I do not know who or what this stuff are…however I’m positive somebody within the feedback will inform me lol.
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Now, let’s speak drinks. There’s nothing extra I really like than an excellent comfort retailer beverage part in a unique nation, and let me let you know: Paraguay doesn’t disappoint on this division. Guaraná drinks are highly regarded right here, they usually have some glorious sugar-free varieties.
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Another attention-grabbing bev I noticed all over the place was tonic water. As somebody with an odd affinity for uncooked tonic water (no gin), I beloved to see it.
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Shoutout to the surprisingly new Biggie comfort shops. It’s like their CVS.
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I do know this would possibly sound bizarre, however I really like a cemetery. Asunción has a very *neat* one proper in the midst of the town. The Recoleta Cemetery appears like a (literal) metropolis of the lifeless.
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Unfortunately, a few of it’s in disrepair. That’s 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. Obviously, there aren’t dramatic mountains or coastlines, however there’s one thing actually cool about all of that huge open area. I wished to take a look at extra than simply the capital, so we rented a automobile for the day to test it out.
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I really 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 huge and huge* this place is.
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I used to be additionally the sweatiest I’ve ever been in my life. Drenched! But I did see a huge lizard I named Suzie Toot.
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Another city we visited was Areguá, a *charming* little place identified for its artsy vibe, colourful (and bizarre) 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 attractive. We noticed it in San Bernardino, which I’m fairly positive is Asunción’s model of the Hamptons.
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Lastly, and this may be probably the most random factor, it simply made me chortle. These Christmas tree material decorations have been all over the place. I’m guessing it is a type of “Christmas in warm places” issues. An actual trade-off if you’re celebrating Christmas in the summertime.
And that, of us, was my journey to Paraguay, a real bucket record vacation spot I used to be pleasantly shocked by (particularly the meals). Even although 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 saved me on my toes. And sure, I’ll be dreaming of sopa paraguaya for a very long time to return. <3
Thank you 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 the earth. Last week, I wrote concerning the Faroe Islands, the week earlier than that the Upper Peninsula, and subsequent week I’ll be writing about Mars. Thank you to your time. XO.