East of Asunción

V!VA User‘s Description

The portion of Paraguay east of Asuncíon is rich in culture, wildlife, historical buildings and towns and waterfalls.

An attractive jumping-off point for excursions on the Paraná River, the Ciudad del Este has a significant population of Brazilian, Korean and Japanese immigrants, which is reflected in the cuisine. The Puente de Amistad (Friendship Bridge) is a great spot for views of the city. It links Paraguay to Brazil. Ciudad del Este is one of the biggest shopping centers in Latin America, especially for electrical goods, watches and perfume. The Avenida San Blas is the main drag for shopping. Beware of exchange rates if this is one of your first stops in Paraguay as restaurants and hotels tend to take advantage of tourists' ignorance and will raise prices at the drop of a hat.

The Iguazú Falls are not in Paraguay but are easily reached from the Ciudad del Este over the 90 m (300 ft) Puente de Amistad. The falls are made up of 475 cascades over 3 km (almost 2 mi) and are best seen from the Devil’s Throat on the Argentine side to the south. The best time to see the falls are from October – December or from March – May.

The Guaíra Falls are a half-day boat ride from the famous Iguazú Falls and worth the journey: they are twice the height of Niagara Falls at 40 m (130 ft). The falls are located due north of Ciudad del Este on the border with Brazil.

The Jesuit missions southwest of Asunción in Trinidad, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are set on a hilltop and feature lovely Jesuit churches, colleges, workshops and some indigenous living quarters. The grounds are open from 07:00 to 19:00 October – May and from 07:00 to 17:30 April – September and cost around 0.20 USD