Exploring Paraguay was on my list from the beginning. But only after I started my travels through South America I realised that it’s an underrated country. Most of the travellers I’ve met before going told me there is no point in visiting that country. And since I will forever care for the underdog I wanted to visit it even more.
The whole month of September, I will share 30 stories with you. One story each day. You will find out how I travelled, what countries I called home and how many times I repeated a travel in the same place. But most importantly, you will get to know my comfort zone stories. Would you share yours?
If you like wilderness, untouched nature and challenges, Paraguay is your country! It’s difficult to navigate it if you don’t have a car, which I didn’t, but then I had a local showing me around. I would actually be curious to visit it again only to see if there are any changes. But my trip, yet again, was not without problems. I stayed mostly in the capital, Asuncion and Ciudad del Este, the border city.
My travels to Paraguay were during the same 8-month solo backpacking trip through South America. The first time was in November 2017 for only a few days, and the second time was in February-March 2018 for about ten days. Bee stung, visa issues, Couchsurfing goes bad, lying I am someone’s wife to see him in the hospital, the bridge between two countries and more stories from Paraguay on Travelling Inside Out. So much happened that I had to record 2 episodes.
Even though it has no opening to the sea, Paraguay has magical sunsets. And you know it by now, I found yet another spot where I could see Asuncion from up top. I still remember one day I went there all by myself and I noted down a few words about it.
This was the only sunset I’ve watched by myself (while being here) and it gave me a little more perspective of where I want to be and what steps I need to make in order to be happy. I get easily distracted and the serenity of a sunset always helps me to clear my head.
March 2018
Speaking of sunsets, Paraguay is part of Alina’s Wonders Sunsets of the World Collection. Check out the postcard limited edition. And if you join the monthly newsletter you can get 25% off your first purchase.
Coming from Uruguay, which is one of the most expensive SA countries, Paraguay felt very easy on my budget. I loved the food – four years later and I am still thinking about those yummy chipas. A sort of cheesy roll, but believe me like nothing you’ve ever tasted before! The barbecue was so good, and so much more. It’s safe to say trying the local food is on top of my list when visiting new places. Especially in Latino countries, they don’t mess around. I was also so excited to eat small bananas straight from the tree, too.
These kinds of moments are the ones I will keep the closest to my heart. Like the one in which I got to see how they prepare terere. Terere is an infusion of yerba mate specific in Paraguay. Unlike other countries, Paraguayans drink it cold during the summer. Because summers are insanely humid and hot. And that was not a pleasant thing for me, even though I tried to avoid the summer – it was still horrible to experience.
Have you ever travelled to an underrated country? How long would you stay there? Would you avoid it at all costs? Let me know in the comment below.
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