Upon arrival at Asunción International Airport, you’ll be met by an Atelier concierge who will help with your bags before escorting you to your hotel for check-in, and the rest of the day at leisure.

Your first full day in Paraguay’s capital city includes a tour of Asunción, and its many highlights. A walking tour of Asunción gives you a great view of the city’s cultural heritage, including colonial buildings dating back to the 16th century. Along the way, stops include Palacio de López and the Independence House Museum, Asunción Cathedral and the National Pantheon of Heroes. Tonight, make the most of Asunción’s vibrant and lively foodie scene at one of the many food halls and restaurants around town.

Day 3 of your Paraguay and Iguazu tour takes in the Golden Circuit, a charming cultural route that includes traditional towns, local artisans, and serene surrounding countryside. Travelling the Golden Circuit with your guide, you’ll visit the town of Itá and its pottery workshops followed by the remote village of Yaguarón, where a beautifully painted colonial-era church is the central highlight. Next comes the small towns of Pirayú and Caacupé which have their own colonial heritage, before the lakeside settlements of San Bernardino and Aregua for a scenic end to the afternoon. There will be time to stop at lively Luque before an evening at leisure in Asunción.

Today, explore Paraguay’s links to Jesuit Missionaries with a private tour of the country’s 17th and 18th- century sites. Your guide will take you to the atmospheric ruins of San Ignacio Guazú, a large complex surrounded by forest and open countryside, and the impressive UNESCO World Heritage site of La Santísima Trinidad del Paraná, near Encarnación. Having discovered both sites with your guide, time can then be spent in the riverside city of Encarnación itself, before an evening at leisure.

Enjoy a further exploration of Paraguay’s Jesuit ruins on day 5, beginning at the colonial church of San Cosme y Damián with its imposing walls, columns and archways set in rolling countryside. Next up is the impressive Jesús de Tavarangue Church, which has been remarkably well preserved and brings the 17th century back to life, followed by a drive to the busy riverside city of Ciudad del Este, known for its shopping arcades, restaurants and mix of Argentine, Brazilian and Paraguayan cultures.

Day 6 of this Paraguay and Iguazu Falls adventure takes in a mix of manmade and natural wonders, beginning at the Itaipu Dam – a vast hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River between Brazil and Paraguay. Itaipu produces more energy than any dam of its type in the world, and is a marvel of engineering. From Itaipu, head to the beautiful waterfalls of Saltos del Monday, a thunderous – and lesser-visited – set of waterfalls that sets the scene for your next and final stop, the magnificent Iguazu Falls. You’ll cross from Paraguay to Brazil via the bridge at Puente de la Amistad, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in your hotel.

The Iguazu Falls National Park is a true marvel of Mother Earth, and you’ll see both the serene nature and spectacular falls during two full days of exploration. Begin with a nature walk through the park’s many trails, on the lookout for native bird species, Coatis, and even Black Capuchin Monkeys, with the Iguazu River and falls never far away. After lunch comes an unforgettable experience, as you take to the air with an overflight above Iguazu Falls. From this birds-eye view, the vastness of Iguazu National Park and force of the falls themselves can only be admired. This evening, enjoy a Brazilian gastronomic experience in the company of a local chef.

Fresh from your exhilarating flight over Iguazu Falls yesterday, day 8 continues with a further exploration of the wider Iguazu National Park and its rich biodiversity. Today you’ll visit the Argentinian side of the falls, beginning with a gentle stroll through the forest that lines the Iguazu River. Your personal guide will lead you along walking trails to a series of elevated viewpoints/platforms, including above the infamous Devil’s Throat where 14 formidable drops converge with unimaginable power – an incredible sight. For something a little more laidback you have the option of a tango show and dinner this evening, a true cultural experience in Argentina.

As your trip comes to a close, an Atelier concierge will take you to your chosen international airport on either the Brazilian or Argentina side of Iguazu in time for your onward flight home, full of priceless memories of Paraguay and Iguazu.