Paraguay and Iguazu Falls, Together
Asuncion, Golden Circuit, Jesuit Missions, Encarnacion, Iguazu
9 Days / 8 Nights
Unexpected culture, cuisine, and nature combined
Paraguay is a South American travel destination with a lot to offer. This land-locked country has a rich cultural history and colonial past, biodiversity, pretty national parks and a proud food scene, too. You’ll visit them all on this tour that combines the best of Paraguay and mighty Iguazu Falls, on both the Argentine and Brazilian sides. Starting in the capital, Asunción, the highlights and hotspots, restaurants and shops of the city await. Next comes a tour of Paraguay’s Jesuit ruins and churches, rural settlements and countryside. There will be culture, nature and wildlife along the way, before a climax at the magnificent Iguazu Falls and a tour of the wider national park for an unexpected journey to one of South America’s lesser-visited vacation destinations.
Activities:
Destinations
- Asuncion
- Golden Circuit
- Jesuit Missions
- Encarnacion
- Ciudad de Este
- Saltos del Monday
- Itaipu
- Iguazu
Highlights
- Explore the bustling city of Asunción with its restaurant scene, shopping arcades and cultural sites.
- Discover the Jesuit history of the country with a tour of some of Paraguay’s finest Jesuit ruins and churches.
- Take a tour of Paraguay’s Golden Circuit to witness cultural heritage and scenic landscapes.
- Be treated to lesser-visited South American sites, wildlife, and scenic national parks throughout.
- Feel the force of Mother Earth at Iguazu Falls.
- See Iguazu from above in a spectacular overflight, as well as exploring the wider national park.
Gallery
You won’t believe your eyes. Every trip to Paraguay and the Iguazu National Park is unique and your pictures will be too. Get amazed by the people, sites, colors, and textures of these incredible destinations.
Get in touch
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THE ROUTE
- Day 1: Asuncion
- Day 2: Asuncion
- Day 3: Golden Circuit
- Day 4: Jesuit Missions/Encarnacion
- Day 5: Jesuit Missions/Ciudad del Este
- Day 6: Saltos Monday/Itaipu/Iguazu
- Day 7: Iguazu Falls – Brazil
- Day 8: Iguazu Falls – Argentina
- Day 9: Iguazu/Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 | Asuncion
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.
Day 2 | Asuncion
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 | Golden Circuit
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.
Day 4 | Jesuit Missions/Encarnacion
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.
Day 5 | Jesuit Missions/Ciudad del Este
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 | Saltos Monday/Itaipu/Iguazu
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.
Day 7 | Iguazu Falls - Brazil
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.
Day 8 | Iguazu Falls - Argentina
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.
Day 9 | Iguazu/Departure
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.
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