7-Day Paraguay Off-Track: Chaco Wildlife & Southern Wetlands

Tour Overview

Discover the hidden gem of South America on this 7-day off-track adventure through Paraguay, from the vibrant capital of Asunción to the wild Gran Chaco with its unique wildlife, the stunning Jesuit Missions, the impressive Itaipu Dam, and the breathtaking Iguazu Falls. Experience the rich culture, stunning natural beauty, and warm hospitality of this least-visited country in South America.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Asunción

Arrive at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (Asunción). Transfer to your hotel. Explore Asunción, the capital and largest city of Paraguay, one of the oldest cities in South America (founded in 1537), with its unique blend of colonial architecture, modern buildings, and vibrant street life. Visit the Plaza de los Héroes (the main square, with the Palacio de los López (the presidential palace, a beautiful pink palace with its stunning architecture), the Panteón Nacional de los Héroes (the national pantheon, a beautiful neoclassical building honoring the heroes of Paraguay), and the Catedral Metropolitana (the metropolitan cathedral). Visit the Casa de la Independencia (the House of Independence, a historic house where the independence of Paraguay was planned in 1811), the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (the National Museum of Fine Arts), and the Mercado 4 (a bustling market with its fresh produce, food stalls, and local crafts). Walk along the Costanera (the riverside promenade along the Paraguay River) and visit the Bahía de Asunción. Evening welcome dinner with Paraguayan cuisine including sopa paraguaya (a savory corn bread, the national dish), chipa (cheese bread), bori-bori (chicken soup with cornmeal dumplings), asado (grilled meat), and tereré (a cold herbal drink, similar to mate, the national drink of Paraguay). Overnight in Asunción.

Day 2: Asunción to Gran Chaco

Morning drive from Asunción into the Gran Chaco (approximately 2-3 hours), one of the largest and wildest wilderness areas in South America, a vast region of dry forests, savannas, wetlands, and deserts spanning parts of Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil. The Paraguayan Chaco is the least populated and most untouched part, with its unique wildlife and stunning landscapes. Visit the Defensores del Chaco National Park (one of the largest national parks in South America, with its dry forests, savannas, and unique wildlife including the Chacoan peccary (a rare species of pig-like mammal, thought to be extinct until rediscovered in the Chaco in 1975), the giant anteater, the maned wolf, the puma, the jaguar, the ocelot, the tapir, the armadillo, and many species of birds including the great rheas, the jabiru stork, and the Chaco chachalaca). Take a guided safari drive through the park, looking for wildlife and enjoying the stunning landscapes of the dry Chaco forest. Visit the park headquarters and the museum. After lunch, continue exploring the Chaco, visiting the various ecosystems and looking for wildlife. Visit the nearby indigenous communities (the Chaco is home to several indigenous groups including the Guaraní, the Enxet, the Nivaclé, and the Ayoreo, some of the last uncontacted indigenous groups in the world). Learn about their traditional culture and way of life. Evening stay at a ranch or lodge in the Chaco. Enjoy a traditional Paraguayan asado (barbecue) dinner. Overnight in the Gran Chaco.

Day 3: Gran Chaco Wildlife & Wetlands

Full day exploring the Gran Chaco. Early morning game drive (the best time to see wildlife, with the animals being most active at dawn and dusk). Look for the Chacoan peccary, the giant anteater, the maned wolf, the pampas deer, the guanaco, the rhea, and many species of birds. Visit the wetlands and lagoons in the Chaco, which are teeming with wildlife including caimans, capybaras, herons, storks, ibises, and flamingos. Take a boat ride or walk through the wetlands, enjoying the stunning scenery and the abundant wildlife. After lunch, visit the Teniente Agripino Enciso National Park (another beautiful national park in the Chaco, with its stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and the famous Boquerón (a canyon with its stunning rock formations and the site of a famous battle during the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia in the 1930s). Visit the historic sites of the Chaco War, including the fortifications, trenches, and museums documenting the war (the Chaco War was one of the bloodiest wars in South American history, fought between Paraguay and Bolivia over control of the Chaco region from 1932 to 1935). Visit the town of Filadelfia (the main town in the Paraguayan Chaco, founded by Mennonite immigrants in the 1930s, with its unique Mennonite culture, beautiful farms, and the museum documenting the history of the Mennonite settlement in the Chaco). Visit the Mennonite farms and learn about their agriculture and way of life. Evening return to the ranch or lodge. Dinner with local cuisine. Overnight in the Gran Chaco.

Day 4: Gran Chaco to Ciudad del Este & Iguazu Falls

Morning drive from the Gran Chaco back towards Asunción, then continue to Ciudad del Este (approximately 4-5 hours total), the second-largest city in Paraguay, located on the border with Brazil and Argentina, at the confluence of the Paraná and Iguazu rivers. Ciudad del Este is known for its bustling commerce, its duty-free shopping, and its proximity to the famous Itaipu Dam and Iguazu Falls. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. Visit the Itaipu Dam (one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world, a massive dam on the Paraná River shared by Paraguay and Brazil, with its 20 turbines generating enough electricity to power 90% of Paraguay and 15% of Brazil, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World according to the American Society of Civil Engineers). Take a guided tour of the dam, visiting the observation points, the turbine hall, and the museum, and learn about the construction and operation of this engineering marvel. Visit the nearby Bela Vista Biological Refuge (a protected area near the dam with its beautiful nature and wildlife). Evening explore Ciudad del Este and enjoy dinner with Paraguayan and Brazilian cuisine. Overnight in Ciudad del Este.

Day 5: Iguazu Falls (Brazil & Argentina sides)

Full day visiting the breathtaking Iguazu Falls (Iguaçu Falls in Portuguese), one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, located on the border between Brazil and Argentina. The falls consist of 275 individual waterfalls spanning 2.7 kilometers, with the most famous being the Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), a U-shaped cataract where 50% of the river’s flow plunges 82 meters into a narrow canyon. Start the day on the Brazilian side (in Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park), which offers the best panoramic views of the falls. Walk along the trails and observation platforms, enjoying the stunning views of the entire waterfall system, with the mist rising from the falls and the rainbows forming in the spray. Take the elevator down to the lower observation platform for up-close views of the falls. Visit the Parque das Aves (Bird Park), a beautiful bird sanctuary near the falls with its toucans, macaws, flamingos, and other tropical birds. After lunch, cross into Argentina to visit the Argentine side of the falls (in Argentina’s Iguazú National Park), which offers closer views and the ability to walk along the top of the falls. Walk along the upper and lower trails, visiting the various waterfalls and observation points. Take the train to the Devil’s Throat station, then walk along the boardwalk to the edge of the Devil’s Throat, where you can stand right at the edge of the massive waterfall, feeling the power of the water and the mist on your face. Optional: take the Gran Aventura (Great Adventure) boat ride, which takes you right up to the base of the waterfalls for a thrilling and wet experience. Evening return to Ciudad del Este. Dinner with local cuisine. Overnight in Ciudad del Este.

Day 6: Ciudad del Este to Encarnación & Jesuit Missions

Morning drive from Ciudad del Este to Encarnación (approximately 3-4 hours), a beautiful city in southern Paraguay on the banks of the Paraná River, known as the Pearl of the South, with its beautiful beaches, warm climate, and proximity to the famous Jesuit Missions of Paraguay. Upon arrival, visit the Jesús de Tavarangue Jesuit Mission (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the best-preserved Jesuit reductions in Paraguay, a beautiful mission founded in 1685, with its stunning ruins including the massive church (unfinished, intended to be one of the largest churches in the Americas), the bell tower, the cloister, the workshops, and the houses of the indigenous Guaraní people who lived in the mission). Visit the museum at the site, which documents the history of the Jesuit missions in Paraguay. After lunch, visit the Trinidad del Paraná Jesuit Mission (another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest and best-preserved of the Jesuit missions in Paraguay, founded in 1706, with its stunning ruins including the massive church with its beautiful stone carvings, the cloister, the plaza, the workshops, and the houses, often called the Machu Picchu of Paraguay for its beauty and scale). Take a guided tour of the ruins, learning about the history of the Jesuit reductions (the Jesuit missions were unique settlements established by the Jesuit order in the 17th and 18th centuries to convert and protect the indigenous Guaraní people, creating autonomous communities with their own churches, schools, workshops, and farms, until the Jesuits were expelled from the Spanish Empire in 1767). Visit the nearby town of Hohenau (a beautiful town founded by German and Austrian immigrants, with its unique culture and beautiful farms) and the San Rafael National Park (a beautiful national park with its Atlantic Forest, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife). Evening return to Encarnación. Visit the beautiful beaches of Encarnación (Playa San José and Playa Carmen) and enjoy the warm climate. Dinner with local cuisine. Overnight in Encarnación.

Day 7: Encarnación to Asunción & Departure

Morning free for last-minute exploration of Encarnación or a final visit to the beaches. Visit the Costanera de Encarnación (the beautiful riverside promenade along the Paraná River) and the Plaza de Armas (the main square). After breakfast, drive or fly back to Asunción (approximately 3-4 hours by car or 1 hour by flight). Upon arrival in Asunción, do some last-minute shopping for Paraguayan products including ñandutí (a beautiful traditional lacework, a specialty of Paraguay), ao poi (traditional woven cotton fabric), tereré cups and bombillas (the traditional metal straws used for drinking mate and tereré), Paraguayan rum, and local crafts. Visit the Mercado 4 or the shopping malls for souvenirs. Transfer to Silvio Pettirossi International Airport for your departure flight. Concluding your 7-day Paraguay off-track adventure.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses