South America Undiscovered
Tours to the Most Exotic Places all over South America
Organized Tours on Demand
Paraguay
The country will particularly appeal to travelers who have already been on larger, more varied South American destinations, but who are now ready to experience the more subtle attractions of the continent such as learning about the Guarani Indians, learning how Nanduti lace is made or watching of seeing a jaguar or alligator. In addition, Paraguay boasts breathtaking waterfalls where the borders of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meat. For all these reason, Paraguay is definitely a country worth discovering.
Paraguay is a small landlocked country, which has found itself somewhat isolated from even its neighbors in the past by geography and politics. It is one of the continent’s least densely populated countries, made up of mostly mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and Native American descent) but there is also a Japanese community, created by migration.
It achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865 – 1870) when Paraguay fought against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay – Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War between 1932-35 against Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region.
The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has relatively free and regular presidential elections ever since.
Although Paraguay is landlocked, the country is watered by numerous rivers, streams, and lakes, which are all part of the La Plata River Basin. The Guarani Aquifer, considered one of the biggest fresh water reserves of the planet, flows underground. The Paraguay and the Paraná Rivers, which are the main waterways, are evoked in traditional music and poetry.
