Caravana Pan Americana: Paraguay southbound

Paraguay Southbound

This portion of the route was prepared by Ron Lussier. Please contact him if you have any suggestions for Paraguay.

Paraguay is one of two land-locked countries in South America, being surrounded by Brasil, Argentina, and Bolivia. Nearly 61% of the country is the Chaco, a flat infertile plain. We'll cross Paraguay from Foz do Iguaçu westwards to Asunción:

Day: Destination: Km: Comments:

30 Nov

Ciudad del Este

20

Crossing into Paraguay today across the Paraná on the 500 meter 'Friendship Bridge'. We'll stay in the vicinity of this border town, just in case the crossing paperwork takes up most of the day. Ciudad del Este is a huge market town for Argentinians and Brasilians seeking bargains.

Crossing the bridge, the South American Handbook warns that you should be careful to get the correct stamps, as the police often wave people right through. Also, keep an eye on your luggage.

Unfortunately, Cuidad del Este is supposedly not a terribly pleasant town. (Eduardo describes it as "a city of traders and smugglers, it is very crowded and suspected of be a terrorism and narcotrafic center. A headache for Argentina and Brasil goverments.") We'll try to find camping off Route 7 west of town.

1 Dec

Villarrica

237

Continuing west on Route 7, we'll turn south at Coronel Oviedo and drive 42 km to Villarrica, a pleasant friendly town set on a hillside with orange trees. In the Plaza de los Héroes is a battle-by-battle description of the Chaco War (walking clockwise around the perimeter.) The town has horse-drawn taxis!

We'll try to stay at Ybytyruzú, on the Avenue López y Dr Bottell (T 2390) or the Plaza on the Mcal López.

2 Dec

Paraguari

115

This small town is located at the foot of a series of hills with many streams. 15 km to the northeast is Chololó, which has a small but attractive series of waterfalls and bathing pools. We may stay in either place, depending on which looks better.

3 Dec

Asunción

70

Today we arrive in the capital and largest city in Paraguay, containing 1/4 of the national population.

We'll try to camp 5 km from Asunción at the appropriately-named Restaurant Westfalia (T 331772). The owner speaks english, french, and german and knows the area well. It's noisy, but there are hot showers and clothes washing facilities. Take the Avenue Moreno towards Ciudad del Este, turn right after going under two bridges into General Santos, and the Restaurant Westfalia is 3 km down the road.

In Asunción there is a rather unique Volkswagen representative for South America... they carry some Vanagon parts! They provided of parts and service to the Vanagons of the Paraguay Postal Service in the past. Now, the postal service don't use Vanagons any more and the parts are vanishing.

     DIESA S.A.
     Av. Dr. Eusebio Ayala
     Km 4 y 1/2 Asunción
     (595) 21 503 921

DIESA also has a branch in Ciudad del Este and Encarnación.

4 Dec

Asunción

Second day in Asunción.

5 Dec

Cross into Argentina.

Total kilometers:

442