Things to Do in Paraguay

The best way to get a feel for Paraguay and its capital, Asuncion, is when the entire city erupts into life, and comes out to party in the street for February's Carnival.

Much of Paraguay is sparsely populated and crammed with incredible wildlife, but the Chaco is one of the most vast and beautiful wildernesses on earth. The area is of particular interest to bird-watchers, as it contains an almost unmatchable range of species.

Trained guides are on hand to a take you around this evocatively crumbling Jesuit mission. Also a UNESCO World Heritage site, the buildings remain incomplete following the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1762.

A veritable embarrassment of natural riches, this National Park was set up in the 1990s to combat deforestation, and is home to one of the world's most diverse collection of endangered species. Look out for the pre-Columbian caves, and the (slightly gruesome) stuffed animal display in the visitor center museum.

The largest hydroelectric plant in the world is well worth a look (and at nearly five miles long it's very difficult to miss!) Located at the Paraguay/Brazil border on the Upper Parana River, it took 18 years to build and is thought to have cost as much as a billion dollars.