Paraguay, the heart of South America, offers a unique blend of Guaraní indigenous culture and Spanish colonial heritage. From the vibrant capital of Asunción along the Paraguay River to the historic Jesuit Missions and the stunning natural beauty of the Chaco region, this landlocked nation provides an authentic South American experience away from typical tourist crowds.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Itaugua
Itaugua is the historic center of nanduti lace-making, the intricate circular spiderweb lace that has become one of Paraguay's most recognized handicrafts. The town itself is small and low-key, built around a central plaza and a colonial-style church, and the real reason to come is to watch women working nanduti on embroidery frames in workshops and doorways around town. It is a short, easy trip that works well paired with another nearby stop rather than filling a whole day on its own.
Highlights: World-famous nanduti lacework workshops and artisan market · Colonial church of San Francisco de Asis · Local food stalls serving chipa and empanadas
Aregua
Aregua sits on the shore of Lake Ypacarai and is known for two things: pottery and strawberries. The town climbs a low hill above the lake, with a historic railway station and streets of ceramic workshops where the reddish local clay is worked into pots, planters, and figurines. It is a relaxed half-day trip, walkable, with lake views and a genuine small-town market atmosphere rather than a staged tourist stop.
Highlights: Picturesque colonial village with cobblestone streets · Ceramic workshops and artisan galleries · Lake Ypacarai boardwalk and fresh strawberry stalls
San Bernardino
San Bernardino is the traditional summer resort town on Lake Ypacarai, founded by German immigrants in the late 19th century and still showing that heritage in some of its older houses and street names. In the Paraguayan summer it fills with weekenders from Asuncion for the lake beaches and nightlife; outside that season it is much quieter, more a pleasant lakeside walk than an active resort. The appeal is the lake itself and the relaxed, faded-grandeur feel of the older parts of town.
Highlights: Lake Ypacarai beach and waterfront promenade · European-influenced colonial buildings and cafes · Water sports, kayaking, and boat rentals on the lake
Jesuit Missions of Trinidad and Jesus
Trinidad and Jesus are the two best-preserved Jesuit Guarani mission complexes in Paraguay, built in the early 18th century as part of the Jesuit reductions that organized Guarani communities around church, workshop, and communal living space before the Jesuits' expulsion in 1767. Trinidad is the more complete and atmospheric of the two, with substantial stone church walls, a surviving pulpit and bell tower, and carved stone reliefs still in place; Jesus, a shorter drive away, has a larger but unfinished church shell that shows how the buildings were actually constructed. Together they are Paraguay's UNESCO World Heritage sites and the single best physical record of the reduction system anywhere in the region.
Highlights: UNESCO World Heritage Site Jesuit ruins of Trinidad · Nearby Jesus de Tavarangue mission with intact archways · Museo Diocesano in Encarnacion for additional context
Yaguaron
Yaguaron is a small colonial town whose reason for visiting is essentially one building: the Franciscan church of San Buenaventura, one of the best-preserved examples of Guarani-Jesuit-influenced religious art in Paraguay, even though it was built by Franciscans rather than Jesuits. The wooden interior, carved and gilded by Guarani artisans, is strikingly dense and ornate compared to the plain adobe exterior, and the contrast is the whole point of the stop. It is a quick, focused visit rather than a place to spend a full day wandering.
Highlights: Magnificent 18th-century Franciscan mission church, one of Paraguay's finest · Museum of Dr. Francia, Paraguay's first ruler · Traditional Paraguayan village life and colonial architecture
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Asunción to Jesuit missions $80-120 including transport and guide
- Private
- Car hire from $40-60/day for independence and flexibility on longer routes
- Public
- Buses from Terminal Asunción serve all major day trip destinations: Itauguá $1, Areguá $1.50, San Bernardino $2, Caacupé $3
- Rental
- Car rental from Localiza, Avis, or Budget at Silvio Pettirossi Airport from $30-50/day for economy vehicles
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — leave Asunción before 8 AM for destinations over 100km to maximize time and avoid afternoon heat
The vintage Tren del Lago runs to Areguá on weekends — book ahead as seats sell out quickly
Combine Areguá and San Bernardino on the same day as they are only 15km apart on Lake Ypacaraí
Carry cash for entrance fees, food, and transport as ATMs are limited outside Asunción