The traveler who’s “seen it all” probably hasn’t seen Paraguay. This landlocked South American nation has enjoyed democracy since the dictator Alfredo Stroessner was overthrown in 1989. Though democracy has not dragged prosperity along with it, Paraguay experienced modest economic growth in recent years.
The upside of such humble economics is the lack of a rat race mentality in Paraguay. In the capital, Asuncion, one senses no great friction between the rich and poor. Crime is low compared to other South American countries, and crowds are not an issue. Facilities for tourism are not extensive or readily accessible, but wilderness is plentiful. The Paraguay River slices across the country in a north/south direction. Grassy plains and wooded hills cover the region east of the Paraguay River. To the west, in the Gran Chaco region, the population dwindles to one person for each 250,000 square kilometers. On the south rim of the country the Jesuit Mission of La Santisima Trinidad lies in haunting ruins, a testament to the workmanship of native craftsman whom the Jesuits recruited to build this jungle mission 300 years ago. The massive Iguazu Falls are a popular destination located where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay converge.