Paraguay

Bradt's Paraguay was the first standalone guidebook to the country published internationally, and this new fourth edition remains the most detailed guide available. Covering the whole of this little-explored South American nation, it complements the best-known sights with off-the-beaten track attractions well beyond the tourist trail, and throws in a cross-border excursion to adjacent Iguazú/Iguaçu Falls (one of the 'New 7 Wonders of Nature'). Sitting in the heart of South America, Paraguay takes the shape of a lopsided butterfly, its wings divided by the River Paraguay. Its western part is the Chaco - a wildlife-rich area of wetlands and arid woodland that reaches north to enter the famous Pantanal region. The eastern region is characterized by craft, music and campesino country life, with landscapes including savannahs and vestiges of Atlantic Forest. Starting in 1967, Paraguay was one of the US Peace Corps' first overseas postings: the program has brought more than 5,300 young people from the USA to live and work voluntarily in the country. Paraguay is perfect for the adventurous traveller who likes to be immersed in local culture and natural landscapes. Nature and ecclestiastical tourism are both rewarding, travelling is inexpensive, music and dance are widely enjoyed, and history centres on old Jesuit mission settlements. Then there are elements of intrigue: soccer, for example, is believed to have been invented in Paraguay's Jesuit missions during 1793. Written by a long-term resident who leads an educational charity and founded a small hotel run for community profit, and thoroughly updated by two seasoned travel writers who have worked on scores of guidebooks, this new edition reflects recent changes in Paraguay. There is greater coverage of ecotourism destinations such as Yacyreta, Yabebyry, Mbaracayú and Atinguy, while the capital Asunción features new museums such as the Centro Cultural de España Juan de Salazar. With everything from phone numbers of local keyholders to museums and churches to a map of how to reach remote waterfalls and advice on customs and etiquette, Bradt's Paraguay offers all the background information required for a successful trip to this gem of a South American country.