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Wooden pier on Lake Ypacaraí at sunset in San Bernardino
Paraguay · a guide for newcomers

Paraguay: live, invest, do business and visit

Guides with sources and dates, organised around what you are coming to do. Pick a path and open the topics that matter to you.

Photo: Cmasi, CC0

Path · 4 guides

Getting to know Paraguay

A first trip before you decide: regions, cities, heritage and what to look at while you travel.

Geography

The regions, departments and rivers that shape the country.

Cities and regions

One country, many cities

The Paraguay River splits the country into two regions: the Eastern Region, home to most people, and the Western Region, or Chaco. Read the cities guide

Location map of Paraguay with its regions and cities Western Region(Chaco) Eastern Region Paraguay River Paraná River 1 Asunción 2 Greater Asunción 3 Encarnación 4 Ciudad del Este 5 San Bernardino 6 Pedro Juan Caballero 7 Filadelfia
Location sketch, not to scale.

Capital and metro area

Our Lady of the Rosary church facing the tree-lined square in Luque

2Department Central

Greater Asunción

Neighbouring cities around the capital, each with its own municipality.

  • Luque259,705
  • Capiatá236,999
  • San Lorenzo225,395
  • Limpio139,652
  • Lambaré127,150
  • Fernando de la Mora110,255
  • Mariano Roque Alonso85,133

South and east · Paraná River

Sunset over the Paraná River from Encarnación's waterfront, pier in silhouette

3Department Itapúa

Encarnación

106,842 people

On the Paraná River, linked to Posadas (Argentina) by the San Roque González de Santa Cruz bridge. Riverfront, beaches and the «National Carnival Capital».

Arch of the Friendship Bridge over the Paraná River framed by trees, Ciudad del Este

4Department Alto Paraná

Ciudad del Este

325,819 people

Founded in 1957 alongside the Friendship Bridge to Brazil over the Paraná River. A regional shopping hub.

Cordillera

Lake Ypacaraí seen from the green hills of San Bernardino, with palm trees

5Department Cordillera

San Bernardino

12,216 people

On the shores of Lake Ypacaraí, about 50 km from Asunción. One of the country's main summer resorts.

North

Avenida Teniente Herrero, Pedro Juan Caballero's main tree-lined avenue

6Department Amambay

Pedro Juan Caballero

127,437 people

Capital of a department on the Brazilian border, 452 km from Asunción.

Chaco · Western Region

Wide street in Filadelfia with a bottle tree and rows of trees, Paraguayan Chaco

7Department Boquerón

Filadelfia

20,595 people

In the heart of the Chaco, founded by Mennonite settlers.

Population: INE, 2022 Census, Table A1. Descriptions: Visit Paraguay (SENATUR) and the City of Encarnación. Checked on 27 Oct 2026.

Paraguay in figures · More figures

6,109,903people

4,215,101in urban areas

Asuncióncapital

17 + Capitaldepartments

Spanish and Guaraníofficial languages

Guaraní (₲)currency

Sources: INE, 2022 Census, final results and Table A1; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; National Constitution, art. 140; Central Bank of Paraguay. Checked on 27 Oct 2026.

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Photos: Photo: Cmasi, CC0 · Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0 · Photo: Cmasi, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Claudio Elias (dominio público) · Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0 · Photo: FF MM, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: International Hydropower Association (IHA), CC BY 2.0 · Photo: Josep M. Gracia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Preyes, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Diego Fernando Quint… (Panoramio), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Karl.Vienna, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Liam King, CC BY 2.0 · Photo: Judas Priest88 (dominio público) · Photo: Gabrielitopy, CC BY-SA 3.0