This landlocked country in South America´s Southern Cone is the continent´s biggest “blank space” for travelers. About the size of California and just under twice the size of Britain, but fairly sparsely populated, with a population of some seven million, it gets a fraction of the travelers welcomed by neighbors like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. The reason is that it doesn´t have the “star power” and marquee attractions that pull most first-time visitors. Paraguay’s appeal is different: less about bucket-listers and more everyday culture, river-city life, colonial history, and pristine, untouristed nature spots. So if you’ve already “ticked off” the headline destinations elsewhere, Paraguay can be very worth it precisely because it still feels like you’re discovering something—especially if you like places that aren’t built around tourism—and quite literally worth it as prices are generally quite low.
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