Paraguay

Few people can accurately pinpoint Paraguay on a map, but its lack of fame on the well-trod tourist trail is all part of its charm. This landlocked South American country offers a wilderness adventure with forests, swamp, savanna and scrub neatly divided north-south by the broad Paraguay River. It’s also a less well-known gateway to the Iguazu Falls for backpackers staying at the cheap and cheerful hostels in Ciudad del Este. Discover pre-Colombian artefacts in the museums of the capital, Asuncion, explore the National Pantheon of Heroes and admire the Government Palace before heading off the beaten path. Horses and carts are a way of life in rural areas, particularly in the Mennonite communities of former European ancestors. While lacking the towering mountains of the Andes, Paraguay offers a remarkable landscape for exploring at a gentle pace. Colonial towns contrast with the arid Chaco region which boasts an abundance of wildlife, from big cats and armadillos to hog-like capybara and peccaries.