Paraguay’s capital may not be the easiest city to take a holiday in but those who persevere with its shortcomings and still-developing infrastructure find it can be a very rewarding destination in terms of its cultural and sightseeing offerings, its humble and remarkably generous people and its variety of activity possibilities.

The city is an old one, one of the oldest in South America in fact, although few of its historic sights actually reflect this. What they do reflect is some of the events of the last few centuries that have helped shaped the city and make it was it is today. Most notably is the House of Independence (Casa de la Independencia), at which plans essential to the country’s release from Spanish rule were made.

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast or a visitor with children in tow, then the nearby Ypacarai Lake offers plenty of opportunities for both activity and relaxation. With similar appeal across the board, is the fascinating Botanical Garden and Zoo. Those visitors with an excess of energy to use up can slip into suitable footwear and take on some of the walking terrain in the city’s surroundings.

Eating out is rarely a dull experience, though you’ll need to adjust to a big feast at lunchtime and something light for dinner as the locals don’t follow typical European or North American eating habits. Be sure to sample the popular tea drink known as maté if you want to really feel like you’ve sampled the local culture.

Accommodation choices are plentiful but decent budget hotels are fairly few and far between and mid and upper range are more the norm. Both Crowne Plaza and Sheraton have branches in Asuncion, so visitors wanting comfort and luxury without worrying about price are catered for.

Getting to Asuncion can involve a flight to a neighbouring country then a connecting flight as the city’s Silvio Pettirossi International Airport does not maintain many direct connections outside of South America. Once in the city, the local bus network makes fairly easy work of getting around but with no signs in English, you’ll need to keep a Spanish phrasebook handy.

Asuncion experiences a climate that’s both warm and humid for the better part of the year. The seasons are vague to say the least although May to July is generally considered the winter or cool season and November to February is considered the summer. Rain falls throughout the year, however, October is the wettest month and September is usually the driest.

Any time of year is a good time to take a holiday in Asuncion and when you decide to visit really depends on hot how you like it. Summer sees maximum temperatures of around 92°C so is ideal for those who like it steamy, while winter brings highs of around 75°C, which might provide conditions more conducive to sightseeing.