Encarnación

Encarnación is a short jaunt on a local bus across the river from Posadas, Argentina. A shopping destination for many Argentines availing themselves of the lower taxes and prices, Encarnación is a pleasant, modern and relaxed city. The nearby Jesuit Missions of La Santisima Trinidad de Parana and Jesus de Tavarangue near Encarnación are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

By bus

• Ciudad del Este stopping at all towns including Trinidad for the Jesuit Mission take about 6 hr and costs GS.60,000.
• Asuncion take about 7 hr. Tickets cost GS.70,000 and the buses pass by San Ignacio Guazú (3 hr).
• Posadas in Argentina Local buses labelled "Internacional", white in colour, depart from several stops in Posadas' centre, all along Calle Entre Rios. They leave regularly, about two per hour. Tickets are AR$6. The bus will drop you off at the Argentinian passport office, and wait for you to re-board. It will cross the bridge, then leave you at the Paraguayan passport office. Unless you are quick, the bus will move on without you, but you can wait and catch the next one (keep your ticket stub!) instead of paying the exorbitant taxi fees. Bus will drop you at the terminal in Encarnación.

By train

• Estación Internacional de PasajerosA railway shuttle service connects Encarnación to Posadas, Argentina, across the bridge over the Río Paraná. This service departs every 30 minutes during the day and reduces travel time to just over ten minutes.

Encarnación is fairly compact, in as much as there isn't a lot to see outside the easily walkable centre. Buses are infrequent, each ride costs around GS.2,500. There are several taxi stands near the plaza and the bus station, should you wish to go further afield.

• Casa de la Cultura

• Plaza de Armas

• Catedral de Encarnación

• Orthodox ChurchNotable for its Cyrillic inscriptions.

• The Beach

  address: End of Curupayty, along the river
  The small, artificial beach in Encarnación is surprisingly pleasant. You can stretch out in the sun and soak up the rays, imagining you are at the coast; there is a slight breeze, and the river is wide. You can even go for a dip - apparently it is quite clean and safe. OK for the kids too, as it is not very deep. Yellow buoys separate bathers from jet-skis and boats. If you get hungry, the Hiroshima Grill restaurant has a small outlet on the beach selling snacks and sushi.

Unless you're going to Ciudad del Este, the cheapest place to buy just about anything, Encarnación would be a good spot to pick up consumer goods, especially electronics. Lower taxes and consequently lower prices than Argentina.

• Hiroshima Grill

  phone: +595 71 206288
  address: Corner 25 de Mayo and Lomas Valentinas
  Great Japanese food. Good value set meals. Sushi is quite cheap. Looks a little spartan, but the food and service are good.

• Las Papas Belgas

  address: Avenida Caballero c/ lomas valentina
  Authentic Belgian burgers and fries. Excellent service, friendly, English and French-speaking staff and a beer garden.

Cold beers available pretty much anywhere.

Budget

All three hostels in town are with 500 m. So, check them out each before deciding.

• Mallorquin Hostel

  phone: +595984900492
  Conveniently has a bar at the bottom of the building.

• Maui Waui International Hostel

  phone: +595982765622
  address: Padre Kreusser 247
  Rated highest in the city. But they have a dog.

• Hostel Colonial

  phone: +595 981201500, +59571201500
  address: General Gervasio 762
  Also offers camping opportunities. However, the staff is not very helpful and can be a little cold, watching their smartphone all the day.

• Hotel Parana

  phone: +595 71 206334
  address: Mcal. Estigarribia 1414
  A really good option, steps away from the plaza. Supermarket just down the street, ice cream shop across the road, Karumbé restaurant 20 seconds walk, ATMs around the corner. Nice bread, jam and fresh coffee and fruit juice for breakfast - served by a man in a tux! Hotel is clean and in good condition; some rooms could do with painting, but they are by no means dirty. Staff are helpful, and rather sweet - one was amazed to have foreign guests that spoke some Spanish. Rooms have WiFi (router upstairs, cleverly) and TV.

• Hotel Germano

  phone: +595 71 203346
  address: General Cabañas 488
  Cheapest beds in town, if you get the "economica" rooms. Clean place, welcoming staff, just a little bit impersonal.

Mid-range

• Hotel Cristal

  phone: +595 71 202 371
  address: Mcal. Estigarribia 1157
  It's a hotel that has seen its best days, but it's still not bad. A little overpriced for the quality perhaps, but the lady working there is really lovely.

Splurge

• De la Costa Hotel

  address: Avda. Rodriguez de Francia No. 1240
  Very expensive for Paraguay, but also a very, very up-market hotel. Air-con, WiFi, television, fridge. Nice building, and close to the "beach". Friendly, English speaking staff.

• De la Trinidad Hotel

  phone: +595 71 208099
  address: Mariscal Estigarribia esquina Jorge Memmel

Paraguay

• See the Jesuit Missions

Beyond

Always buy your ticket in the offices, not from the guys outside. Some of them are genuine, but others will overcharge or sell tickets for non-existent buses.

• Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Brazil – International buses serve these destinations.
• Posadas, Argentina – The local bus costs GS.9,000 (as of May 2018), takes an hour and bus driver will drop you at the passport control from both Paraguayan and Argentine sides. If you are too slow just keep the bus ticket and take the next one.