This overlooked country is one of the safest destinations in South America

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We’re all guilty of overlooking things, even the most seasoned travelers.

It took me 35 years to visit it Cancun. But that’s just it…

If there’s one thing a globetrotter like me knows for sure, it’s that the most unsung destinations often leave the most meaningful, lasting impressionsmore so than any mainstream favorite. We feel conditioned to follow the crowd.

I’ve had the privilege of writing about first-hand experiences in Iquitos, Muscat, Belo Horizonte, Tallinn and Aguascalientes, to name just a few names you may not recognize.

These places are tattooed in my mind’s eye – not Cabo or Los Angeles.

That said, one of our favorite continents to explore here at Travel Off Path is South America, from the Caribbean coast of Colombia to beach bars slinging caipirinhas in Brazil.

But landlocked countries tend to get the short end of the stick, and that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.

Experts at To go (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) revealed the cheapest destinations in South America.

We believe that this country is not only one of the best value for money, but also one of the best value for money countries a safe haven where you don’t feel the need to keep your head spinning while immersing yourself in a new culture.

Where in the world is Paraguay?

We all know Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and so on…

In between lies a lesser-known country that is incredibly affordable, safe and so authentic that it still feels undiscovered.

As more travelers get their wanderlust itch and venture into the lesser-known, Paraguay fits the bill.

Even relatively unknown countries such as Guyana show an increasing trend. Paraguay anyway? For most, it’s still off-road.

Embracing Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil, this trio of stunners is more widely known, making Paraguay one of South America’s true hidden gems.

Unless you’re already enjoying a grand adventure around the continent, chances are your entry point will be flying into the country’s historic capital Asuncionalso the largest city in the country, but not overly busy, with less than half a million inhabitants and barely noticeable tourists.

From there, there’s no shortage of seemingly unspoilt parts of the country to explore, from the scenic shores of Encarnacion to the wilderness of Gran Chaco.

Paraguay is safe: Ministry of Foreign Affairs designates advisory level ‘Level 1’

There are only 3 South American countries with a ‘Level 1: Practice normal precaution‘:

• Argentina
• Suriname
• Paraguay

Well, that is, unless you want to take on the UN and claim that French Guiana is a sovereign country…

Knock yourself out.

The point is that Paraguay is in good company and many locals and tourists believe Uruguay should also be given ‘Level 1’ status.

Any way you look at it, Paraguay is undeniably one of the safest destinations in South America.

The most surprising thing about it is that there are no “cookie-cutter” experiences like those in a typical vacation hotspot, making travelers feel more secure in the confines of their plush room and tours.

Here in Paraguay you can wander around local markets, such as the one in Asuncion Mercado 4bounce through cheap bars, hop aboard a bus and innie-minnie-minie-moe a card all without extreme worry.

Is a $35 daily budget really possible?

Since I’m a college dropout, I promise you don’t want me to worry about grades.

Luckily, Going did the work for us, and the numbers are astonishingly low, even by South American standards (or it’s possible I just don’t have self-discipline when traveling).

Their experts claim you can easily get by on one Daily budget of €25 – €35.

Does it seem too good to be true? Let’s unpack this…

Not everyone is a ‘budget traveler’ so to speak. In other words, if you don’t pack your bag with Vegemite, hostels might not be your thing.

So yeah, if you’re willing to stay in a basic hostel or capsule hotel, chances are you won’t hit that $35 budget.

The good news is that Paraguay is very cheap across the board, but for that price don’t expect a three-star hotel or higher and you can devour delicious street food, find a cool excursion like a UNESCO siteand kick back at local bars and have a few beers.

Here are the exact numbers Going came up with:

• Accommodation: $8 to $15 (hostels) to $20 to $35 (budget hotels)
• Meals: $3 to $6 per meal; $1 to $2.50 for street food
• Local transportation: $0.30 to $0.60 for city buses; $3 to $6 for taxis (Paraguay has Uber)

Your biggest expense will probably be the flight here. There are currently no direct routes to Paraguay since Eastern Airlines dropped its only US-based route.

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.