November 8 -22, 2009
All-inclusive land price: $2,550 per person double occupancy
(Add $650 for single room accomodations)
Includes: Lodging/hotels, private transportation, bi-lingual guide, most meals and entrance/activity fees, trip planning advice
(subject to variation based on weather and other variables)
Sunday, November 8 - Arrive to Asuncion, Paraguay
Arrive and transfer to hotel
Introduction to Paraguay over merienda (tea time)
Walking tour of San Bernardino
Boat ride on Lake Ypacarai
Monday, November 9 - Golden Circuit (North)
Photos by: T Larkin (tour participant), T Gorman
Visit Tobati is a colonial village most known for its brick making, ceramics, and carving wooden figurines of saints. The santos, as they are called, are still very popular and adorn family altars of many homes throughout Paraguay.
The patriarch of saintmakers is Don Zenon Paez considered somewhat of a national living treasure. We will visit his workshop and salesroom on the main road in Tobati to see the carvings by Paez, as well as perhaps a few works by his brother, sons, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren who are also saint carvers.
We will also visit the artisan cooperative that was created in recent years to provide a space for local artisans from Tobati to market their crafts directly to consumers rather than selling them only through traders and shops in Asuncion. At the cooperative you will see the vast variety of wood carving and ceramic work from the region.
The Church of Tobati, Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción, in accordance with Franciscan tradition is located in the center of town next to the plaza. The interior of the church features an abundance of baroque carvings and paintings.
Lunch at Casa del Monte, a country resort with a spectacular view of the Paraguayan landscape.
Visit the small town of Atyrá, a town that claims to be the "Cleanest Town in Paraguay" and was certificated certificated by the World Health Organization and declared "Ecological Capital of Paraguay" by government decree. This city is known by the artisan work in leather and wood objects which are exhibited in a permanent market in the middle of the city. The Franciscan wood carvings inside the church of the late XVIII Century are extraordinarily magnificent. There are retable, an altar, images and objects of religious use, with an important artistic and historical value.
Weather permitting, we will travel by dirt road, past ox carts and people engaged in brick making, on our way to Altos.
In Altos we will visit a wood carver that carves traditional Paraguayan mythological characters, birds, and masks out of a soft lightweight balsa (timbó) wood. He will give us a demonstration of how he carves the wood with a machete before using a smaller knife to complete the details.
From Altos (meaning high lands), we will take a scenic descent to the popular resort town of San Bernardino where we are staying.
Tuesday, November 10 - Caacupe
Visit Caacupe, the center of worship for a large number of Paraguayan devotees. This city is well known for its important religious festival which is held on the eighth of December every year honoring the statue of Our Lady of the Miracles. The statue was carved in the sixteenth century, and it could withstand the great flood. In the middle of the town, a huge basilica can be found. Over 300,000 faithful gather here for the festival and many make the pilgrimage by foot from other villages or Asuncion. Apart from the festival season, the Caacupe city is a calm provincial area.
Lunch in Caacupe
Campamento Jack Norment
Photos by: Y Galland, T Gorman
Living History Museum: “Abuela Roga”
The grandmother, in her typical will warmly welcome you to her home, a typical one-room adobe home with a straw roof. She will invite you inside her hut to see her furniture and will explain how she lives and how she uses the items in and around her hut in her daily life. You will be offered seats made from tree trunks and will sit beneath the shade of the large mango trees to enjoy her tales. Taste her home-made chipa, hot and freshly baked in the tatakua (the round dome-shaped oven you see outside of nearly every country home), and sip on hot mate cocido while you enjoy her stories and the rustic tropical environment.
Environmental Education Center: “Arapy”
Learn about the environmental issues that are being faced by the surrounding community and how the camp is working to educate students, teachers, families, and others on the importance of environmental conservation, reforestation, and personal responsibility.
Carter House: “Aguije”
Visit the home of Nicolas’ father, John Carter. The Carters built their retirement home near Caacupe with a view of the Christ the King Hill. An artist and educator, John’s home contains a collection of artifacts collected over the past four decades of living in Paraguay.
Optional activity, time and interest permitting: climb Cerro Cristo Rey.
Wednesday, November 11 - Gran Asuncion
Capiatá - Museo Mitológico Ramón Elias.
This mythological museum keeps a collection of images of mythological beings of the Guaraní culture such as the Yasy Yateré, Malavisión, Pombero, Moñai and others.
San Lorenzo - Museo Guido Boggiani Anthropological, Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum
An excellent, private museum which is dedicated to the Italian explorer and ethnographer Guido Boggiani – the first to take a serious interest in the Indian communities of the Chaco [19th century]. The museum displays a vast array of Indian feather art, bags made of vegetable fibres, garments, musical instruments and splendid black and white photographs from Guido Boggiani's collection. Large panels explain the diversity and location of the different tribal groups, spread out across Paraguay.
San Lorenzo - Indigenous Market
Luque - Harp and Guitar Shops.
Paraguay is the land of the harp more than any other place in the world, and the harp is officially its national instrument. There are several harp factories in Luque where harp making has been a tradition passed from one generation to the next. In what other place in the world can you see harps resting against the walls by the sidewalk just to catch the eyes of by passers?
Shopping del Sol
The shopping malls in Paraguay are where the wealthy shop and compare to the quality of shopping experiences that we may experience in US malls. This stop will demonstrate how the wealthy people of Paraguay shop and pass their time. Good opportunity to exchange money, have a latte, window shop, or pick up any personal items you may have forgotten to pack at the supermarket.
Lunch at Shopping del Sol (on your own)
Visit the Centro de Artes Visuales, Museo de Barro a non-profit museum with an exceptional display of popular, indigenous and urban art of Paraguay. The mission of the Museo de Barro is to maintain and promote the indigenous, popular and urban art forms of Paraguay. The indigenous art collection includes over 2000 pieces from various ethnic groups, including over 300 pre-Colombian pieces. The popular art collection includes ceramic, wood, textile, and religious pieces from the 18th century to the present. The contemporary art collection includes paintings, drawings, wood murals, objects and sculptures that have been important and influential artistic expressions in the recent decades.
Jewelry Making.
Luque is known for its delicate silver and gold jewelry. The elaborate art form was introduced by the Spanish conquistadores in the XVIII century and has continued to be passed from generation to generation and its filigree technique remains unique to this region.
Aregua The country's wealthy once flocked to this sleepy colonial town on the bank of Lake Ypacarai. Today, its charming cobblestone streets are lined with popular pottery shops and art galleries that offer typical, popular handicrafts you won't find elsewhere. There are also several art galleries in Aregua. Strawberry growing is an important agricultural product of this region and in the harvest months the traditional annual “Strawberry Festival” is celebrated in Aregua.
The Koi and Chorori hills were declared protected National Monuments in 1993. They are composed by sandstone columns formed 40 million years ago due to strong magma processes. This is a rare geo-morphological phenomenon known only in three places of the world: Paraguay, South Africa and Canada.
Thursday, November 12 - Golden Circuit (South)
Pirayu
Visit the home workshop of Sra. Bernarda, the coordinator of the Artisan Association, to appreciate the fine nanduti (handmade lace typical of Paraguay) and crochet crafts made by her family and associates. This work is traditionally done by women; as they need help from their children the knowledge is passed on from generation to generation and at least one or two of the artisan’s daughters become involved in the work.
Yaguaron
The Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Museum is located just a block away from the church. In there are a variety of belongings of Francia and other objects from the XIX century.
“José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia was one of the greatest figures in Paraguayan history. Ruling from 1814 until his death in 1840, Francia succeeded almost single-handedly in building a strong, prosperous, secure, and independent nation at a time when Paraguay's continued existence as a distinct country seemed unlikely. He left Paraguay at peace, with government coffers full and many infant industries flourishing. Frugal, honest, competent, and diligent, Francia was tremendously popular with the lower classes. But despite his popularity, Francia trampled on human rights, imposing an authoritarian police state based on espionage and coercion.” U.S. Library of Congress
Iglesia de San Buenaventura
Yaguaron was officially founded in 1585 as a Franciscan Mission. Fray Alonso de San Buenaventura and his followers built an church that still stands nowadays and is one of the most beautiful and valuable examples of Franciscan construction and art in Paraguay. The Hispanic-Guaraní style of the carvings and the intricate paintings on the ceiling and carvings using natural dyes and gold laminate made by hand by the natives are highlights of this well-maintained church and artistic monument.
Country Guest Farm
Enjoy a typical Paraguayan food for lunch and a tour of a country guest farm. The farm includes a mini-zoo with farm animals, wild animals from the Chaco region, monkeys, parrots and other exotic birds from the region, and a taxidermy museum of animals found in the Chaco. Walk or tour by motorized cart to view the flora and fauna of the surrounding area.
Itá
Itá means "stone" in Guarani and this town is known for its tradition of ceramic art. Visit the simple, rustic home workshop and gallery of Risa Britez, the most famous Paraguayan potter who has travelled extensively and won international awards for her work. Also visit the home workshop of mother-daughter potters Juana and Julia Isidrez who have developed a new style that has become extremely popular in recent years. The San Blas culture center displays works from various artists - watch for the Lucky Hens and dancer doll crafts typical of this region.
Itaguá
Itaguá is called “City of the Ñandutí” and is host to the Ñandutí Festival which is celebrated every year in July and August. The streets are lined with shops and there is an incredible display of the variety of items, sizes and colors; watch for the traditional fine thread ñanduti that is exquisite, but extremely labor intensive and becoming a lost art.
Friday, November 13 - Piribebuy, Yataity, Colonia Independencia
Pirebebuy
Ponchos de 60 Listas have been made in Piribebuy since the era of Dr. Francia. Traditionally the ponchos are black and white although modern tastes have lead to the incorporation of other colors. Woven out of very fine 100% cotton thread the ponchos are made with 60 threads per cm and the weaving is done by hand. It takes four people working 15 full days to create a poncho.
Yataity
Ao po´i developed as a result of the isolationist policies of Paraguay´s first post-colonial leader (and dictator) Dr. Gaspar Rodgriguez de Francia. Without access to imported cloth, Paraguayan women had to make their own fabric starting with raw cotton which was spun into thread, woven into cloth and later decorated with embroidery. Nowadays much ao po´i cloth is made by machine but still hand sewn and embroidered. There remain a few artisans who do the entire process by hand.
"Ao" (pronounced "ow") means cloth or clothing in Guaraní and po´i (pronounced "poe - e") means fine or thin.
Colonia Independencia
Colonia Independencia was originally a German settlement founded in 1919 after WWI. Swiss, Austria and German settlers continued to populate the colony which became an independent municipality in 1955. Surrounded by great green hills; its settlers and their descendants are pioneers in the country in wine production.
Hotel in Colonia Independencia
Saturday, November 14 - Itaipu Dam & Museum
Travel to Ciudad del Este to visit Itaipu Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. Itaipu has been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world. The volume of iron and steel utilized in the Dam structure would be enough to build 380 Eiffel Towers and the volume of concrete used in Itaipú represents 15 times the volume utilized to build the Channel Tunnel between France and England.
Panoramic Tour
From the central belvedere, appreciate a panoramic view of the power plant featuring the dam and spillway. Visits are made on Itaipu buses. A documentary on Itaipu is shown prior to the departure.
Guarani Land Museum
The Museum of the Guarani Land shows the 10 thousand years of history of the peoples living in the area. Throughout the centuries, these populations kept their roots alive, including their language, Guarani, Paraguay's official language. The collection includes an interesting audio-visual archive in which native people talk about the way they see the world.
Arrive to hotel in Foz, Brazil
Sunday, November 15 - Iguassu Falls, Argentina
Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s throat) is a 70-meter waterfall where several branches of the Iguazu river converge causing a violent water fall. A balcony set up at the border allows tourists to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Upper Circuit (blue line) is a half-hour walk along a 1200 mts trail – with low degree of difficulty and no stairs – that goes deep into the jungle. All of a sudden, you run into breathtaking views of the Falls. You will get lots of closer views at the different observation points, and more panoramic sights toward the end of the trail.
The Lower Circuit (yellow line) goes all the way down to the river, where the boat crosses over to San Martin Island (orange line). On the way down, there are balconies with marvelous bottom-up views of the falls (the same falls that you see from above in the Upper Circuit).
The Great Adventure (red dotted line) which takes you by boat right to the base of the waterfalls – a truly amazing experience. See the waterfalls from every angle – even from beneath the falls!
Not included:
Lunch on your own at one of the various restaurants available to choose from
Boat ride beneath Iguassu Falls - spectacular & highly recommended (you will get wet)
Evening Vegas-style show with local music and dances from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay
Monday, November 16 - Iguazu Falls Brazil and Bird Park
Photos by: Y Galland, T Larkin, S Valero (tour participants)
Visit the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls side to see grandiose panoramic views of the falls. UNESCO declared Foz do Iguaçu National Park, in Brazil, Natural Heritage of Humanity in 1986. The visiting area consists of a single circuit of walkways facing the falls. The panorama it offers is really impressive. The circuit is 1,200 meters long which can be easily walked in two hours. At the end of the circuit, there is a staircase with 130 steps to get to the visitor center or an elevator for those that prefer.
Visit the Parque das Aves (bird park) featuring more than 150 species of rare and colorful birds
fly in the huge aviaries which have been built to blend in with the humid subtropical forest. Visitors are able to enter these aviaries and view the birds at close quarters. They will also see alligators, anacondas, pythons, marmosets and 25 species of butterflies.
Travel to Bella Vista, Paraguay to hotel near the Jesuit Ruins.
Tuesday, November 17 - Bella Vista and Jesuit Ruins
Photos by: T Larkin (tour participant)
My now you will appreciate how important yerba mate and terere are to the people of Paraguay! Visit a Yerba Mate packaging plant and learn how this traditional Paraguayan tea is dried, seasoned and packaged to offer a high quality tea product that meets the various tastes of the yerba and terere drinkers.
The Bella Vista Museum contains artifacts form the original German founders and other immigrants that settled in the colony and provides a glimpse into the life of early settlers of the region. Bella Vista was created as a colony in 1918 and became a municipality in 1959.
The Jesuit Reductions of Trinidad, the La Santisima Trinidad del Parana, is one of the most popular historical sites in Paraguay and has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Trinidad ruins, the last of eight missions constructed in Paraguay, are one of the most well preserved. These historical ruins provide an amazing glimpse into the lives of the nearly 4,000 Indian’s that lived here.
Located about seven miles from the Jesuit ruins in Trinidad, lies the Jesus de Tavarangue mission which established in 1685. Construction of the church began in the 1750’s but was never completed as the Jesuits were expelled from Paraguay in 1767.
Wednesday, November 18 - Santa Maria de Fe
Photos by: Margaret Habblewaithe
Travel to Santa Maria de Fe
Santa María is a delightful, unspoilt jewel in the heart of the Paraguayan countryside - probably the prettiest of all the former Guaraní Reductions, though today it is a very poor village with massive unemployment, where the villagers struggle to make a living.
Visit the Jesuit Museum located in an original casa de indios (“house of Indians”) which has been beautifully restored and houses some 50 carved wooden statues of saints and holy figures.
Visit the sewing cooperative located near the plaza and medicinal gardens where women grow and package medicinal plants. Possibly see the wild monkeys that live in the trees in the central plaza.
Possibly enjoy a performance by dancers who perform Paraguayan folk dances to traditional harp and guitar music.
En route to Asuncion, opportunity to visit the Jesuit Museum in San Ignacio and/or roadside shops that feature local wool crafts in San Miguel.
Dinner in La Florida
Arrive to hotel in Asuncion late in the evening.
Thursday - Saturday, November 19, 20, 21 - Asuncion
During the day, visit the sites in Asuncion:
Cerro Lambare, a hill located in the Lambare neighborhood, offers a spectacular view of Asuncion, the Parana River, and Argentina.
Visit home workshop and salesroom of harp makers Santa Cecilia in the Lambare neighborhood where Nicolas purchased many of his first harps.
The Cathedral which dates from 1687 and has an enormous gilded altar and many 18th- and 19th-century religious statues and paintings.
Casa de la Independencia is a national monument which has a great historical significance. This house is Asuncion’s oldest building (1772) and was once the secret meeting place of revolutionaries plotting to break away from Spain. Relics from the May 1811 revolution, including important documents signed by various patriots of the Paraguayan independence, are now displayed here.
Panteón Nacional de los Héroes in the center of the city where many of the nations heroes are entombed.
Plaza de los Heroes provides a good, shady place to rest and people-watch. Indigenous people sell feather headdresses and bows/arrows, artisans put their wares on display, and vendors sell anything from chewing gum to knife sharpeners.
Palma Street to look over the main downtown street full of commerce and hand-made craftworks.
Casa Viola is one of the few surviving colonial buildings which has been restored and form part of the Manzana de la Rivera complex.
Manzana de la Rivera is a complex of historical buildings. After the change of government in 1989, a group of architecture students wanted to restore some of the historical buildings of Asuncion and started the campaign “Salvemos la Manzana frente al palacio” which means “let’s save the city block in front of the government house”. Carlos Colombino, an architect and artist that also was key to developing the Museo de Barro we already visited, was the architect for the project and its first director. Today the Manazana de Rivera is a cultural center of the city.
The River Port which is important to Paraguay’s economy and history.
Plaza Uruguaya, a busy plaza and marketplace near the former railway station. In the terminal you can see a well-preserved, though no longer used, old steam locomotive.
La chacarita, Paraguay's shantytown along the river front. Initially a settlement of squatter, it is steadily establishing itself as a permanent community and slowly becoming urbanized.
Museum of Memory, the Dictatorship and Democracy was inaugurated in 2006 – by coincidence on the same day that Alfredo Streossner died. The location of the museum is in the place where the Dirección Nacional de Asuntos Técnicos, operated a clandestine torture centre with support and training from the United States. The "archives of terror", a vast collection of secret documents shedding light on the fate of tens of thousands of Latin Americans who were kidnapped, tortured and killed, was discovered in 1992 and is on display.
Estación Central del Ferrocarril – Train Station Museum
Optional ($10-40 concert tickets not included): In the evenings, you might enjoy harp concerts being presented as part of the Fourth World Harp Festival in Asuncion.
Sunday, November 22 - Asuncion & Departure
Optional activities in Asuncion: complete any final shopping activities, visits to sites, etc.
Transfer to airport for flight home. |
