When Is The Best Time To Visit Paraguay?

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The best time to visit Paraguay is in the spring time from September to November. This is because it is the shoulder season between the winter months which have the best weather, and the summer months with a lot of festivals and activities.

Being in the Southern Hemisphere, Paraguay’s seasons are the opposite of what can be expected in North America and Europe.

I will explain what you can expect in each season here, and end by summing up why spring is the best time to visit Paraguay, a safe country that receives few tourists.

As someone with a Paraguayan girlfriend who has spent her whole life down here, I can bring you reliable weather information from the Heart of South America, as Paraguay is known, as well as some of the top seasonal events.

Skyscrapers in Asuncion, Paraguay's capital, standing over some green trees and yellow sand next to the Paraguay River — Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, is sunny most of the time

Winter in Paraguay (June-August)

If you’re looking to visit Paraguay based solely around the best weather, then the best time to visit is in the winter.

Paraguayan winters are more like early spring in Western Europe or the United States. They can be slightly cold, but it really isn’t that bad. Snow is virtually non-existent in Paraguay, and temperatures are fairly consistent, averaging around 18°C (46°F) during these months.

Low temperatures in the winter are around the 13°C (55°F) mark on average.

My favourite reason for visiting Paraguay in the winter is the strawberry expo in Aregua. This 2-month celebration of all things strawberry-related takes place from mid-July until mid-September (during the strawberry harvest season) and is one of my favourite day trips in the country.

You can easily reach Aregua from Asuncion by bus.

June is also when the Feast of San Juan (St. John) is celebrated. Whilst this event takes place on June 24th, the whole month is full of festivities at schools, shopping malls, parks and much more. San Juan is one of the best festivals in Paraguay, full of food and even celebrations involving fire, therefore winter can be a good time to come here and enjoy it.

A lady in Aregua, Paraguay, selling several strawberry products, with strawberries all across the front counter, strawberry pies and liquor to the left, and strawberry ice creams in the fridge behind the lady — The strawberry expo in Aregua is one of the top attractions in Paraguay during winter time

Spring in Paraguay (September-November)

The best time for visiting Paraguay is undoubtably the spring when you take all factors into account.

The weather is obviously warmer than in the winter, but not quite at the scorching hot levels it can reach during the summer.

At this time of year you can enjoy walks along the Costanera in Asuncion by the Paraguay River and soak up the refreshing spring breeze. One of many great things to do in Asuncion.

You can also go to many nightclubs and bars, which tend to open up and become more lively at this time of year. In the winter they are often pretty empty and can be fairly soulless.

In terms of spring-specific activities, the highlight is Oktoberfest near the heavily German-influenced city of Villarrica.

Located in nearby Colonia Independencia, there is a big German-themed beer festival every October (occasionally November) which draws big crowds of people out to party.

It is promoted as Choppfest, and they have an Instagram page which tends to share details a few weeks in advance. So keep an eye on this for information on the next one.

Paraguay's Palacio de los Lopez in the capital Asuncion — Palacio de los Lopez in Asuncion, during a typically sunny day

Summer in Paraguay (December-February)

Summer is prime time for holidays in Paraguay, with locals escaping to the beaches where temperatures dip a little lower than they do elsewhere in the country. The country can hit highs of over 40°C (104°F)

Ask locals for travel tips at this time of year, and they will tell you to get down to the popular holiday resort San Bernardino which is next to Lake Ypacarai. My post on “San Ber” as the locals call it, will tell you exactly what you can expect here. In the summer, all bars and nightclubs are open to cater to Paraguay’s rich and famous who tend to holiday in San Ber over other locations.

Elsewhere, Encarnacion is one of the top Paraguay travel destinations for this time of year.

The border city which is separated from Argentina solely by the Parana River is home to San Jose Beach which will also attracts large crowds at this time of year.

That isn’t even the summer highlight however. February time is carnival season in South America, and whilst Rio de Janeiro steals the limelight, other countries have some pretty impressive celebrations, including Paraguay which hosts a big event in Encarnacion with 100,000 annual attendees.

Encarnacion is a great place to visit at any time of year really as it is where you can visit the nearby Jesuit Missions of La Santisima Trinidad de Parana and Jesus de Tavarangue, collectively making up Paraguay’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A sign that says "San Bernardino" followed by an image of the sun making up the "o". The "San" is coloured with horizontal red, blue and white stripes, just like the Paraguay flag. The "din" is coloured in black, red and yellow horizontal stripes, just like the German flag, which is a reference to San Bernardino's heavy German influence — The sun replacing the “o” in “San Bernardino” should be a clue that this is one of Paraguay’s top summer destinations!

Autumn in Paraguay (March-May)

As you get to March time and summer winds down, the weather becomes a little more comfortable than during the hottest months. And attention turns to Semana Santa, or holy week.

This is the week before Easter Sunday, and it’s a massive deal in Latin America. I was in Santa Ana (El Salvador) during Semana Santa and the country effectively shut down to mark the occasion.

Paraguay is very similar. There are widespread parades across the nation, especially in the big cities. Paraguay is almost 90% catholic, which means many people will mark holy week, even if they aren’t devout believers who take religion very seriously.

In May, Paraguay commemorates independence from the Spanish on the 15th. There are big celebrations across the country to mark the occasion, so this can be a good time to visit the country if you want to party with the locals.

The sun setting over Asuncion in Paraguay, as seen from a rooftop with a swimming pool — The sunset in Paraguay, an almost-daily occurrence in this sunny country

What are the Rainiest Months in Paraguay?

Paraguayan weather is the gift that keeps on giving. That’s because aside from the consistent sun, there are very few days of rainfall.

April and November are slightly wetter than the other months, but the difference is marginal.

Regardless of whether you’re in capital Asuncion (home to some incredible restaurants by the way), the vast arid Chaco region, or chaotic border town Ciudad del Este which is near the famous Iguazu Falls, you will only experience short bursts of rainfall, if anything at all. If you do head across to the falls, make sure you read my Triple Frontier border guide to avoid any issues.

Allegedly summer is the rainy season, but in practice there is a lot less rainfall than you’re used to if you’re from Europe or the USA.

Coming from the UK, Paraguayan weather has been a real blessing to experience!

Does it Snow in Paraguay?

No, Paraguay does not receive much snowfall. In fact it is very rare to see any snow at all here.

The Paraguay weather is a blessing for anyone who wants consistent sun, but a curse for lovers of winter sports and other snowy activities. I’m afraid you won’t find what you’re looking for here if this is you.

Heading south through Argentina and going down to Patagonia is your best way to experience snow in South America. You can easily fly down from Buenos Aires, whilst Chilean Patagonia is another option.

So When is the Best Time to Visit Paraguay?

I would say that September-November is the best time to visit Paraguay because this time of year strikes the perfect balance between weather that isn’t unbearably hot and the country beginning to become lively as summer approaches.

The likes of San Bernardino start to open their bars and host more activities for holidaymakers to enjoy.

Paraguay is a country with fairly consistent weather throughout the year. Yes, the summers can be uncomfortably hot and the winters can get a little chilly. But unlike somewhere like Mongolia which has some of the world’s coldest temperatures in winter and moderately warm summers, there are no extremes here.

Whilst Paraguay has little in the way of major bucket list destinations, it is one of the best South American countries for immersing yourself in the local culture, eating some incredible (and super cheap) food, and taking tours to lesser known spots.

Don’t miss out on this gem of a country! It’s safe, it’s affordable and it has good weather.

If you’re on the fence about visiting Paraguay, I can help you plan a trip here!

When is the Best Time to Visit Paraguay?