WE'RE GOOD PEOPLE

Generous, approachable, and incredibly hospitable. Visitors to our land often say that beyond the stunning landscapes, delicious food, exciting places, and unique experiences, what they truly remember is the warmth of our people. Sure, you might bump into someone having a bad day, but 99% of the time, you'll find folks ready to make you feel right at home and share a smile.

WE SPEAK JOPARÁ

We're a bilingual nation! We speak both of our official languages, Spanish and Guarani, and sometimes we even mix words from both in the same sentence. For example, we might say: "Jaha a otro lado," which means "Let's go somewhere else." This mix is called jopará (pronounced "yopará"), which literally means "mixed." So, if you're speaking Spanish and hear conversations on the street that you can't quite follow, now you know why!

TERERÉ IS PART OF OUR CULTURAL DNA

This is our national drink par excellence, and by far the most democratic of all. Rich or poor, everyone has access to the essentials for Tereré: a thermos, a guampa (cup), and a bombilla (straw). Just add water, yerba mate, and some remedios yuyos (herbal remedies). You can enjoy it solo, but it's usually shared in a ronda (a circle), passed from hand to hand. It's the perfect excuse to connect and beat the heat!

WE HAVE A RELAXED NOTION OF TIME

For Paraguayans, "time" as you know it doesn't really exist. We're pretty unpunctual, and our comforting excuse is that we love living in the present moment, without worrying about yesterday or tomorrow, just living today intensely. Only two activities start strictly on time, and for us, they hold the same religious value: Holy Mass and a soccer match.

WE TELL "LITTLE WHITE LIES" WITHOUT REALIZING IT

We don't do it with bad intentions or to deceive; it's just hard for us to be completely honest when we don't know something. We'd rather invent an answer than simply say "I don't know." So, a heads-up when asking an Asunceno for directions: they might point you down any random street just to avoid admitting they don't know the way!