Visitors keen to get off the beaten track will enjoy exploring unpretentious Paraguay.

Referred to as the ‘Heart of America’ because of its central location between north and south, this landlocked nation of seven million is a country of contrasts.

Skyscrapers stand beside crumbling colonial buildings, sports cars pull up next to horse carts at the traffic lights and western culture and ancient local cultures coexist.

The indigenous Guaraní had been living in Paraguay for over a millennium before the arrival of colonists in the 16th century, and to this day remain highly influential, with Guaraní recognised as an official language alongside Spanish.

The Paraguay River runs through the country, giving the capital, Asunción a riverside setting.