Which means of transport to use Paraguay?

From the airport to the city centre Paraguay

Silvio Pettirossi airport is 17 km from the capital, in Luque, near the Ñu Guasú park. The center of Asunción can be reached in 30-45 minutes by cab (120,000 Gs), or in 40-60 minutes by bus. The bus option isn't very practical with a big bag at rush hour, but for the resourceful traveller on a budget, it's a good saving (a ticket costs 3,600 Gs, so be sure to bring some change if you buy one at the airport. The stop is 100 m from the airport exit, at the traffic circle. Take line 30-2 A (a blue "A" - "A" stands for Aeropuerto), direction "Centro". Buses run every 30 minutes, starting at 5 a.m.

Arrival by train Paraguay

Paraguay was one of the first countries in the world to have a railroad, but this mode of transport was completely abandoned in the ^20th century. The old steam train that used to run between Asunción and Areguá is no longer in operation. Since 2014, however, a modern bi-national train with a capacity of 250 passengers has been connecting the towns of Posadas (Argentina) and Encarnación every 30 minutes. It only takes 8 kilometers and 10 minutes, but it's already a fine example for the rest of the country...

Arrival by boat Paraguay

Boats are mainly used for transporting goods. South of the capital, balsas (ferries) and lanchas (small motorboats) cross the Río Paraguay between Paraguay and Argentina. In the east of the country, a balsa links Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) and Presidente Franco, south of Ciudad del Este. The Aquidabán, a grocery boat on the Río Paraguay, takes passengers from Concepción to the Pantanal ports, but this is not its main function, and comfort is very basic.

Public transport Paraguay

To get around the city, urban or colectivos buses are economical, but not very easy to use. In Asunción, there is no clear network map or information point to indicate where the forty or so lines serving the metropolitan area pass through. Destinations are written above the windscreen of the buses but are not very legible, so the easiest way is to ask at a stop which line goes to which destination, and then have the driver confirm it on the way up. The CaminosPy (caminospy.com) and Topa (topa.com.py) sites and applications also make orientation easier, with detailed maps, routes and travel times.

All aboard, hang on, the buses are going very fast! To request a stop, pull the cord attached to the ceiling or press one of the buttons provided. Both the ascent and descent are sporty: the bus pauses slightly but does not stop! Be careful also on foot, buses rarely slow down when a pedestrian crosses, even on a so-called protected passage..

Two fares coexist in the metropolitan area (in 2020): 2,400 Gs for conventional vehicles and 3,600 Gs for air-conditioned buses. Since October 2019, an electronic payment system using rechargeable magnetic cards has been in place. Manual payment in cash is supposed to disappear in the long term. There are two types of card: the Jaha card, which can be found at the Aquí Pago and Pago Express outlets, and the Más card, which is distributed at the La Quiniela premises. Each map has its own application: Jaha GPS and Más Tarjeta.

When travelling by bus across the country, comfort varies greatly from one company to another. NSA, Sol del Paraguay and Expreso Paraguay are among the most reputable companies. Direct buses are recommended for long distances. By adding a handful of euros, you will save a lot of time, comfort and safety. Tickets can be bought at the bus station (terminal). NSA, Sol and Expreso Paraguay also have offices next to Plaza Uruguaya in the centre. To buy a ticket online, use specialized platforms such as busbud.com or plataforma10.com, rather than the websites of the companies, which usually require a Paraguayan identity number and are not updated.

Bike, scooters & co Paraguay

At the time of our survey, there were no public scooters yet. However, "Asu Bici" bicycles are freely available in Asunción's historic center (Costanera, Pantheon, Plaza Uruguaya...). The system requires installation of the Asu Viva Bikes application. For those with a bike or motorcycle, the Albencys workshop (Brasil 532, ✆ +595 21 220 342) is efficient for any repairs. To buy a new bike, check out the Chacomer branches dotted around town (chacomer.com.py).

With a driver Paraguay

Yellow cabs are plentiful throughout the country. Taxi paradas (taxi ranks) can be found near main squares, shopping centres, and restaurants and discos at night. These stations are numbered and have landline telephone numbers to reach them, but you can also make use of applications such as Nde Taxi or Taxipy. Taxis have a taximeter. Make sure it works! At night, ask the driver if there is a night surcharge compared to what the taximeter indicates, to avoid any subsequent dispute (the 30% night surcharge is in principle no longer in force).

In rural areas, taxis don't always have a taxi-metro, agree on the price before the start of the journey to avoid unpleasant surprises on arrival. You should also know that the international airport has fixed fares (in 2020: 120,000 Gs from the airport to the historic centre, 100,000 Gs from the centre to the airport). As for the VTC, they arrived in Paraguay in force, with the giant Uber that many Paraguayans use. There are also local applications (Muv, Ruber, or Oiko), but you usually need a Paraguayan number to register there and they wouldn't really have any advantages over Uber. VTC fares are generally cheaper than taxi fares, but the difference is not obvious, except perhaps at the airport or bus station.

By car Paraguay

Renting a car is a good idea if you want to discover the country, its countryside and isolated villages where it would be difficult to reach by bus. Much less so if you're staying in the chaotic capital. The main rental agencies (Hertz, Avis, etc.) are located in Asunción and at the international airport. There are also a few rental companies in Ciudad del Este and Encarnación. In town, it's advisable to leave your vehicle in a guarded parking lot. In the streets of the city center, improvised watchmen, nicknamed cuidacoches, wait for a small voluntary fee.

Driving and roads. Paraguayans have little respect for the Highway Code (a driver's license can be bought for less than €20!), so the rule of the biggest is the rule: first the bus, then the camioneta (4x4) and then the others. Cyclists and pedestrians are not a priority, except among Mennonites! The main highways and more and more secondary roads are tarred, but many lanes are simple tracks, which turn into real soapsuds as soon as it rains. A 4x4 or at least a high-mounted SUV is essential if you want to get off the beaten track. Theoretical speed limit is 40 km/h in town (50/60 km on main roads), and 80 to 110 km/h outside built-up areas. Outside built-up areas, lights must be on day and night (many tourists are fined for this). Finally, seatbelts are compulsory and highly recommended, even if nobody wears them! Accidents are frequent, and many drivers drive without insurance. In the event of an accident, leave the vehicle as it is (even if it's obstructing traffic), call your insurance company and the police, who are responsible for filing the report.

Fuel. There are service stations all over the eastern region, but far fewer in the Chaco, where they can be hundreds of kilometers apart. To fill up, you don't have to get out of the car; a pump attendant will take care of it for you. Fuel prices are lower than in France. Be sure to ask the car rental company what type of fuel you should use - there are several types of diesel, of varying quality.

Tourist traps Paraguay

If you're renting a car, beware of abusive taxes and insurance, and be sure to check whether the mileage is unlimited or limited (usually to 100 km, which is quickly done). This must be clearly specified in the rental contract.