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Paraguay travel guide
Jesuit ruins, river towns and South America's quiet heart.
Paraguay is a landlocked country in the middle of South America, little visited and very welcoming. Highlights include UNESCO-listed Jesuit mission ruins, the riverside capital Asunción and the vast Chaco wilderness.
Travel tools
Getting there
Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción is the main gateway, with connections via Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Panama and other hubs. Land borders connect with Argentina (at Encarnación and Asunción), Brazil (at Ciudad del Este) and Bolivia via the Chaco.
Best time to visit: May–Sep – cooler and drier weather.
Tougher months: December-February for intense heat and humidity, especially in the Chaco, though this is carnival season.
Weather by month in Asunción
- 34°J●●
- 33°F●●
- 32°M●●
- 29°A●●
- 25°M●
- 23°J●
- 23°J●
- 25°A●
- 27°S●
- 30°O●●
- 31°N●●
- 33°D●●
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: America/Asuncion. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 71 of 198 other passports can enter Paraguay without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 127 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Paraguay (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-19). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Paraguay travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Paraguay are based around Asunción, Encarnación or Trinidad & Jesús. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$25–40 for a backpacker and US$60–120 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Paraguay page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +595.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Asunción (Capital · river city): One of the oldest cities in South America, with colonial buildings, markets and a lively nightlife.
- Encarnación (South · beaches & carnival): A modern riverside city with sandy beaches on the Paraná and the country's top carnival.
- Trinidad & Jesús (Itapúa · Jesuit missions): UNESCO-listed ruins of two of the most impressive Jesuit reductions.
- Ciudad del Este & Itaipú (East · border city & dam): A busy shopping hub near the Itaipú Dam and Monday waterfalls.
- San Bernardino (Central · lakeside town): A summer retreat on Lake Ypacaraí with German-era houses.
- Areguá (Central · artisan town): A hillside town known for pottery, strawberries and colonial charm.
- Filadelfia & the Chaco (West · Mennonite colonies & wilderness): Base for exploring the Central Chaco, its Mennonite culture and wildlife.
- Yaguarón (Central · colonial church): Home to a beautifully decorated eighteenth-century Franciscan church.
Things to do
- Explore the Jesuit ruins of Trinidad. Wander the red-stone remains of a grand mission church, especially atmospheric during evening light shows.
- Visit the Itaipú Dam. Tour one of the largest hydroelectric dams on the planet on the border with Brazil.
- Party at Encarnación's carnival. Watch feathered dancers and floats parade at Paraguay's biggest summer carnival.
- Drink tereré with locals. Share a cup of yerba mate brewed with ice-cold water and herbs, the national ritual.
- Explore the Chaco. Head into the vast scrubland to meet Mennonite colonies and spot armadillos, giant anteaters and birdlife.
- Stroll Asunción's old centre. See the Palacio de los López, the Pantheon of Heroes and the riverside Costanera.
- See the Saltos del Monday. Watch powerful waterfalls plunge into a gorge near Ciudad del Este.
- Shop for ñandutí lace. Buy delicate spider-web lace in the craft town of Itauguá.
Source: full Paraguay guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Chipa – cheesy bread rings made with cassava flour
- Sopa paraguaya – a solid, savoury cornbread
- Mbejú – cassava and cheese pancake
- Tereré – cold herbal mate drink
Source: RoamSun Paraguay guide
Money and safety
Currency: Paraguayan guaraní (PYG). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: About 10% in restaurants..
Emergency numbers: 911.
- The currency is the Paraguayan guaraní.
- ATMs are available in cities, and cards are accepted at larger hotels and supermarkets; carry cash for buses and small towns.
- Paraguay is generally calm for travellers, but watch for pickpockets in Asunción and Ciudad del Este.
- Check your government's latest travel advice for northern border areas, where criminal groups operate.
Source: RoamSun Paraguay facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Paraguay?
May–Sep – cooler and drier weather. Subtropical, with very hot summers and mild winters.
What time zone is Paraguay in?
Paraguay uses America/Asuncion.
Do I need a visa for Paraguay?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 71 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 0 need an e-visa or eTA and 127 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Paraguay use?
Paraguay uses plug type C at 220 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Paraguay?
The international calling code for Paraguay is +595.
Do you tip in Paraguay?
About 10% in restaurants..
What is the emergency number in Paraguay?
911.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Paraguay?
Traffic drives on the right.