Find a travel partner in Paraguay

Money and staying connected

Paraguay uses the guaraní (PYG): confusingly, the same word as the language, and it's one of South America's cheapest countries, so your money goes a long way. Cash dominates outside Asunción's hotels and bigger restaurants (which take cards): carry guaraníes for everything in the field (ATMs in cities and towns; US dollars and Argentine pesos are also accepted in some border and tourist contexts). Tipping ~10% is appreciated. SIMs (Tigo, Personal, Claro) are cheap with decent coverage in populated areas, sparse in the Chaco. Wi-Fi is common in city accommodation. Spanish and Guaraní are both official and everyday: Spanish gets you everywhere, but a word of Guaraní delights people enormously (it's a point of deep national pride). Most nationalities get visa-free entry: check yours. Bargaining is mild; prices are low to begin with.

Culture and etiquette

Paraguayans are warm, easygoing, family-centered and genuinely pleased to meet the rare foreign visitor: a friendly, patient, humble manner is met with real hospitality, and curiosity about you is affectionate, not intrusive. The Guaraní language and identity are a deep source of pride: using even a single word ("Mba'éichapa", how are you?) lights people up and breaks every barrier. Tereré, the ice-cold shared mate, is the social glue: being invited to share the gourd is friendship, and you drink from the communal straw and pass it back (don't move the bombilla). Greetings are warm (handshakes, cheek kisses among friends). Dress is casual; dress modestly at churches and the missions. The pace is unhurried: patience and a relaxed attitude are essential and appreciated. Religious tradition runs deep. Useful phrases: "Hola / Mba'éichapa" (hi / how are you?, Spanish/Guaraní), "Gracias / Aguyje" (thank you), "Por favor" (please), "¿Cuánto cuesta?" (how much?), "Iporã" (good/nice, Guaraní). Warmth and curiosity are your best tools here.

Health and safety

Paraguay is generally safe and relaxed for travelers: it sees so few tourists that visitors are more a curiosity than a target, and violent crime against foreigners is uncommon. Use normal precautions in Asunción and especially in Ciudad del Este (a busy border-trade city with more petty crime and contraband: watch valuables, be alert near the border). Check current advisories for any specific cautions (some remote northern/Chaco areas and certain border zones warrant care). The bigger practical risks are health and environment: the intense heat and sun (hydrate constantly: tereré exists for a reason), mosquito-borne dengue (repellent), and in the Chaco the remoteness, heat and need for proper preparation. Drink bottled/filtered water. Medical care is limited outside Asunción: insurance is wise. Roads and bus travel are the everyday hazard: choose better bus lines, avoid risky night driving. Overall, a low-key, low-stress destination for the prepared.

General guidance, not medical or security advice. Check your government's travel advice and a travel clinic before you book.