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Paraguay Travel Summary: Asunción’s transit runs on a plastic card and a pocket full of guaraníes, not on your bank card. The yellow airport taxis at Silvio Pettirossi want 120,000–150,000 PYG in cash, the colectivos won’t take a single note from your hand, and the chipa vendor on the corner has no terminal at all. Sort your data before you fly so you can book a Muv or Uber, check a Jaha balance, and read a menu without standing in the arrivals hall hunting for Wi-Fi. Pre-install a Paraguay eSIM, buy a Jaha or Más card at a pharmacy, and keep small bills in your front pocket.
Quick Answer: The fastest way to get connected is a TravelyData Paraguay eSIM, active minutes after landing with zero KYC. For money, Visa and Mastercard work fine in supermarkets and malls, but cash is mandatory for street food and chipa — carry 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 PYG notes.
Touchdown at Silvio Pettirossi: Getting Online Before You Deal With Anything Else
Land at Silvio Pettirossi (ASU) and the first thing you actually need is a working phone. Ride-hailing, a Jaha top-up, the address of your hotel in Spanish — it all assumes you’re online. Sort the eSIM before you board, not after you clear immigration, because the airport Wi-Fi queue is not where you want to be standing with your luggage while a taxi driver quotes you a number you can’t verify.
The National Directorate of Civil Aviation (DINAC) and the municipality of Luque regulate the flat-rate yellow airport taxi services at Silvio Pettirossi Airport. The ride-hailing platforms Uber and Muv are fully legal and permitted to operate under local municipal transport laws in the Greater Asunción area. Both facts were verified against the operators’ current published rules.
| Route / Option | Cost | Rules / Pickup | Cash Accepted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Taxi (ASU to downtown) | 120,000–150,000 PYG | Official rank at the curb | Cash only |
| Muv / Uber | 60,000–80,000 PYG | Designated app pickup zone | In-app payment |
| Colectivo (city bus) | 3,400 PYG | Requires Jaha / Más card | No — card only |
Jaha and Más: The Bus Card Nobody Explains Properly
Asunción’s colectivos are cheap, frequent, and completely cashless. Drivers do not take money. You need a Jaha or Más contactless transit card, and you buy it before you board — from a pharmacy like Punto Farma or a kiosk. Tap it on the validator when you get on. That’s the whole system, and it’s the single thing that trips up most first-time visitors, because every instinct says “just hand the driver a note.”
Load more than you think you need the first time. Topping up means finding another pharmacy or kiosk during business hours, and if you’re mid-route with an empty card you’re walking. For broader visitor info, the Paraguay Secretariat of Tourism (SENATUR) portal is worth a bookmark.
Guaraníes, Cards and the Chipa Vendor Who Takes Neither
Paraguay’s currency is the Guaraní (PYG), and the split between card and cash is sharper here than in most of South America. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in modern supermarkets, shopping malls, upscale hotels and restaurants in Asunción. Local markets, street food stalls and chipa vendors only take cash. Carry small notes — 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 PYG — because handing over a 100,000 for a 3,400 bus fare or a bag of chipa is a good way to lose the difference.
For withdrawals, use ATMs attached to bank branches rather than freestanding machines on the street. And always decline DCC at the machine — choose to be billed in PYG, not your home currency, or you’ll pay a spread you didn’t agree to.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Currency | Paraguayan Guaraní (PYG) |
| Cards accepted | Visa and Mastercard in supermarkets, malls, upscale restaurants |
| Cash mandatory | Local markets, street food stalls, chipa vendors |
| Notes to carry | 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 PYG |
| Transit card | Jaha or Más, bought at pharmacies like Punto Farma |
| Airport taxi | 120,000–150,000 PYG flat, cash only |
Connectivity: Tigo, Personal or a Travel eSIM
Tigo Paraguay has the largest network footprint — reliable signal even out in the rural Chaco. Personal Paraguay is competitive in the cities, with excellent speeds in Asunción, Ciudad del Este and Encarnación. Both require you to present your passport at an official store to buy a local physical SIM, and that can mean a long wait. A travel eSIM skips the queue entirely: activate by QR code before departure, land already connected, top up in the app. For trips under two weeks it’s simply faster than hunting for a registered SIM.
| Option | ID needed | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tigo | Yes | Widest LTE, reaches the Chaco | Locals, long stays, rural travel |
| Personal | Yes | Strong speeds in Asunción, Ciudad del Este, Encarnación | City trips |
| TravelyData eSIM | No | Connects to both networks | Tourists, instant activation |
Tereré Etiquette and Staying Well: The Social Rules Nobody Writes Down
Tereré is the national social beverage — cold-infused yerba mate with ice and crushed medicinal herbs called yuyos — and sharing it is a cornerstone of Paraguayan culture. If someone offers you the guampa, take it. That’s a sign of friendship, not a courtesy you wave off. Drink the whole cup until it makes a slurping sound, then hand it back to the host, the cebador, who refills and passes it on. The one rule that matters: only say “gracias” when you’re done and don’t want another round. Say it too early and you’ve just ended the conversation.
On water: skip the tap. Stick to bottled water to avoid stomach trouble, and if you’re trying street food like chipa — the savory cheese and starch bread — buy from busy, high-turnover stalls where the stock doesn’t sit around.
From the streets of Asunción to the ruins of Trinidad, Paraguay rewards people who’ve done ten minutes of homework. A Jaha card, a pocket of small guaraníes, and a TravelyData eSIM on your phone and you’ll move through the country like you’ve been here before.
FAQ: Paraguay Connectivity and Travel
Can I pay with credit cards in Asunción?
Yes, credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted in supermarkets, shopping centers, and upscale restaurants in Asunción. However, cash is required for local markets and street food.
What is Tereré?
Tereré is the national beverage of Paraguay. It is a cold-infused yerba mate drink mixed with ice and crushed medicinal herbs, typically shared among friends.
How do I pay for city buses in Asunción?
Public buses in Asunción do not accept cash. You must buy a Jaha or Más transit card from pharmacies and tap it on the validator when boarding.
How much is a taxi from Silvio Pettirossi Airport to downtown Asunción?
Official yellow airport taxis charge a regulated flat rate of roughly 120,000 to 150,000 PYG (about $20–$25 USD) to downtown Asunción, payable only in cash.
Are Uber and Muv legal in Paraguay?
Yes. The ride-hailing platforms Uber and Muv are fully legal and permitted to operate under local municipal transport laws in the Greater Asunción area. They depart from designated zones outside the arrivals terminal and typically cost 60,000–80,000 PYG to downtown.
Which carrier has the best coverage in Paraguay?
Tigo Paraguay has the largest network footprint, providing reliable signals even in the rural Chaco region. Personal Paraguay offers excellent speeds and competitive coverage in Asunción, Ciudad del Este and Encarnación.
Do I need a passport to buy a local SIM in Paraguay?
Yes. Buying a local physical SIM card requires presenting your passport at an official store, which can involve long wait times. A travel eSIM from TravelyData connects you instantly to both networks upon arrival with no registration.
Paraguay eSim
