Is Paraguay safe to visit? What you need to know

Paraguay is a calm destination for the attentive traveler. The most common problem is petty theft: phones, wallets and moments of distraction. The US State Department advises extra caution in Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepción and San Pedro because of border-related crime. Alto Paraná includes Ciudad del Este, and Amambay includes Pedro Juan Caballero.

Most tourist routes (Asunción, Lake Ypacaraí, Encarnación and the Jesuit missions, the Mennonite Chaco) fall outside that caution list. Still, read up before traveling to the departments mentioned.

• Use your phone discreetly on the sidewalk: «motochorros» (thieves on motorbikes) snatch phones and purses.
• Downtown Asunción empties out at night: get around by Bolt, Uber or taxi instead of walking.
• In crowded markets like Mercado 4, carry only the essentials.
• Leave your passport and valuables in the safe at your lodging.
• In summer, extreme heat is a risk too: hydrate and avoid walking between 11:00 and 16:00.

Bolt, Uber and MUV (a Paraguayan app) work in Greater Asunción; Uber and MUV also in Encarnación, and Ciudad del Este has app service with variable coverage. They are the most practical and safest way to get around without a car, especially at night. Bolt is usually the cheapest.

Street taxis often don't use a meter: agree on the price before getting in. Ordering one by phone or through your hotel is safer than hailing one on the street at night. From the airport to downtown, an app costs roughly ₲80,000-150,000 and a taxi ₲100,000-180,000.

By day, in the commercial area and paying attention, yes: millions of people visit for shopping. The city is the storefront of the tri-border area, next to the Friendship Bridge (Ponte da Amizade), and its downtown is a hive of activity.

• Watch your belongings in the crowd.
• Buy from established stores and ask for a receipt.
• Be wary of very cheap electronics: they may be counterfeit or without warranty.
• Avoid street money changers and middlemen who offer to «handle» paperwork.
• At night the downtown empties out: use a car or an app.
• Get your entry stamped at Migraciones and keep any receipt they give you.

This guide has no specific data on gender-based harassment, so we won't invent numbers. What works is the common sense of any Latin American capital:

• At night, use Bolt, Uber or MUV, or call a taxi by phone.
• Use your phone discreetly and avoid empty downtown streets.
• Save useful numbers in your phone: 137 is SOS Mujer, for violence against women.
• Choose well-reviewed lodging and share your location with someone you trust.
• If you head inland or to the Chaco, go with a guide: isolation and heat are bigger risks than crime.

• Dengue: the Aedes mosquito is most active from November to April. Use repellent and long sleeves.
• Vaccines: none are mandatory for most visitors, but the CDC recommends yellow fever if you leave Asunción, at least 10 days before.
• Water: inland or in the Chaco, prefer bottled water.
• Driving: avoid driving at night because of animals and vehicles without lights.

Emergencies: Police 911, Fire 132, SEME ambulances 141 (these three are free calls) and SOS Mujer 137. SENATUR's Turista Róga at Palma 468: +595 21 494 110. Carry travel insurance: private clinics in Asunción see patients quickly with insurance.