Before leaving for Paraguay, there are five things to sort out: entry formalities, travel insurance, the flight ticket, currency exchange and your luggage. I detailed each one in a dedicated page, with sources from official sites (France Diplomatie, airlines, central banks) and regular updates. This central page serves as a thread: it summarises the essentials of each step, proposes a concrete timeline so nothing is left to the last minute, and also covers the special cases that are too often absent from generalist guides.
The 5 Steps Before You Leave
Ma checklist voyage
…Key things to remember
- •No visa required for EU, Switzerland and Canada for tourist stays under 90 days
- •Travel insurance with medical repatriation is strongly recommended
- •Flight from Europe: 14 to 18h with stopover, book 2 to 3 months ahead
- •The local currency is the guarani (PYG): exchange upon arrival for a better rate
- •Luggage adapted to subtropical climate: light clothing, rain jacket, mosquito repellent
These five steps are not simple boxes to tick: each one partly conditions the others. The choice of travel period influences the ticket price, the climate to pack for in your luggage, and even the level of health coverage needed. I recommend tackling them in a precise order: first the dates and overall budget, then the formalities and insurance (which may require administrative time), and finally the ticket, currency exchange and luggage, which are finalised in the last weeks.
- 11. Formalities and Visas: entry conditions by nationality, length of stay, extension.
- 22. Travel Insurance: what it must cover and why it is essential.
- 33. Flight Ticket: routes, airlines, prices, best times to book.
- 44. Currency Exchange: guarani, dollars, bank cards, where and how to exchange.
- 55. Packing: what to bring depending on the season and regions visited.
- 6Bonus: When to Go?: climate, seasons, events to choose your dates.
Timeline, Budget and Special Cases
A well-prepared trip starts three months before departure. Here is the timeline I recommend, built from real deadlines: the processing time for a visa application if needed, the period before a yellow fever vaccine takes effect, and the optimal booking window for flights. This timeline is indicative: a last-minute trip can be put together in three weeks if you accept paying a higher ticket price.
| Step by step before you leave | |
|---|---|
| D-90 to D-60 | Set your dates, compare flights, check passport validity (6 months after return) |
| D-60 to D-45 | Book the flight, take out travel insurance, check recommended vaccinations |
| D-30 | Get yellow fever vaccine if needed, prepare administrative documents |
| D-15 | Notify your bank of the trip, order cash, check card limits |
| D-7 | Pack your bags, print documents, verify all formalities are up to date |
| D-1 | Confirm online check-in, prepare your carry-on bag |
Beyond the flight ticket, several costs add up before you even leave: RT ticket (800-1,200 EUR), insurance (40-120 EUR), vaccinations (0-80 EUR), luggage gear (50-200 EUR) and initial cash (100-200 EUR). These ranges are detailed in each dedicated page. If you are travelling with a passport from outside the EU, Switzerland or Canada, check the formalities and visas page to verify the specific requirements for your nationality.
Estimated Budget
| Estimated budget for a 2-week trip to Paraguay (2026) | |
|---|---|
| Flight RT from Europe | 800-1200 EUR (~7-10M PYG) |
| Accommodation (13 nights, mid-range) | 390-650 EUR (~3.3-5.5M PYG) (30-50 EUR/night) |
| Meals (14 days) | 140-280 EUR (~1.2-2.4M PYG) (10-20 EUR/day) |
| Local transport (bus, taxi) | 70-150 EUR (~600K-1.3M PYG) |
| Activities, visits, parks | 60-150 EUR (~510K-1.3M PYG) |
| Travel insurance | 30-60 EUR (~255K-510K PYG) |
| Estimated total budget | 1490-2490 EUR (~12.7-21.2M PYG) |
Most Common Mistakes
After cross-referencing numerous testimonials, some mistakes come up repeatedly in trip preparation: leaving without insurance thinking your bank card is enough (repatriation limits are usually too low), underestimating travel time (14-18h minimum with a stopover), and overlooking the fact that ATMs are scarce outside Asuncion.
Another classic mistake: booking a flight without checking the actual duration of layovers. Some combinations via North America impose 8 to 10-hour connections that extend the journey by an entire day. Many travellers also arrive with currency already exchanged in Europe, when the rate obtained at the destination is usually more favourable. Finally, leaving with only one bank card exposes you to a complete block if an ATM swallows it. I recommend two different payment methods and a cash reserve.
Preparing a trip with children or pets is slightly more complicated. For families, the main challenge remains health: age-appropriate vaccines, a complete medicine kit, and greater attention to hydration in hot weather, detailed in the hygiene and health page. For a pet, Paraguayan rules (rabies vaccination, microchip, deadlines) are precise and must be prepared several weeks in advance, see the pets and expatriation page.
What I Would Do Differently
If I were leaving again today, I would book the flight as soon as the dates are set, without endlessly comparing prices: on routes to Asuncion, the difference between booking at D-75 and D-30 often exceeds 300 EUR, far more than any comparison site can save you by hunting for the perfect deal. I would also take out insurance before booking accommodation rather than after: some policies cover cancellation from the moment of purchase, protecting the budget already committed.
Finally, I would spend more time choosing the period based on the regions rather than just on my personal calendar: the Chaco, the East and the South do not have the same climate at the same time, a point detailed in the when to go page, and it directly changes what you pack and the level of health coverage needed. After departure, preparation continues on the ground: identifying reliable ATMs, knowing common scams (scams and safety page) and understanding food hygiene rules (hygiene and health page). If your stay turns into a long-term settlement, the Expatriation in Paraguay section takes over.
Where This Information Comes From
Every figure is cross-checked against an official source: France Diplomatie for travel advice, the General Directorate of Migration for entry conditions, the Central Bank of Paraguay for exchange rates, the WHO and CDC for health recommendations. Price ranges are regularly verified rather than set in stone.
I do not live in Paraguay myself: El Paraguayo is a guide built from France, cross-referencing official sources, traveller testimonials and systematic verification. It is a limitation I acknowledge. The details of this process are explained on the about page. If you spot inaccurate information, the contribute page explains how to report it, and I maintain a corrections log.
Last updated:
Sources
- France Diplomatie: Travel Advice Paraguay (2025)
- SENATUR: Tourist Information Paraguay
- IATA Travel Centre: Paraguay
- General Directorate of Migration: Paraguay (2025)
- WHO: Paraguay Country Health Profile (2024)
- CDC: Travel Health Notices Paraguay (2025)
- Central Bank of Paraguay: Foreign Currency Exchange Rates (2025)
- Budget Your Trip: Paraguay Travel Costs (2024)
My method
This page is written from France, sourced as carefully as possible, but I can be wrong or miss on-the-ground detail. A price that changed, outdated info, a photo to share? Every correction is credited if you want.
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