Paraguay
Common tourist scams in Paraguay and how to avoid them
Paraguay's main tourist scams are small and cash-based: short-changing and counterfeit guaraní notes, inflated taxi fares from Asunción airport and bus terminals, card skimming, and unofficial 'helpers' at borders and checkpoints. Violent crime against visitors is rare. Pay in exact change, use ride-hailing apps, and keep cards in sight.
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GuideParaguay
Key facts
- Most common
- Short-changing and fake guaraní notes; taxi overcharging; card skimming
- Where
- Asunción airport, bus terminals, Ciudad del Este border and shopping area
- Currency reality
- Guaraní (PYG, ₲); cash is king outside Asunción
- Card risk
- Keep the card in sight; use bank ATMs inside branches or malls
- Language
- Little English; Spanish or Guaraní helps you refuse a hard sell
- Emergency number
- 911 (police); 141 ambulance in Asunción
- If scammed
- Do not chase; report to police (911) for insurance, cancel the card if skimmed
Details by step
Arrival is where most of the money is lost. At Silvio Pettirossi airport in Asunción and at the bus terminals, drivers outside the rank quote a flat 'tourist' price that can be several times the metered fare. Agree the price or insist on the meter before you get in, or book through a ride-hailing app so the fare is fixed in the app. If a driver says the meter is broken, take the next car.
On the street, the classic move is the short-change: you hand over a large note, the seller counts it back short, or claims you gave a smaller note. Guaraní notes run into the tens and hundreds of thousands, so it is easy to lose track. Pay with close-to-exact change where you can, count your change in front of the seller, and keep small notes separate from big ones. Counterfeit ₲50,000 and ₲100,000 notes circulate; check the watermark and thread when a vendor hands you change.
Card skimming happens at some ATMs and at small shops that take your card away to a back room. Use ATMs inside bank branches, supermarkets or shopping malls during the day, cover the keypad, and never let your card leave your sight. If a terminal is 'offline' and the seller wants to write down your card number, pay cash instead.
At the Ciudad del Este border and in the shopping district, unofficial 'guides' offer to speed up paperwork or change money at a great rate. Use the official immigration counters and change money at a bank or a licensed casa de cambio. The same applies at police checkpoints on the main routes: police checkpoints are common, so carry your passport or a copy, stay calm, and ask for a receipt if a fine is demanded.
A softer scam is the friendly stranger who speaks English, offers to show you a market or a cheap hotel, then steers you to a shop or a tour at an inflated price. It is not dangerous, just expensive. Politely decline and keep your own plan.
Summary table
| Scam | Where it happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi overcharging | Asunción airport, bus terminals | Ride-hailing app or agree the meter first |
| Short-changing | Markets, small shops, taxis | Pay exact change; count change before leaving |
| Counterfeit notes | Street vendors, change from taxis | Check watermark and thread on ₲50,000 and ₲100,000 |
| Card skimming | Some ATMs, small shops | Use bank or mall ATMs; keep card in sight |
| Fake 'helper' at the border | Ciudad del Este, checkpoints | Use official counters; change money at a bank |
| Inflated tour or shop pitch | Tourist areas, markets | Decline; book tours through your hotel or a known agency |
Tips
Carry a mix of notes so you can pay close to exact. Keep a small 'taxi' stash of ₲10,000–₲50,000 notes in one pocket and larger notes elsewhere.
Photograph your passport and entry stamp, and keep a paper copy with you. Police checkpoints are common on main routes, and a copy is usually enough for a routine check.
Set up your bank's travel notice and a card-free payment app before you fly. If a card is skimmed, you can freeze it from your phone.
Learn a few Spanish phrases for refusing: 'No, gracias' and 'Está bien así' go a long way when someone is pushing a service.
Cash is king outside Asunción, so plan withdrawals for daytime at a bank or mall ATM rather than late at night on the street.
Questions people ask
What are the most common tourist scams in Paraguay?
Short-changing and counterfeit guaraní notes, taxi overcharging from Asunción airport and bus terminals, card skimming at some ATMs and shops, and unofficial 'helpers' at the Ciudad del Este border. Most are about money, not safety. Pay exact change and use ride-hailing apps.
Is Paraguay safe from pickpockets?
Pickpocketing is less common than in big South American capitals, but it happens in Asunción markets, bus terminals and the Ciudad del Este shopping area. Keep your phone and wallet out of back pockets, and do not flash large notes. Violent crime against visitors is rare.
What should I do if I am scammed in Paraguay?
Do not chase the person. For a card skim, freeze the card through your bank app immediately. For a theft or a demand for money, report it at a police station or call 911 for an insurance or police record. Keep receipts and any messages as evidence.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialU.S. Department of State – Paraguay travel advisory
- officialUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Paraguay travel advice
- officialGovernment of Canada – Paraguay travel advice
- officialSmartraveller (Australia) – Paraguay
- officialSafeTravel (New Zealand) – Paraguay
- officialDepartment of Foreign Affairs (Ireland) – Paraguay