How to get to Paraguay: airports, flights and border crossings

Asunción's Silvio Pettirossi International (ASU) is the only airport most travellers should consider. It handles the country's international traffic, sits about 20–30 minutes from the centre, and has the connections that make a trip work. If you are building a first itinerary, fly here, spend two nights, then move on by road.

Ciudad del Este's Guaraní International (AGT) is useful only in one case: you are combining Paraguay with Iguazú Falls on the Brazilian or Argentine side. Flights are few and schedules change, so treat it as a bonus, not a plan. Encarnación (ENO) has had little or no scheduled international service in recent years — check before you book anything routed through it.

There are no nonstop flights from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand. Expect one or two stops, usually through Panama City, São Paulo, Lima, Buenos Aires or Madrid. Total travel time from the US east coast is roughly 12–18 hours door to door; from Europe 15–22 hours; from Australia or New Zealand 30 hours or more with two or three stops.

From the United States, the common routings go through Panama City (Copa), São Paulo (LATAM, Gol), Lima or Buenos Aires. There is no nonstop, so build in a connection of at least two hours. From Canada, add a US or Panama stop. From the UK and Ireland, Madrid and São Paulo are the usual hubs; Lisbon works too. From Australia and New Zealand, expect two or three stops, often via Santiago, São Paulo or Dubai plus a South American connection.

Fares swing widely by season and how early you book. As a rough 2026 estimate, return fares from the US run about USD 700–1,300, from Europe about USD 900–1,500, and from Australia or New Zealand about USD 1,600–2,600. Book two to four months ahead for the better bands; December, January and Carnival week in Encarnación are the peaks.

Paraguay has three practical land entries. From Brazil, the Friendship Bridge at Ciudad del Este is the busiest and most straightforward: you cross on foot or by bus, clear Brazilian exit and Paraguayan entry, and you are in. From Argentina, the San Roque González de Santa Cruz bridge between Posadas and Encarnación is the easy southern route, and the Clorinda–Asunción road via Formosa is the other. From Bolivia, the Chaco route through Mariscal Estigarribia is remote and for self-drivers with proper preparation.

Bring your passport, expect two separate checks (exit and entry), and carry some cash for small fees or bus fares. Hours vary by post and can change on holidays — check the day before you travel. Bus services link Asunción with São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Posadas and Santa Cruz de la Sierra; journeys are long, often overnight, and border formalities happen at the crossing.

Paraguay is landlocked, so there is no sea arrival. River transport on the Paraguay and Paraná rivers is mostly freight, with some passenger boats and ferries on local stretches rather than international routes. Do not plan an international arrival by boat; use air or land instead.

Check your visa or entry requirements before booking — rules differ by passport, and some nationalities pay a reciprocity fee on arrival at Asunción. Have proof of onward travel and accommodation ready if asked. Your passport should have at least six months' validity.

At ASU there are ATMs, exchange desks and taxi counters. Change enough for the first day; outside Asunción, cards are less reliable and cash is king. A taxi or ride-hailing car to central Asunción takes about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Buy a local eSIM or SIM at the airport or in the city if you need data straight away.

If you are heading to the Chaco, Mennonite towns such as Filadelfia and Neuland are reached by road from Asunción, often via Mariscal Estigarribia; plan fuel and water stops. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is worth having for remote areas.

Book flights early for December, January and Carnival week in Encarnación. If your trip combines Paraguay with Iguazú, consider flying into Foz do Iguaçu or Puerto Iguazú and crossing by land to Ciudad del Este, then continuing to Asunción. If you are coming from Bolivia overland, allow extra days and check road conditions in the dry season.

Once you are in, getting around is by long-distance bus, hired car or domestic flight; the bus network reaches most towns but journeys are slow. Sort your accommodation and budget before you arrive, and check the best months for the regions you want.