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Voykit pocket guide · Paraguay
San Bernardino
Go for a weekend day-trip or one night if you want Paraguay's liveliest lake resort, but skip swimming — the water is polluted. Best in summer (Jan–Feb) for the party scene.
San Bernardino is Paraguay's classic summer resort on Lake Ypacarai, about 50 km east of Asunción. It's packed with young crowds on weekends in January and February, with boat sports, bars and a German-influenced town centre. The lake is no longer safe for swimming, but the atmosphere and water sports still draw visitors. Most people come for a day or a single night.
- Country
- Paraguay
- Best months
- Jan–Feb (high season), also Dec and Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (quiet, some places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PYG
- Money
- Currency is the Paraguayan guaraní (PYG, ₲). About ₲7,000–8,000 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cash dominates outside hotels, malls and larger restaurants in Asunción.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₲150,000–250,000 excl. bed · Mid ₲250,000–450,000 excl. bed · High ₲450,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Tigo, Personal and Claro; prepaid SIMs with a passport at shops and malls, or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire 911 · Ambulance 141 (check)
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs fit most sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10% if not included.; Taxi / app: Round up.; Guide: US$5–10 a day.
- Water
- Tap water is treated in Asunción but many drink bottled; bottled outside the city.
- Toilets
- Use malls, restaurants and bus terminals; carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus from Asunción (one way) | ₲15,000–20,000 |
| Coffee | ₲8,000–15,000 |
| Beer (bottle) | ₲8,000–12,000 |
| Simple meal (lunch set) | ₲30,000–50,000 |
| Jet ski rental (1 hour) | ₲100,000–150,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ASU · Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (Asunción)
- About 50 km (31 mi), 1 h by car or busAbout 31 mi (50 km), 1 h by car or bus
Typical fares
- Bus Asunción → San Bernardino
- about ₲15,000–20,000, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi from bus terminal to lakeside
- ₲15,000–25,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable centre; taxis and mototaxis for longer distances. Buses from Asunción drop you near the main square.
See and do
Known for
- Lake Ypacarai
- Summer resort and party scene
- German immigrant heritage
- Water sports (jet skis, boats)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Asunción | Bus from the terminal, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Areguá | Bus or taxi, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Yaguarón | Bus via Asunción or direct, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Lakeside
- Closest to the action, most hotels and hostels; busy on summer weekends.
- Town centre
- Quieter, more affordable; short walk to the lake.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaoh-lah |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto?kwahn-toh |
| Where is the bus? | ¿Dónde está el bus?don-deh es-tah el boos |
| I don't understand | No entiendono en-tee-en-doh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, or a cheek kiss among women and friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días'
- Tereré circle: Say thank you when you want to stop; avoid: Wiping the straw
- Language: Try a Guaraní word (aguyje = thanks); avoid: Calling Guaraní a dialect
- Time: Expect relaxed punctuality (hora paraguaya); avoid: Getting visibly impatient
Scams and watch-outs
- Lake Ypacarai is polluted — do not swim.
- Summer weekends are very crowded; book accommodation ahead.
- Cash is king; few ATMs in town.
San Bernardino is generally safe, but watch your belongings on crowded summer weekends. The lake is polluted — do not swim.
One and two days
No timed day plan for San Bernardino yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lake Ypacarai
- Summer resort and party scene
- German immigrant heritage
- Water sports (jet skis, boats)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: San Bernardino (Paraguay), revision 5251615 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5251615
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
San Bernardino
Lléveme a esta dirección, por favor
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police911
- Fire911
- Ambulance141 (check)
Most embassies are in Asunción; check your country's consular page.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/san-bernardino-paraguay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.