Getting Here & Around

By Air

Asunción's Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi (ASU) is 15 km (9 mi) northeast of downtown. The airport seems to jostle to life with each arrival and departure, and then drifts back to sleep until the the next flight. Few international airlines serve the airport, and it receives no long-haul flights, making connecting in another South American city necessary to arrive in Asunción.

Taxis are the most practical means of getting to town, and they charge a fixed rate of G93,000. The airport information desk can tell you the exact rate. It can also arrange for an ómnibus special whenever there are six or more passengers. This costs G35,000 per person, and will take you to any address in downtown Asunción.

By Bus

All intercity services leave from Terminal de Ómnibus Asunción, located east of downtown. The three major bus companies, La Encarnaceña, Pluma, and Rápido Yguazú, also have information booths on Plaza Uruguaya.

Asunción's spiffy public buses run every 10 minutes during the day. The fare is G2,000. As in all big cities, watch your belongings carefully.

By Car

Unless you plan to travel out of town, avoid renting a car—driving in Asunción can be a nerve-racking experience. Aggressive bus drivers, confusing routes, and never-ending road construction make even Paraguayans (who rarely follow traffic rules) nervous. Few downtown intersections have stoplights. Negotiate them carefully.