BootsnAll Travel Community

Hey - are they any buses that run from Puerto Iguazu to Asuncion, or Encarnacion (where the Jesuit ruins are)? Also, are there buses that run from Asuncion to Salta? Im trying to plan out the next step of my journey, so any advice on these routes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I have just travelled through Paraguay recently. I know at the main bus terminal in Asunción there are lots of companies selling tickets for destinations in argentina, brazil, uruguay etc etc...

How was it? I was going to check out Asuncion and the ruins around Encarnacion...do you have any tips/recommendations? Do you think a week or so is sufficient enough to see everything? Digame!

I have to say I quite enjoyed Paraguay; I was very curious to see it because hardly anyone goes there. And for a change I found it refreshing to be not surrounded by backpackers and be in a place that´s not set up for tourism... It´s the polar opposite of somewhere like Cusco, La Paz, Quito etc etc

I think I spent about 8 days there and went to Asunción, Concepción, Encarnación and Ciudad Del Este. I didn´t visit any of the Jesuit missions or Mennonite communites or even the chaco region further north, I didn´t want to... I was simply curious to see the people, the culture, the streets and the land.

I have done a short story in my travelblog on the link below if you´d like to read it. I think a week to ten days is certainly sufficient time because it´s not a big country at all. Go for it, I am glad I did.

Just read your blog entry...good stuff. Be sure to check mine in a few weeks or so...if you still have an interest in the fine country of Paraguay! Can you recommend anywhere to stay/go out in Asuncion? Well, this is all assuming the visa process doesnt go too badly - its incredible the Paraguayan govt apparently wants $56 bucks, 2 passport photos, proof of financial stability, and a entrance and return ticket (for US citizens, dont know if you are one because you didnt mention any of this)...youd think a poor country like this could benefit from tourism and make it a little easier to get in, but hey, I guess the fact that no one goes is what its all about anyway.

Asunción? I was there during the week unfortunately, so didn't really see any nightlife. I went looking for a bar called the Brittania (I think) which the guide books say is a backpacker bar - but I couldn't find it?? Maybe it has shut down or something? you will e surprised how eeerily quiet the streets are sometimes at night or late afternoon, there seems to be no-one there sometimes.

I spent the weekend in Concepción, there are no real bars there just a lot of road-side cafes and restaurants where everyones sits to gawp at the boy-racers with their pumping sound systems and girls on their scooters, but everyone seems to gather at the main junction on their scooters, to chat, laugh and drink... I stayed at the Hotel Concepción, near the market, and it was OK at 4 or 5 dollars a night??

I will read your blog when it is done, I'd be interested in someone else's opinion of Paraguay...

Good luck with the visa.
Jamie

I don't think there are buses that go from Ciudad del Este to Iguazu or vice versa - at least there weren't years ago when I made the trip. I hired a taxi to take me to Iguazu and it wasn't that expensive (this was 1992, mind).

the brit(britannia) does still exist, in fact it is one of the very few places to go out in asuncion where the people are just chill, and not look you up and down judging you upon entry.

if you like electronic music, there is a pub called oshun lounge, with couches and great music.

precisely for the reason mentioned by jgb, i chose asuncion over lima and quito. experiencing life with paraguayabns. i have been here 16 months, and would happily answer any more qs:

sunaustin@yahoo.com

peace and chipas,
austin

16 months! Please divulge - whats keeping you there? I dont know much about the country so itd be great to have a little something something to look forward to.

Gracias!

fwiw i know there are buses from motevideo, uruguay to asuncion, paraguay. i tried to get a ticket on said bus until i found out there was something like an $80 tourist visa (tight budget at the time!) mandatory for US citizens. that was like 2.5 years ago so i dont know what the situation is now.

To vivaBarca:

Consider yourself lucky, since Paraguayans (and all Latin Americans) are charged $ 100.00 by the US government to apply for a tourist visa, which most times is denied, although the $ 100.00 fee is not refundable. In additon, they require proof of financial means, roundtrip tickets, and they season all this with very bad temper ! I don't think that for the only reason US citizens are charged $ 56.00 they wouldn't go to Paraguay. If that is the case, there might not be real interest. Europeans are not charged, though. Paraguayans are not charged to travel to Europe.

It's not that no one goes to Paraguay. Wrong. Simple: it's not a major stop for US citizens, probably because of the $ 56.00 ( ). There are more Europeans travelling around, in comparison, and Latin Americans as a whole.

It is a very fine country, if you are looking for what it has to offer. I hope you have the sensibility to find it.

Answer to your questions:

Yes, there are buses from Puerto Yguazú to Ciudad del Este, as well as to Foz do Iguaçú. The frequency from PY to CDE wouldn't be more than every 2 hours, from FI to CDE every 15 minutes; I guess from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. From CDE to Encarnación you'll find at the CDE Bus Terminal some companies that do the 230 Km ride. Try RYSA and Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, both pretty efficient, air-conditioned. From Encarnación to Asunción, needless to say, plenty of service. Just try to avoid the small companies; too many stops and not very safe ride.

Nightlife in Asunción: Try the Colonial Mall on Av. Gral. Genes, on the way from downtown to Shopping del Sol. Plenty of pubs, jazz bars, 9 PM - 4 AM, 7/7. Also, a row of bars and pubs at the Brasilia Avenue, close to the French Hospital. There are some other spots, I just don't remember at the moment their exact location. Summer (December to March) is not a good time of the year for nightlife, although there are still places to hang. During summer, you might consider heading to San Bernardino (42 Km from Asunción), where nightlife is round the clock.

Have a great trip and enjoy the good things Paraguay has to offer!

Wowow -

First, thanks for all of your valuable advice. Secondly -allow me to take my foot of my mouth. I didnt mean to imply that the US visa system is fair, just that it was a bit suprising that of all of the South American countries that could impose a visa on US citizens - it seemed a bit odd to me that Paraguay would be in the same league as a place like Brazil (even Peru and Ecuador, which see many more visitors than Paraguay dont require visas)...but anyway, I apologize if my comments were misinterpreted.

Thanks again for the suggestions - when (although the question now, unfortunately seems more to be if) I make it there Ill let you know how it works out.

vivabarca,

after traveling around argentina and chile for about 8 months a few years ago, i wanted to take it up a notch. so after getting my teachers certificate, i got a job at the american school in asuncion.

so instead of being a backpACKER, i have had the wonderful oppty to experience infrastructure, cultural differences, and the slow and interesting and exciting process of acculturization.

so i am 18 months in on a 2 year contract.

and now on summer break in mendoza, but tomorrow i am off for 5 weeks in colombia!!!!!

spending time in argentina has given me great perspective on paraguay, some good some bad.

some of the advice about brasilia string of bars is a bit dated. many closed down. nightlife is spotted around the city, and yes, sanber (san bernardino) is hot hot hot all summer long. full beach fashion show, lotta thongs, lotta beautiful people.

living abroad for the first time has been an incredibly rich experience. the backpacker is still alive and well and comes out often, but the idea of living fully within a culture especially one whos language i speak is truly rich.

happy NY!

austin

Austin,
I am new to this and just read your comments regarding Asuncion. I am planning a trip there early next month(feb). I see you are from Oaklnad and I am from the Stockton area. Any tips on a hotel and areas to see? I will be traveling with my girlfirend so am looking for a fairly safe and clean area. I have not heard any negative things about this area so am hoping to do some sightseeing, etc. Have you any idea about flight connections to central america or mexico from asuncion?
Thanks for your input.
viker