Is Paraguay safe?
Welcome to our Paraguay safety guide.
Although it’s the real heart of South America (both geographically and also culturally with its own unique scenes), Paraguay remains a mystery to most travelers who don’t end up visiting.
However with the best preserved Jesuit ruins in all of Latin America, expansive lands of the Chaco as well as the indigenous Guaraní culture, Paraguay is a real eye-opener.
Paraguay Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: South America
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Moderate
- ⏱ Time needed: 1 Week
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: February/March
Is Paraguay safe?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in Paraguay as a backpacker or traveler.
We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.
We would advise any travelers who are thinking of heading to Paraguay to prepare properly before arriving, and to get in touch with us where we can offer more guidance.
Is Paraguay Safe Right Now?
Quick Answer: Yes – Paraguay remains one of the safest countries you can visit in South America, however it still comes with its own risks. Areas like Encarnación, the Chaco (with a tour of course) and parts of Asunción are really safe for travelers, who can explore both during the day and night alone without having to worry.
However there are some areas that will need to be treated with caution, such as Ciudad del Este and areas of Asunción (such as Dr. Ricardo Brugada) which are best avoided given the high levels of poverty and increasingly reckless attempts of theft and other crimes. We’ll explore these issues and how to stay safe as we continue in this guide.
Paraguay Travel Warnings
The main travel warning is for the borders with Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, given there’s lots of drug trafficking activity (and associated violence) in these areas. Given the vast majority of travelers cross into Paraguay via these land borders, it’s something you’ll need to keep in mind when you enter and to keep your guard up.
Armed robbery (usually on motorcycles) is a big risk in the bigger cities like Ciudad del Este and Asunción, so avoid walking out with your phone and keeping anything valuable either in your accommodation or stored safely in a secure Money Belt or the nearest equivalent.
Your biggest worry here will be hygiene. Many parts of Paraguay are very poor and lack any kind of safety standards, which can increase the risk of getting sick. Always avoid eating unwashed fruits, make sure meats are well cooked as well as only drinking sealed bottled water.
Where to Stay in Paraguay
Asunción – The area of Catedral is one of the safest for tourists, which also has many worthwhile sites to visit. The Nomada Hostel is our favourite in the capital (and in all of Paraguay!). This is because of the friendly staff, perfect location as well as having an on-site swimming pool.
Encarnación – The whole city is pretty safe, although the area of San Blas is our personal choice for a stay. Here you can stay at The Mandala Hotel, who offer sleek private rooms for a good rate. As well as offering an on-site bar, you’ll also be close to the Plaza de Armas and main city beach.
Ciudad del Este – Area 1 (as it’s known locally) is the safest area to stay in Ciudad del Este, which has a more residential feel. The Hummingbird Hostel is best for those on a budget, where you’ll be just a few blocks from the Lago de la República. Those After a more deluxe experience will want to stay at the nearby Central Park CDE, who offer more comfortable, private rooms.
Things to do in Paraguay
Although it’s not on the hot tourist trail like other South American nations (given it lacks wonders such as Machu Picchu or Patagonia), there’s still many incredible things to see when in Paraguay.
The Jesuit Mission Ruins here are a prime example, and are the oldest of their kind in all of Latin America. There’s two particularly good sites which are located close to Encarnación, which are La Santisima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesus de Tavarangüe where we’ll see crumbling temples which were once home to the ancient Guaraní people (natives who still live in Paraguay to this day).
Paraguay is also home to some really breathtaking nature. El Chaco is the best area to visit, which is located in the untouched west of the country, and covers over 60% of the entire nation! You can head on a multi-day adventure tour here, where you can see rare biomes and animals such as Pink Armadillos, Jaguars, Howler Monkeys and various endemic bird species.
The cities of Paraguay also have some unique, smaller attractions to visit too. Near to Ciudad del Este we can find the Itaipu Dam, which is the most powerful of its kind on earth and serves Paraguay with over 70% of its electrical needs. In Asunción there’s various palaces and the panteón for history buffs, which you can see with all within one day with this fully-customisable tour, whilst beach lovers can even chill out on the man-made beaches in Encarnación!
Is Paraguay Safe to visit?
Below we’ll take a look at the current safety situation in Paraguay.
Crime in Paraguay
When comparing all South American countries, Paraguay is actually among the safest of them all (along with Uruguay, Chile and Argentina).
This is most prevalent in the smaller towns as well as the city of Encarnación, which are mostly safe to walk around both during the day and night (of course there’s always some dodgy areas, so it’s best to seek guidance from locals wherever you go).
There is however still a risk of petty theft such as pickpocketing and car jacking, which usually happens in the rougher neighbourhoods (on the contrary, the Plaza de Armas in Encarnación is a safe area where this rarely happens).
Most issues usually happen in the big cities of Ciudad del Este and Asunción. Ciudad del Este in particular is the worst, given it’s a major drug smuggling route as well as having high levels of poverty. You can walk around during the day, however at night it’s a completely different story.
Asunción is safe in certain areas such as Catedral, where you can walk freely during the day. At night it’s not so bad, however it’s better to use Uber when heading longer distances (especially to the built-up district of Las Mercedes, where the areas in-between aren’t particularly safe).
According to data collected by Numbeo, Paraguay scored 50.56 on the crime index (0 being the safest whilst 100 the most dangerous). For reference, Peru scored 67.51 whilst Uruguay scored 51.92.
What parts of Paraguay are safe?
The safest areas for tourists to visit in Paraguay are Encarnación, San Lorenzo and Asunción (Catedral and Las Mercedes districts).
You can easily walk around by yourself during the day without issues, although it’s still best to keep valuables locked up at home (especially if heading into markets or unknown neighbourhoods).
Just remember that many parts of Paraguay are still very poor, and for this reason it’s best to dress down (not only for respect, but also to avoid making yourself a target by drawing too much attention to yourself).
Paraguay Safety at Night
Again, areas in Encarnación and San Lorenzo are great for heading out at night, where it feels safe in the main touristy areas.
When in Asunción you can easily explore alone or party in the evening, however only in the areas of Las Mercedes and Catedral. Anywhere else can feel rougher and not so safe, especially since tourists can be targeted for theft.
Ciudad del Este is another kettle of fish, which of course divides tourists on either side. The only real safe area to walk around during the evening is Area 1, which is located west of the Lago de la República. There’s also some nice nightlife here, and you can have a good time if you follow our precautions.
Got travel insurance for Paraguay?
7 Safety Tips for Paraguay
Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when heading to Paraguay.
1. Dress Down
Much of Paraguay is still very poor, and you’ll feel this especially when traveling in from bordering Chile or Argentina. Aside from being more humble and respectful, dressing down will also help you avoid getting robbed or assaulted. Of course if going out for the night and using taxis then you’re fine to dress how you want, but this tip is more for when heading out during the day, visiting public markets etc.
2. Only Drink Bottled Water
As with pretty much every other country in Latin America, the water systems aren’t exactly known for their reliability here in Paraguay. Showering or washing clothes is absolutely fine, however when drinking you’ll only want to stick to sealed bottles of water which are safe for consumption. Even a reliable water purifier like this one is suitable. Otherwise you can get really ill from drinking tap water, and at best spend a few days hunched over the toilet.
3. Head with Reliable Tours when Exploring Further Afield
Travelers who are looking to explore wild regions such as the Chaco will need to go with a tour. Whilst there are many local companies, they can be quite hit or miss when it comes to reliability, or even following usual safety procedures. We instead recommend heading with this memorable multi-day tour, where you’ll have a professional guide take you around the best spots…
4. Use Ubers in the Major Cities
Uber is active in all major areas of Paraguay, including those of Ciudad del Este, Asunción and Encarnación. Whilst street smart travelers will be fine using public transport, it’s pretty hectic to say the least with many irregular stops (as well as having its own safety risks). Uber is much quicker and more efficient, with prices not being too bad on the wallet either. If you’re going to use public transport, just remember to dress down a bit and keep valuables in your front pockets.
5. Avoid Walking with your Phone Out
Whilst violent crime against tourists is rare in Paraguay, sometimes theft can be acted out with some serious threats (such as criminals on motorcycles who have a gun or knife on them). They usually spot targets either with a phone or something as valuable out in plane view, so don’t do it! If you need to check something (or are lost), then head into a local shop and check inconspicuously.
6. Get Travel Insurance before Arriving
Despite being such a safe country to explore, there’s still the everyday risks that can occur and halt your plans somewhat. This includes having your phone stolen or getting sick from eating out. World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
7. Be Sure to get Necessary Vaccinations for Paraguay
Hygiene isn’t Paraguay’s strongest point (although we do hate to generalise the whole country, since some areas are doing a great job). This is especially so in the busy markets and less developed towns and cities. You’ll want to get your usual boosts like Typhoid and Hepatitis A. There’s also a risk of Yellow Fever and Chikunguyna too which are spread by mosquitoes, so be sure to bring some quality mosquito repellant with you too. As always consult with your doctor to know exactly what you’ll need before visiting.
Paraguay Safety FAQ Guide:
Is Paraguay Safe? Final Words
And that’s all for our guide on how to stay safe in Paraguay.
Whilst not the most visited country in Latin America, Paraguay offers a really unique gateway into the real life and culture of this continent (no over-touristy parts here!). Here in Paraguay we can interact with the ancient Guaraní people who still live here to this day alongside the Paraguayans, as well as visiting many of the ancient sites they once built.
This country is also really safe for a visit too. With some solid preparation you can easily explore both the cities and more remote areas without an issue. Even if you do end up staying for just a short time (like most do), it’ll be a really memorable stint along your longer South America backpacking trip.
In this guide, we’ve explored the current safety situation in Paraguay, which includes the areas to avoid, as well as any current travel advisories. As well as looking at the best things to do in Paraguay, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.
While you’re still here, be sure to read our backpacking Paraguay Itinerary for more tips and travel inspiration.
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