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Paraguay

Paraguay travel guide

South America without the crowds, best seen in the cooler, drier months

Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Photo: Axel Torres / Pexels

Capital
Asunción
Languages
Guarani, Spanish
Currency
Paraguayan guaraní
Time zone
UTC-04:00
Plugs
Type C · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
911

Why visit Paraguay

Paraguay suits independent travellers who want South America without the tourist trail: river towns, Guarani culture and wide-open Chaco landscapes. May to August is the best window, with June, July and August giving cooler, drier weather for getting around. The honest limitation: with no coastline and a small tourism network, you'll need to plan your own routes between Asunción, Ciudad del Este, Encarnación and Filadelfia rather than follow a set itinerary.

  • A clear best season

    Our data ranks July, June, August and May as the best months to visit Paraguay. That gives you a simple 4-month window, May to August, to plan around. Outside it, conditions are rated less favourable, so check the weather before booking.

  • Two languages, one country

    Paraguay uses 2 languages side by side: Spanish and Guarani. Hearing an Indigenous language in everyday use makes the country feel different from its neighbours. Some Spanish will help you get around.

  • A capital of manageable size

    Asunción, the capital, has about 462,241 people. That is small for a South American capital, so it is easier to find your way around than in the region's larger cities.

  • Space and few people

    Paraguay covers 406,752 km² but has only about 6,109,644 people. Its largest city, Asunción, is under half a million. If you want a South American country without mass tourism, this is one to consider.

  • Cities of very different sizes

    You can move from Asunción (462,241 people) to Ciudad del Este (350,000) and Encarnación (106,842), then on to Filadelfia, a town of just 18,210. A route through all 4 gives you both city life and small-town Paraguay.

Is Paraguay right for you?

Great for

  • Cooler-season trips in June, July and August, with highs of about 25–28°C
  • Travellers who want drier days: July averages 42 mm of rain and about 5 rain days
  • Spanish speakers, and anyone curious to hear Guarani, the other official language
  • City-hoppers who like smaller capitals: Asunción has about 462241 people
  • Sun lovers who can handle heat: January averages 11.4 sun hours a day

Less ideal for

  • Beach holidays: none of the main cities listed is on the coast
  • Heat-sensitive travellers in December to February, with highs of 33–34°C and lows near 24–25°C
  • Trips in October to December, the wettest stretch, with 145–175 mm of rain a month

Paraguay right now: November

3.0/10
Avg high
33°C
Avg low
22°C
Rain days
11

Averages for Paraguay.

Weather by month

This climate data covers Paraguay as a whole for 2015–2024, not one named city, and the best months are May to August, when highs are around 25–28°C and July has only 4.9 rain days and 42 mm of rain. Avoid November to March, when highs reach 33.9°C in January and December brings the most rain, at 175 mm.

Average highs and lows in Paraguay by month January: high 34°C, low 25°C , 14 rain days . February: high 33°C, low 24°C , 13 rain days . March: high 32°C, low 23°C , 12 rain days . April: high 30°C, low 21°C , 9 rain days . May: high 26°C, low 18°C , 11 rain days . June: high 25°C, low 17°C , 6 rain days . July: high 26°C, low 16°C , 5 rain days . August: high 28°C, low 18°C , 6 rain days . September: high 31°C, low 20°C , 6 rain days . October: high 32°C, low 22°C , 12 rain days . November: high 33°C, low 22°C , 11 rain days . December: high 33°C, low 24°C , 13 rain days . 34°C 25°C JAN 14d 33°C 24°C FEB 13d 32°C 23°C MAR 12d 30°C 21°C APR 9d 26°C 18°C MAY 11d 25°C 17°C JUN 6d 26°C 16°C JUL 5d 28°C 18°C AUG 6d 31°C 20°C SEP 6d 32°C 22°C OCT 12d 33°C 22°C NOV 11d 33°C 24°C DEC 13d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Paraguay (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Paraguay: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Asunción, Encarnación and Ciudad del Este

  1. Day 1–3

    Asunción

    Start in the capital, home to around 462,241 people. Use these days to settle in and explore the city at a relaxed pace.

  2. Day 4–5

    Encarnación

    Move south to this city of roughly 106,842 residents, smaller and quieter than the capital, good for a slower couple of days.

  3. Day 6–7

    Ciudad del Este

    Finish in Paraguay's second-largest city with about 350,000 people, a busy border town with a very different feel from Asunción.

10 days

Four-city loop across Paraguay

  1. Day 1–3

    Asunción

    Begin in the capital, population around 462,241, and take time to get a feel for the country's biggest urban centre.

  2. Day 4–5

    Filadelfia

    Head out to this small Chaco town of about 18,210 people for a complete change of pace and landscape from the capital.

  3. Day 6–7

    Encarnación

    Travel to Encarnación, with roughly 106,842 residents, for a couple of calmer days away from the bigger cities.

  4. Day 8–10

    Ciudad del Este

    End the trip in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay's second-largest city at about 350,000 people, with three days to explore the border area.

Food to try in Paraguay

Chipa

This is a baked bread ring made from cassava starch, corn flour and cheese. Paraguayans eat it as a snack at any time of day, often alongside coffee or tereré.

Sopa paraguaya

Despite the name, this is not a soup but a dense cornbread made with cheese, onion and milk. It is a staple side dish at family meals and local gatherings.

Chipa guasu

This is a moist corn pudding-like dish made with fresh corn, cheese and eggs. It is often served alongside grilled meat at weekend asados.

Mbejú

This is a thick, pan-fried cassava starch and cheese pancake with a crisp exterior. It is a common breakfast or afternoon snack across the country.

Asado

Paraguayan asado is grilled beef cooked slowly over wood coals, often including sausages and offal cuts. It is the centerpiece of Sunday family gatherings and celebrations.

Tereré

Tereré is cold yerba mate infused with water and herbs, sipped through a metal straw from a shared gourd. Paraguayans drink it throughout the day, especially in the heat, as a social ritual.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Paraguay uses type C plugs with two round pins. The supply is 220 V. Bring an adapter if your plugs are different, and check that your chargers accept 220 V before plugging in.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Paraguay. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first days.
  • Emergency number: Call 911 in an emergency. Save it in your phone before you arrive so you can find it quickly.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Paraguayan guaraní. Check the current exchange rate before you travel so you can judge prices and spot a bad deal when changing money.
  • Languages: Spanish and Guarani are the languages of Paraguay. Learning a few basic Spanish phrases will help with everyday tasks like ordering food, asking directions and buying tickets.
  • Time zone: Paraguay is on UTC-04:00. Check the time difference from home before you book connecting flights or plan calls.
  • Phone calls: The country calling code for Paraguay is +595. Use it when you give your hotel or tour company a number from abroad, or when someone calls you on a local number.

Paraguay: frequently asked questions

Is Paraguay good to visit in August?

Yes. August scores 7.8 out of 10 and falls inside the best months (May to August). Daytime highs average 28.2°C and nights cool to 17.5°C, with only 5.7 rain days and 67 mm of rain. It's drier than the summer months and more comfortable for walking around cities like Asunción.

What is the best time to visit Paraguay?

The best months are May, June, July and August, based on temperature, rain and sun data. July scores highest at 9 out of 10, with highs of 25.9°C, lows of 16°C, and just 4.9 rain days. This period avoids the heavy heat of summer and the heaviest rains, making it the most comfortable stretch of the year.

Is Paraguay hot in January?

Yes. January is the hottest month, with highs averaging 33.9°C and lows around 25°C. It also brings 13.7 rain days and 133 mm of rain, plus 11.4 hours of sun. The combination of heat and humidity pulls its score down to 1.8 out of 10, the lowest of the year.

When does it rain most in Paraguay?

October and December are the wettest months, with 174 mm and 175 mm of rain respectively. October also has 11.9 rain days and December has 12.9. These months sit in the warmer part of the year, with highs above 32°C, so rain tends to arrive as short, heavy downpours rather than steady drizzle.

Is Paraguay cold in winter?

It gets cool rather than cold. July is the coldest month, with lows averaging 16°C and highs of 25.9°C. June is similar, with lows of 16.6°C. There's no snow or freezing weather in the data, so winter in Paraguay means mild days and cool nights rather than true cold.

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