Paraguay Travel Cost Guide: Hotels, Flights, Packages, Cars, Cruises and Things to Do

Worldwide hub: open the Expedia worldwide travel-cost guide.

⚠️ First: What Should Travelers Know Before Booking Paraguay?

Paraguay is one of South America’s most overlooked travel destinations, and that is exactly why it needs a different kind of cost guide. It does not sell itself with famous beaches, world-wonder ruins or a giant bucket-list monument. Instead, Paraguay is quieter: Asuncion’s old streets and modern shopping zones, Encarnacion’s riverfront, Jesuit mission ruins, Ciudad del Este’s border energy, Itaipu and Monday Falls nearby, the Chaco wilderness, birding, ranch country, river culture and a slower inland South America rhythm.

That makes Paraguay good value for travelers who like places before they become obvious. Hotels can be affordable, car rentals can be useful, and flights are not impossible, but the trip rewards careful routing. Recent Expedia examples showed Paraguay vacation packages from around $1,078 and Asuncion vacation packages from around $731. Expedia hotel data showed Paraguay hotels from around $47 and Asuncion hotels from around $28, while 2-star Asuncion options appeared from around $30. Skyscanner’s current Paraguay data showed next-month roundtrip flights from around $598, and Asuncion airport flight data showed similar next-month roundtrips from around $598. Outbound Asuncion flight examples showed one-way flights from around $64 and return fares from around $171, useful if Paraguay is part of a wider South America route.

Safety is moderate but not invisible. The U.S. State Department lists Paraguay as Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, with increased caution advised in Alto Parana, Amambay, Canindeyu, Concepcion and San Pedro because of crime and criminal groups along border regions. Canada advises travelers to exercise a high degree of caution due to increasing crime, including petty theft, armed robbery, carjacking and higher risks in parts of Greater Asuncion. This does not make Paraguay a no-go destination; it means hotel location, transport and insurance should be part of the budget.

For Expedia affiliate content, Paraguay works best when framed as a smart, under-the-radar itinerary: book the core trip through Expedia, then use the savings to add one or two deeper experiences.

Check live Paraguay prices on Expedia

🏨 How Much Are Hotels in Paraguay?

Paraguay’s hotel market is one of the country’s strongest value points. Expedia showed Paraguay hotels from around $47 and Asuncion hotels from around $28, with 2-star Asuncion options from around $30. Expedia lists more than 300 Asuncion hotels in current search results, so the capital gives travelers far more choice than smaller destinations.

In Asuncion, location matters more than the absolute cheapest rate. Villa Morra, Recoleta, Las Lomas and Manorá are practical for restaurants, shopping, business hotels, malls and easier taxi movement. Expedia’s Asuncion travel guide highlights neighborhoods such as Villa Morra, Catedral, Recoleta, Las Lomas and Manorá. For business travelers, Villa Morra is often especially practical because of corporate offices, restaurants and better hotel infrastructure.

The historic center can be interesting for architecture, Palacio de Lopez, plazas, old churches and city walks, but some travelers may prefer sleeping in a more modern district and visiting the center by day. Cheap central hotels can work, but check recent reviews, air conditioning, parking, security and nighttime transport.

Encarnacion is the better leisure city for travelers who want riverfront walks, summer energy, beaches along the Parana River and access to the Jesuit missions of Trinidad and Jesus. It can also be a good stop when linking Paraguay with Argentina.

Ciudad del Este is more functional and intense. It is known for shopping, border movement, access to Monday Falls and proximity to the Brazil/Argentina side of the Iguazu region. Hotels here can be useful if the route is built around the tri-border area, but the city is not the calmest first impression of Paraguay.

For the Chaco, ordinary hotel logic breaks down. The region is vast, dry, remote and logistically different. Lodges, guided wildlife trips and long drives need advance planning. A low nightly rate in Asuncion will not tell you what a real Chaco trip costs.

Compare Paraguay hotels on Expedia

✈️ What Do Flights to Paraguay Cost?

Most international travelers arrive through Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) near Asuncion. Paraguay does not have the same nonstop route depth as Lima, Bogota or Buenos Aires, so flight prices can vary sharply by departure city and connection pattern.

Skyscanner’s current Paraguay and Asuncion airport data showed next-month roundtrip fares from around $598. New York Newark-to-Paraguay examples were higher, with roundtrips from around $879-$880 and one-way fares from around $445. Outbound Asuncion data showed one-way flights from around $64 and return fares from around $171, which matters if the reader is already in South America and wants to combine Paraguay with Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia or Uruguay.

Paraguay is best searched flexibly:

• Compare Asuncion as the main arrival.
• Check nearby regional combinations if also visiting Brazil or Argentina.
• Use whole-month searches because fare swings can be large.
• Avoid bad overnight connections if they force extra airport hotels.
• Consider a package if hotel + flight pricing looks cleaner together.

For U.S. travelers, Paraguay may not beat Colombia or Peru on flight price, but once inside the country, hotels and some road costs can feel friendlier. For travelers already in South America, Paraguay can become much more attractive because regional flights or overland routes may reduce the entry cost.

The best Expedia angle is simple: let readers compare flights and hotels together instead of judging Paraguay only from an airfare search. A $598 fare plus a $50-$90 hotel can still produce a reasonable trip if the itinerary is tight and well routed.

Search Paraguay flights with Expedia

📦 Are Paraguay Vacation Packages Worth It?

They can be, especially for Asuncion-focused trips. Recent Expedia examples showed Paraguay vacation packages from around $1,078 and Asuncion packages from around $731. Expedia’s Paraguay all-inclusive page also emphasizes bundling flight, hotel and car rental, though Paraguay is not a classic all-inclusive resort destination. Here, “package” usually means convenience, savings and clearer pricing, not unlimited beach cocktails.

Packages work well for:

• Asuncion city breaks.
• Business trips with hotel + flight.
• Family visits where dates are fixed.
• Travelers adding a rental car.
• First-timers who want refundable hotel filters.
• Regional trips where Asuncion is the base.

Packages are less complete for:

• Chaco wildlife expeditions.
• Specialist birding routes.
• Multi-country Iguazu/Paraguay itineraries.
• Jesuit mission routes with custom transport.
• Deep rural stays or ranch experiences.

The strongest Paraguay package is often not “all of Paraguay in one booking.” It is the backbone: flight into Asuncion, hotel in the right neighborhood, maybe a car rental, then add tours or regional transport. Expedia gives the reader the commercial path without pretending the platform replaces every local specialist.

For an affiliate article, this is where the CTA should feel natural. Someone reading a Paraguay cost guide is probably deciding whether Paraguay is worth the detour. Showing live Expedia package prices gives them the answer faster than another generic paragraph.

Build a Paraguay vacation package with Expedia

🚗 Do You Need a Rental Car in Paraguay?

A rental car can be useful in Paraguay, but it depends heavily on the route. In Asuncion itself, many travelers can use taxis, rideshare where available, hotel transfers and guided tours. Outside the capital, a car can open the country: Encarnacion, Jesuit missions, smaller towns, countryside routes and Ciudad del Este. For the Chaco, however, self-driving should be treated seriously, not casually.

Recent Expedia data showed Asuncion car rentals from around $26-$30 per day, with Silvio Pettirossi International Airport examples from around $37 per day and specific airport listings around $27-$35 per day for some vehicle classes on selected dates. Expedia also showed Ciudad del Este car rentals from around $26 per day, with another recent rate around $39.

Renting makes sense if:

• You are comfortable driving in South America.
• You want Asuncion plus Encarnacion or mission sites.
• You need flexibility around Ciudad del Este and nearby nature stops.
• You are traveling as a family with luggage.
• You are using hotels with parking.

Renting is less attractive if:

• You only plan to stay in Asuncion.
• You expect to drink or go out at night.
• You are nervous about city traffic.
• You are visiting areas with elevated advisory concerns.
• You want to explore the Chaco without specialist support.

Canada warns that gas stations are rare in the Chaco and that travelers driving there should carry water, food, medication, fuel, chargers and emergency contacts. It also notes water shortages, food shortages and power outages can occur. That changes the rental car math: a $30 daily rental is cheap only if the route is easy. In remote Paraguay, preparation is part of the price.

Reserve a Paraguay car rental with Expedia

🦜 What Do Tours and Activities Cost?

Paraguay’s activity market is smaller than Peru’s or Colombia’s, but the experiences can be very specific. Expedia’s Asuncion activity page lists options such as Asuncion Private Walking Tour with a Local around $60, cultural city tours, day tours, birding and Chaco experiences. Expedia results also showed a Full-Day Birding Tour on the Manduvira and Paraguay Rivers around $350 per adult and a Discovering Wildlife of the Chaco experience around $1,400 per adult.

Those numbers explain Paraguay perfectly. Basic city exploration can be affordable, but specialist nature travel is premium because it requires guides, vehicles, time and remote access.

Top activity ideas by area:

• Asuncion: Palacio de Lopez, Costanera, Loma San Jeronimo, Catedral, museums, markets, Paseo La Galeria, Shopping del Sol, food and nightlife.
• Encarnacion: riverfront beaches, Costanera, carnival season, Trinidad and Jesus Jesuit missions.
• Ciudad del Este: shopping, Monday Falls, Itaipu area, tri-border logistics.
• Chaco: wildlife, Mennonite colonies, birding, ranch landscapes and remote nature routes.
• Rivers: Paraguay River views, birding, boat trips where available and sunset-style local experiences.

The smart way to save is to avoid filling the trip with random tours. Choose one signature experience and make the rest light. For many travelers, that means Asuncion plus Encarnacion and the missions. For nature travelers, it may mean spending real money on Chaco access and keeping city hotels simple.

For SEO, Paraguay should be written as a country for intentional travelers, not as a mass-market attraction list. The best content tells readers what is worth paying for.

Book Paraguay tours and activities with Expedia

🚢 What About Cruises?

Paraguay is landlocked, so it is not a classic cruise destination. There are no ocean cruise itineraries in the usual Caribbean sense. But Paraguay is a river country, and that gives the “cruise” section a different shape: river views, boat outings, Paraguay River experiences, Parana River routes near Encarnacion, and regional travel that connects with Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay.

For most Expedia readers, the practical cruise angle is:

• Book flights to Asuncion.
• Add hotels in Asuncion or Encarnacion.
• Use Expedia activities for river, culture or food experiences where available.
• Compare car rentals for independent movement.
• Add travel insurance if the route includes remote regions or multiple countries.

If a reader is looking for a traditional cruise vacation, Paraguay is probably not the destination. If they want a quieter inland South America route with rivers, missions and unusual landscapes, Paraguay can be excellent.

The article should be direct about this. Do not force Paraguay into a cruise mold. Use the section to show what Expedia can still sell: hotels, flights, cars, activities and insurance around a river-based inland itinerary.

Compare Paraguay hotels, flights and activities with Expedia

🛡️ Travel Insurance, Safety and Hidden Costs

Travel insurance is worth including in Paraguay even though the U.S. advisory is Level 1. The advisory still names departments with increased crime risk, and Canada advises high caution due to increasing crime. For a trip that may include driving, border areas, remote nature or Chaco travel, insurance and planning are part of the real cost.

Hidden costs to budget:

• Airport transfers in Asuncion.
• Safer hotels in better neighborhoods.
• Taxis at night rather than walking.
• Rental car insurance and deposits.
• Fuel and supplies for longer drives.
• Guided access for Chaco or birding.
• Bottled water and backup supplies in remote areas.
• Trip interruption coverage for demonstrations or road blockades.
• Medical evacuation coverage for adventure travel.

Canada warns about petty crime, violent crime, armed motorcyclist muggings, occasional demonstrations, water shortages, power outages and Chaco fuel scarcity. The U.S. advisory notes criminal groups in several northeastern departments along the Brazil border and weak police presence in some areas.

This is not a reason to skip Paraguay. It is a reason to avoid underbudgeting. Paraguay can be affordable, but the cheapest version of the trip may not be the smartest.

Review Paraguay hotels, flights and insurance with Expedia

✅ How to Save on a Paraguay Trip

First, stay longer than one rushed night. Paraguay is rarely worth the hassle if it is only a box to check. A better budget route is three nights in Asuncion, two or three nights in Encarnacion, and optional Ciudad del Este or Chaco depending on interest.

Second, use Asuncion hotels strategically. Expedia showed Asuncion hotels from around $28 and Paraguay hotels from around $47, but pay attention to neighborhood. A slightly better hotel in Villa Morra, Recoleta, Las Lomas or another practical area can reduce transport friction.

Third, compare package prices. Expedia showed Asuncion packages from around $731 and Paraguay packages from around $1,078. If flight prices are high, bundling may make the trip easier to judge.

Fourth, rent a car only when it improves the itinerary. Asuncion car rentals from around $26-$37 per day can be useful, but city-only travelers may be better with taxis and tours.

Fifth, choose one premium experience. A $350 birding tour or $1,400 Chaco wildlife experience is not for everyone, but it may be the whole reason a nature traveler chooses Paraguay. Save on hotels and spend on the experience that actually matters.

Plan a Paraguay trip with Expedia

❓ Paraguay Travel Cost FAQ

Is Paraguay cheap to visit?
Paraguay can be good value for hotels and some car rentals. Expedia showed Asuncion hotels from around $28 and Paraguay hotels from around $47. Flights can be the bigger cost, with Skyscanner showing next-month roundtrips from around $598.

Where should first-time visitors stay?
Asuncion is the best first base. Villa Morra, Recoleta, Las Lomas, Manorá and business-friendly zones near shopping and restaurants are often more practical than choosing the cheapest central room.

Are Paraguay vacation packages worth it?
Yes for Asuncion-focused trips. Expedia showed Asuncion packages from around $731 and Paraguay packages from around $1,078. Packages can help compare flight + hotel + car costs quickly.

Do I need a rental car in Paraguay?
Not for a short Asuncion stay. A car becomes useful for Encarnacion, mission sites, Ciudad del Este and some countryside routes. Expedia showed Asuncion and Ciudad del Este rentals from around $26 per day in recent examples.

Is Paraguay safe for tourists?
The U.S. State Department lists Paraguay as Level 1 but advises increased caution in several departments due to crime. Canada advises a high degree of caution due to increasing crime. Use sensible hotel, taxi and route planning.

Can I book Paraguay hotels, flights, packages, cars, tours, cruises and insurance through Expedia?
Yes. Expedia can support Paraguay hotels, flights, vacation packages, car rentals, activities, cruise-related regional planning and travel insurance options.

Back to worldwide guide: see all 207 Expedia travel-cost guides.