Asunción travel guide

Getting around

Most of the historical sights of interest are in a relatively small area by the river, so walking between them is not a problem. Similarly, there are many central hotels which can safely be reached on foot. Places outside this zone are easily reached by taxi or bus. If going by taxi, give driver the specific street address but also the name of the nearest intersection. Almost all locations in Asunción are referred to in this manner. Note also that the often-used "casi" (near) generally means "at the corner of". The bus system is extensive and runs 0600-2400; buses stop at signs before every street corner. Asunción is very spread out and transport so slow that you need to allow 1½ hours to get beyond its limits.

Ins and outs

Getting there

The international airport is in Luque, 16 km northeast of the city centre, to which taxis, buses and an airport-to-hotel minibus service run. It takes from 30-45 minutes from the airport to town. The bus terminal is south of the centre, also 30-45 minutes away. You can go by taxi or by city bus . Both the airport and bus terminal have tourist information desks.

Airline offices

Aerolíneas Argentinas, España 2220, T450577, arasugsa@sap.com.py. AeroSur, Senador Long 856 y España, T614743, http://www.aerosur.com. Gol, contact via webpage: http://www.voegol.com.br. Iberia, Mariscal López 995, T214246, asuuu@iberia.es. LAB, 14 de Mayo 563, ground floor, T441586, susklb@rieder.net.py. Lan, Juan de Salazar y Washington, T233487-9, http://www.lan.com. Lufthansa, N S de la Asunción 208, T447962, lhasu@cmm.com.py, admin and cargo only, ticket information from travel agents. TAM, Oliva 761 y Ayolas, T645500, http://www.tam.com.py. United Airlines, Mariscal López 310, T213019, viase@supernet.com.py.

Banks

Be careful to count money received from street money changers (Palma and surrounding area – their rates are poor when banks and cambios are closed). Lots of ATMs, accepting credit and debit cards, give dollars and guaraníes. Lloyds TSB Bank, Boggiani 5889 y Boquerón, p2, T664010, Palma y O’Leary, T419700, Av Mscal López y Av San Martín (and several other agencies in Greater Asunción). Accepts Visa. Citibank, CitiCenter, Av Mariscal López 3794 y Cruz del Chaco, T6202000. Will change Citibank TCs into US$ cash, and gives US$ cash on MasterCard credit card. ABN AMRO, Estrella 443 y Alberdi (main office), T419000, clientes@py.abnamro.com; also at Av San Martín 763 y Lillo, T611513; Eusebio Ayala y Mayor Bullo, T225854; and Shopping Mariscal López, T608977, accepts several cards. Interbanco, Oliva 349 y Chile, T494992, ATM at Shopping Del Sol, accepts Visa. Amex, at Inter-Express, Yegros 690 y Herrera, T490111, iexpress@interexpress.com.py. To change TCs other than American Express you must go to Banco Santander, Banespa, Independencia Nacional y Moreno, good rates, proof of purchase required. Many casas de cambio on Palma, Estrella and nearby streets (open Mon-Fri 0730-1200, 1500-1830, Sat 0730-1200). All rates are better than at frontiers. They change dollars, euros, Brazilian reais, Argentine pesos and a few will accept sterling notes. Some casas de cambio change only dollar-denominated TCs. Cambios Chaco, on Palma and at Shopping Mscal López. Maxi Cambio, in Shopping del Sol. Good rates for dollars cash. Parapiti Cambios/ Financiera Guaraní, Palma 449, T490032, change Tcs (small fee). Mon-Fri 0830-1730, Sat 0830-1200. Sudamérica Express, 14 de Mayo 340, T445305, http://www.tupi.com.py, three other locations in capital. Decent rates for TCs. Cambios Yguazú, 15 de Agosto 451, T448018, no commission.

Car hire

Fast Rent a Car, 15 de Agosto 558, T496054, http://www.fastrentacar.com.py. Good, helpful. Only, 15 de Agosto 520 y Olivia, T558228, also airport.

Alianza Francesa, Mariscal Estigarribia 1039 y Estados Unidos, T210503, http://www.alianzafrancesa.edu.py. Snack bar. Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano, España 352 and Brasil y Estados Unidos, T224831, http://www.ccpa.edu.py. Has a good library (Mon-Fri 0900-2000, Sat 0900-1200, also has snack bar). Centro Paraguayo-Japonés, Av Julio Corea y Domingo, T607276, www.centroparaguayo japones.blogspot.com. Has a good theatre. Instituto Cultural Paraguayo Alemán, Juan de Salazar 310 y Artigas, T224455, http://www.icpa-gz.org.py. Recommended. All institutes have special events, films, etc. Embassies and consulates Argentina, España y Boquerón, T212320, http://www.embajada-argentina.org.py. Visas issued at Edif Banco Nacional de Argentina, Palma 319, p1, T442151, open 0800-1300, 1500-1800, 2-hr service, photo needed (if you require a multiple entry visa, get it in your country of residence). Austrian Consulate, Aviadores del Chaco 1690, T613316, F613323. Mon-Fri 0730-1100. Belgian Consul, Daniel Ceuppens, Ruta 2, Km 17, Capiatá, T028-33326, F028-33327. Mon-Fri 1000-1400. Bolivia, Eligio Ayala 200, T203654, F210440. Mon-Fri 0900-1300. Brazil, Coronel Irrazabal y Eligio Ayala, T213534/214680, http://www.embajadabrasil.org.py, open 0800-1400, Mon-Fri, US$25 for visa. Canada, Prof Ramírez 3 y Juan de Salazar, T227207. Mon-Fri 0800-1300. Danish Consulate, N S de la Asunción 766, T493617, F491539, Mon-Fri 0730-1130 and 1500-1830. Dutch Consulate, Artigas 4145, T 283665, F283664, Mon-Fri 0900-1600. Finland, Honourary Consulate, Capitán Elias Ayala 295 y Yasy, T291175 (the nearest embassy is in Brasilia). France, España 893 y Padre Pucheu, T212439, http://www.ambafran.gov.py, Mon-Fri 0800-1200. Germany, Av Venezuela 241,T214009, http://www.asuncion.diplo.de. 0800-1100 Mon-Fri. Israel, Yegros 437, Edif San Rafael, p8, T495097, F496355. Italy, Quesada 5871 y Bélgica, T615620, segreteria@cmm.com.py. Japan, Av Mariscal López 2364, T604616, F606901. Mon-Fri 0800-1200, 1500-1730. Spain, Yegros 437, p 5 y 6, T490686/7, F445394. Mon-Fri 0830-1300. Swedish Consulate, Perú y Artigas 1945, T215141, F215137. Mon-Fri 0730-1200, 1330-1730. Switzerland, O’Leary 409, p 4, of 423, T490848. 0800-1230 Mon-Fri. UK, Honorary Consulate, Eulogio Estigarribia 4846 y Monseñor Bogarin, T210405, guillermo.peroni@ pstbn.com.py, Mon-Fri 0800-1300 and 1500-1900, nearest Embassy in Buenos Aires. Uruguay, Guido Boggiani 5832 y Boquerón, p 3, T664244, F601335. Visas processed immediately if exit ticket from Uruguay, overland travel to Uruguay and onward country visas can be shown. Mon-Fri 0700-1730. US Embassy and Consulate, Av Mariscal López 1776, T/F213715. Mon-Fri 0730-1730.

Internet

Lots of internet cafés in and around Asunción. The average price is US$1 per hr. Cyber Shop, Estrella 480 and Alberdi y 14 de Mayo, T446290, helpful. Interspace Internet, 25 de Mayo y Antequera, T119190. Patio de Luz Internet Café, Azara 248, T449741. Also bar, restaurant, occasional live music. Internet near food hall in Shopping Villa Morra. Unicom, Papa Juan XXIII y Gómez (behind Shopping del Sol), T/F610902. Very helpful, fax and DVD rental.

Language schools

Idipar (Idiomas en Paraguay), Manduvirá 979/963 y Colón, T447896, http://www.idipar.edu.py. Offers courses in Spanish or Guaraní. Private or group lessons available, also offers accommodation with local families and volunteer opportunities. 60 hrs per week from US$400 in groups, US$25 per hr for private lessons. Good standard.

Medical services

Private hospitals: Bautista, Av Argentina y Cervera, T600171/4. Sanatorio San Roque, Eligio Ayala y Pai Pérez, T212499/ 228700, 24 hrs. Public hospital: Emergencias Médicas, Brasil y FR Moreno, T204800/204715. Pharmacies: There are numerous pharmacies throughout Asunción, many offering 24-hr service. Farmacia Vicente Scavone, Palma y 15 de Agosto, T490396. Farmacia Catedral Centro, Palma e Independencia Nacional, Plaza de los Héroes. Both reliable.

Post offices

Alberdi, between Benjamín Constant y El Paraguayo Independiente, T498112. Mon-Fri 0700-2000, Sat 0700-1200. Poste Restante (ask at the Casillas section) charges about US$0.40 per item, but you may have to insist they double-check if you are expecting letters (poste restante closes 1100). Postcards for sale, but better ones in nearby bookshops. Packages under 2 kg should be handed in at the small packages window, over 2 kg at the ‘Encomiendas’ office in the same building, but on other end at corner of Alberdi and Benjamín Constant. A faster and more reliable way to send parcels is by EMS, the post office courier service from the same office. Customs inspection of open parcel required. Register all important mail. There are sub-offices at Shopping del Sol, Shopping Villa Morra and in certain suburbs, but mail takes longer to arrive from these offices.

Telephones

Information T112. Phone booths can be found on almost every block of central Asunción. Copaco, Azara y Alberdi, Gral Bruguez y M Domínguez and at Terminal de Omnibus, all for international calls and fax, 24 hrs.

Useful addresses

Immigration: Eligio Ayala y Caballero, T492908/446066. Mennonite Centre: Colombia 1090, T200697. Police and emergencies: T911. To report theft go to Comisaria Tercera, Chile y Colombia, and ask for denuncio form.