GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Paraguay.
Capital
Asunción.
Geography
As a country located in South America according to pharmacylib, Paraguay is a landlocked country and borders Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. The Río Paraguay, which flows from north to south, is a tributary of the Río Paraná and divides the country into two very different regions. The 159,000 square km large Oriental region is criss-crossed by up to 600 m high chains of hills and extends to the Mato Grosso Plateau in the north. To the east and south-east of Asunción are the oldest settlements, in which a large part of the population lives. This region is bordered by hilly farmland and in the south by dense forests. The large alluvial plain, also known as the Occidental Zone or Gran Chaco, covers 246,925 square kilometers and consists mainly of gray clay, which is covered by swamps in the south and east. This area is only sparsely populated.
Government
Presidential republic since 1967. Constitution of 1992. Two-chamber parliament: House of Representatives with 80 and Senate with 45 members. Independent since 1811 (former Spanish colony).
Head of state
Horacio Cartes, since April 2013.
Head of government
Horacio Cartes, since April 2013.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz.
Time zone
Paraguay Time: CET -5 (CET -4 from October 1 to March 26, 2017)
TRAVEL WARNING
Current information
The area of operations of the Paraguayan guerrilla organization EPP (Ejercito del Pueblo Paraguayo) is located in the northern part of the province of San Pedro and the southern part of the province of Concepción. In its attacks, the EPP mainly targets the police and the military, but civilians are also occasionally affected. The last time two civilians were kidnapped at the end of July 2016, eight soldiers were killed in the worst attack to date. Travel to these areas that is not absolutely necessary should therefore be avoided.
Country-specific safety information
Crime The security situation in both urban and rural areas requires constant attention. There are also raids in the settlement areas popular with Germans. Valuables should not be shown openly. In the case of accommodation, attention should be paid to the consistent implementation of security measures (window bars, fixed doors, alarm systems, etc.).
No resistance should be offered in the event of robberies, as the perpetrators are often armed and sometimes use the weapon for minor reasons.
MONEY
Currency
Guaraní. Currency abbreviation: Gs, PYG (ISO code). Banknotes are available in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 2,000 PG; Coins in denominations of 1,000, 500, 100 and 50 PG.
Credit cards
MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted for cashless payments, especially in the major cities of Asunción and Ciudad del Este. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe and worldwide. At ATMs in the larger cities, only up to € 150 per day can be withdrawn with an EC card or credit card. Further information from banks and credit institutes.
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
- General Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
No restrictions, but there is an obligation to declare from a sum equivalent to US $ 10,000.
Currency Exchange
Money can only be exchanged in banks and authorized exchange offices (“Casas de Cambio”). Many inexpensive hotels do not accept credit cards or travelers checks as payment. US dollars are accepted nationwide. The acceptance of US $ 100 bills is very limited.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní. English is spoken less often.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Paraguay duty-free in hand luggage:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars;
1 bottle of alcoholic beverages.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Good knowledge of Spanish is an advantage; many business people also speak English. Appointments must be made in advance; the usual forms of courtesy apply. The best time to visit is between May and September.
Business hours: Mo-Fr 07.30 / 08.00-12.00 and 15.00-17.30 / 19.00.
Economy
Commercial Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay
Hardenbergstrasse 12, D-10623 Berlin
Tel: (030) 319 98 60.
German-Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Independencia Nacional 811, 9 Piso, Casilla de Correo 919, Asunción
Tel: (021) 44 65 94.
Internet: www.ahkasu.com.py
Latin American chamber of Commerce in Switzerland
c / o DPS Communications, Gessner Allee 28, CH-8001 Zurich.
Tel: (044) 699 54 47.
Internet: www.latcam.ch
Cámara Nacional de Comercio y Servicios de Paraguay (Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce)
Estrella 540 e / 14 de Mayo y 15 de Agosto, Asunción
Tel: (021) 49 33 21.
Internet: www.ccparaguay.com.py
Business contacts
Commercial Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay
Hardenbergstrasse 12, D-10623 Berlin
Tel: (030) 319 98 60.
German-Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Independencia Nacional 811, 9 Piso, Casilla de Correo 919, Asunción
Tel: (021) 44 65 94.
Internet: www.ahkasu.com.py
Latin American chamber of Commerce in Switzerland
c / o DPS Communications, Gessner Allee 28, CH-8001 Zurich.
Tel: (044) 699 54 47.
Internet: www.latcam.ch
Cámara Nacional de Comercio y Servicios de Paraguay (Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce)
Estrella 540 e / 14 de Mayo y 15 de Agosto, Asunción
Tel: (021) 49 33 21.
Internet: www.ccparaguay.com.py
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Dial-up remote service.
Cellphone
Tri-band network, GSM 1900. The transmission / reception area is limited to urban areas. Network operators are Copesa and Hola Paraguay.
Internet
Internet provider is Planet (Internet: www.pla.net.py). Internet cafes are available in the larger cities.
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes around five days.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Naudutí lace, aho -poi tablecloths, leatherwork, wooden objects, silver yerba mate cups and jewelry.
Shop opening times: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Sat 7.30 a.m.-1 p.m.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
Asunción has pubs, casinos and discos. The parrilladas (open-air restaurants), especially in Asunción, are known for their good atmosphere. There are also casinos in the border towns of Ciudad Del Este and Encarnación.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
There are few accommodation options outside of the capital, booking in advance is recommended. All hotels in Asunción are usually fully booked during the holiday season (July – August). Further information is available from the Secretaría Nacional del Turismo (see addresses).
CULTURE
Religion
89.6% Roman Catholic. Protestant, Baha’i and Mennonite minorities.
Social rules of conduct
Manners: Shake hands to greet you.
Smoking: It is forbidden to smoke in cinemas and theaters.
Clothing can be casual, sportswear is popular.
Photographing: Military installations should not be photographed.
Tip: 10-15% is usually added to hotel and restaurant bills.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Subtropical climate with year-round changing temperatures. Sometimes very hot in summer (December – March), rather mild in winter (June – September) with a few cold days. Most of the rain falls from December to March.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +595 Area (sqkm) 406752 Population 6,783,272 Population density (per sqkm) 17 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 911
