Car Travel

Driving isn't easy in Paraguay—only 25% of the country's roads are paved, and motorists tend to ignore traffic laws. Main highways between hub cities are in decent shape, but side roads quickly degenerate into potholes, or may be closed altogether during the rainy season because of flooding. Beware of animals that wander onto the roads, especially at night. On weekends and around holidays, access roads into and out of Asunción can be jammed with traffic. On the plus side, there are fewer vehicles on the road here than in neighboring Argentina or Brazil.

Although drivers around you won't appear to be doing it, obey speed limits religiously in Paraguay. We hear reports of transit police delighting in singling out rental cars for speeding violations and requesting fines on the spot.

Your driver's license is valid here for short-term stays. Seat belts are mandatory. The speed limit is 80 kph (50 mph) on highways and 40 kph (25 mph) in urban areas.

Gas Stations

Distances between gas stations can be long, so you should top off your tank regularly. Stations are normally open until midnight. Gasoline costs about G6,000 per liter.