Getting around Asuncion
Taxi, apps, car rental or private transfer. Each one wins in a different scenario, and ours does not always win. Here is the comparison without the marketing.
The short answer
What works best in each case
If you travel light, in daylight and speak Spanish, an app is enough and costs less. If you land at night, with luggage, with children or with a meeting in the diary, a private transfer pays for itself. Everything else is nuance.
| Landing at night | Private transfer, for guaranteed availability |
| Short daytime trip downtown | Ride-hailing app, it costs less |
| With luggage or with children | Private transfer, for space and child seats |
| Not speaking Spanish | Private transfer, with a bilingual driver on request |
| Several stops in one day | Driver at your disposal, by block of hours |
| Touring the interior on your own | Car rental, if you are comfortable driving |
| A 4 a.m. departure | Private transfer, booked the day before |
| Tight budget and no rush | Public transport or an app off-peak |
| A business meeting at a fixed time | Private transfer, because the price is fixed and the driver waits |
The four options
What each one is in practice
Without exaggerating the flaws of the others or hiding our own.
- 1
Street taxis
They exist and they work, especially downtown and at hotel ranks. The downside is that there is no price published up front, and many still work in cash only.
- 2
Ride-hailing apps
Uber and Bolt operate in Asuncion, and there are local apps too. They are the cheapest option for short daytime trips. The downside is availability: overnight, in outlying areas or at peak times, there may be no car.
- 3
Car rental
It makes sense if you are touring the interior on your own for several days. Just for Asuncion it works out expensive once you add rental, fuel and parking, and you have to drive in a city you do not know.
- 4
Private transfer
A fixed price agreed up front, an assigned vehicle and a driver waiting with a sign. It is the most expensive option per single trip and the most predictable: it does not depend on cars being available or on the traffic.
- 5
Public transport
Buses cover the city well and are by far the cheapest option of all. With luggage, at night or without knowing the routes, it is not practical.
- 6
What we would choose
For a short daytime hop around Villa Morra, an app. For the night flight arrival with two suitcases, a booked transfer.
The comparison
Private transfer against a ride-hailing app
The two options most people end up genuinely comparing.
Our transfer prices are published on the airport transfers page.
| Private transfer | Ride-hailing app | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Fixed before you book | Variable, surges at peak times |
| Availability | Guaranteed, the vehicle is assigned | Depends on a car being nearby |
| Overnight | The same as any other hour | This is when it fails most |
| Luggage | Vehicle chosen for the suitcases | Whatever turns up |
| Bilingual driver | On request when booking | Cannot be chosen |
| Child seats | On request, at no cost | Practically never available |
| Waiting if the flight is late | Included, we track the flight | The ride gets cancelled |
| Best for | Airport, night, groups, business | Short daytime trips |
What to weigh up
The five things that decide it
In Asuncion the decision is not made by price, it is made by the scenario.
Choose a private transfer if
- You arrive or leave between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- You travel with more than one suitcase per person
- You are with children and need seats
- You do not speak Spanish and prefer to arrange it in advance
- You have a meeting or a connection at a fixed time
- There are four or more of you and the price splits
Choose an app if
- It is a short trip within the city, in daylight
- You travel light and are not in a hurry
- You get by in Spanish and have the app installed
- You do not mind waiting or paying a surge at peak times
- You are downtown or in an area with plenty of cars
Our prices
What a private transfer costs
Price per vehicle, not per passenger, and fixed before you book.
| Service | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Airport · sedan | Up to 3 passengers | USD 49 |
| Airport · Hyundai H1 minivan | Up to 7 | USD 69 |
| Airport · Mercedes Sprinter | 8 to 14 | USD 189 |
| Driver at your disposal | Up to 8 hours | USD 197 |
We do not publish prices for taxis and apps because we do not set them and they change with the hour and the demand. What we can guarantee is that ours does not change between the moment you book and the moment you travel.
Fixed price · no cash needed · flight tracking included.
Practical facts
Worth knowing either way
This applies whichever of the four you choose.
In the city
| Currency | Guarani; many taxis take cash only |
| Distances | Downtown and Villa Morra are 15 to 20 minutes apart |
| Peak hours | 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., traffic gets heavy |
| Safety | The city is calm; overnight it is better to have transport arranged |
From the airport
| Distance | Silvio Pettirossi is about 17 km from downtown |
| Time | Between 25 and 40 minutes depending on traffic |
| Night flights | Many land after midnight |
| Meeting point | Our driver waits at arrivals with a sign |
The late-night arrival is where the difference shows most: it is the slot with the fewest cars on the apps and the most expensive one to improvise.
Times are estimates under normal traffic and can vary at peak hours or in rain.
Our vehicles
What you travel in if you choose a transfer
Sedan, minivan or Sprinter depending on how many of you there are and how much luggage.
What passengers say
Google reviews
Verified Google reviews about our service in Paraguay.
★★★★★
Excelente servicio en todo sentido. Luis fue el chófer que nos llevó a Foz, muy amable y atento, excelente profesional. La camioneta impecable. Super recomendado!
★★★★★
Thank you for the wonderful service. The driver drove carefully, got me there quickly — everything was just wonderful.
★★★★★
10/10 star rating for last minute booking and Alfredo the driver the best!
★★★★★
Fantastic coordination and very reliable!
★★★★★
Viajamos de Asunción a Puerto Iguazú y todo fue tranquilo y bien organizado. Servicio confiable y buen manejo en un trayecto largo.
★★★★★
Had a great service with Paraguay Transfers! They supported me within 12 hours to help us travel from Asunción to Pilar. Very professional, kind, punctual and helpful. Luis was great.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What people ask most before travelling to Asuncion.
Is there Uber in Asuncion?
Yes, Uber operates in Asuncion, and so do Bolt and some local apps. They work well in daylight in the central areas. The limitation shows up overnight, in outlying areas and at peak times, when there may be no cars available.
Taxi or transfer from the airport?
It depends on the hour. In daylight and travelling light, a taxi or an app will do. If you land at night, with luggage or with a tight connection, a private transfer is worth it: the price is fixed in advance and the driver is already waiting when you come out.
How much is a transfer from the airport to downtown?
Ours costs USD 49 in a sedan for up to three passengers, USD 69 in a minivan for up to seven and USD 189 in a Sprinter for groups of eight to fourteen. It is a price per vehicle, not per passenger, so between four people it splits.
How far is the airport from Asuncion?
Silvio Pettirossi airport is about 17 kilometres from downtown Asuncion, in Luque. The trip takes between 25 and 40 minutes depending on traffic, and at peak hours it can stretch a little further.
Do I need cash to get around Asuncion?
For street taxis, yes; many still work in cash only, in guaranies. Apps and private transfers are paid without cash, by card, transfer or digital wallet.
Is renting a car in Asuncion worth it?
If you are touring the interior for several days, yes. If you are staying only in Asuncion, usually not: between rental, fuel and parking it costs more than moving around with apps, and you have to drive in a city you do not know.
Can I ask for a driver who speaks English?
On a private transfer yes, by asking when you book. With taxis and apps you cannot choose: you get whichever driver is available, and most likely they speak only Spanish or Guarani.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
On a private transfer we track the flight number, so the driver adjusts on their own and the wait is not charged separately. With an app, the ride you ordered is cancelled and you have to order another when you come out.
Is there public transport from the airport?
There are bus lines serving the area, and it is by far the cheapest option. With luggage, at night or without knowing the routes it is not practical, so most people arriving by air do not use it.
Is it safe to get around Asuncion at night?
The city is calm in general terms, but overnight there is little transport available, and that is when it pays most to have the transfer arranged in advance rather than sorting it out at the door.
Which is better if there are four or more of us?
The private transfer, because it is charged per vehicle and not per passenger. Between four people, a minivan at USD 69 costs less per head than four app rides, and all the luggage fits.
What if I need several stops in the same day?
Then neither works well per trip: what works is a driver at your disposal by block of hours, at USD 197 for an eight-hour day or USD 127 for a half day, with unlimited stops within Greater Asuncion.
Is a transfer right for you?
If your case is one of the ones worth booking, send us the flight or the address and we will give you the fixed price. If not, the app will be cheaper, and that is fine.
Fixed price · no cash · driver waiting with a sign.
See also our airport transfers and the private driver at your disposal.