Experience in Asunción - Paty's Paraguay

What's it like to live in Asunción? Would you recommend it? How is it?

Asunción is a small but very beautiful city; it has areas which are really picturesque and colonial and areas which are fairly urbanised and modern. Everything is pretty close in regards to distances but transport is a disaster.

View of Asunción

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What's the student life like?

The student atmosphere is very varied; the majority of the private universities are in the centre and in areas close to the centre, whilst the central campus of the National University is in a city called San Lorenzo, outside of Asunción. The university students are very friendly and the central campus is very pretty with a lot of trees and green spaces. There are often parties which are organised for the different faculties and they are very fun.

How much does it cost to live in Asunción?

For foreigners, it's pretty cheap if you're changing your money from Dollars or Euros. You can live more than comfortably with 700€ a month.

Was it difficult for you to find accommodation in Asunción? Do you have any advice?

Yes, even though I'm from Paraguay. In my experience with foreign students, they tell me that it's a little difficult to get a nice flat in a nice area for a cheap price because young people are not usually so independent in Paraguay that early on, so the offer of accommodation for young, single people isn't too great.

How is the food in Paraguay? What are your favourite dishes?

Excellent. There is a little of everything - typical Paraguayan foods which use a lot of meat and cassava. There are a lot of traditional restaurants, as well as international ones which can cost a range of prices.

Which places would you recommend visiting in Asunción?

All the cultural places - The Cultural Centre of the Republic, The Casa de la Independencia (House of Independence), the boardwalk, walking around Calle Palma amongst others. If you're willing to go outside of Asunción, there are beautiful places like Salto Cristal, the city of Aregua, San Bernardino, the Tobati caverns, Patinho (where the old train station is), etc. You can get to all these places by bus with more or less a stroll, for a very cheap price.

Salto Cristal

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And to eat in Asunción? Can you name some of your favourite places?

El Bolsi - it's a classic in Asunción.

What places would you recommend for a night out in Asunción?

University parties (if they're for integration purposes) or the nightclubs which are constantly changing.

Do you have any advice for anyone planning on coming to Asunción?

Prepare yourselves for the heat and humidity, all year round.

Make sure to make a group of friends in Asunción so they can happily take you around all the places and it will be more economic, also you'll enjoy it more because pitifully, although the local people are very friendly, the language is a little difficult.

Make sure to go to the furthest away places from Asunción which also have attractions like the Misiones Department (San Cosme dunes), Itapua (Jesuit Reduction), San Pedro (Laguna Blanca (the White Lagoon)), Alto Parana (Monday Waterfall, waterfalls etc. ).

San Cosme dunes

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Be careful when walking around the streets as there is a lot of crime - especially at night.

Make local friends and you time there will be fantastic. Paraguayans love to show the marvels of their countries.

The White Lagoon (La Laguna Blanca)

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