Preparing for a scouting trip to Paraguay: itinerary, budget, and contacts

You've read our guides. The numbers convince you. Taxation, cost of living, accessible residency — everything aligns. But before taking the plunge, you want to see with your own eyes. And you're right: no blog post can replace a week on the ground. Paraguay is meant to be experienced, felt, tasted — and a well-organized scouting trip can turn an abstract idea into a concrete decision.

This guide gives you a complete program for a scouting trip to Paraguay: optimized itinerary, realistic budget, useful contacts, and everything you need to see, test, and verify during your stay to make an informed decision.

When to visit: choosing the right time

The best times

As detailed in our Paraguay climate guide, the ideal times for a scouting trip are:

• March to May (autumn): perfect temperatures (18-30°C), moderate humidity, beginning of the school year. This is the best time — you see Paraguay at its best and have time to start your residency if you decide to stay.
• August to October (late winter / spring): pleasant temperatures (16-28°C), jacarandas in bloom, dynamic city. Excellent choice if you prefer gradual acclimatization before summer.

Times to avoid

• December to February: the peak of Paraguayan summer — 35 to 40°C, high humidity, frequent thunderstorms. If you don't like the heat, this is not the ideal time for a first contact. That said, if you want to test the "worst conditions," this is the time — if you like Paraguay in January, you'll like it all year round.
• Holy Week (March-April): many shops and services are closed. Asunción empties out — not ideal for visits and appointments.

The flight: how to get to Paraguay

Air connections

As detailed in our visa and flights guide, there are no direct flights from Europe to Asunción. The main routes:

• Via São Paulo: the most common. Paris-São Paulo (LATAM, Air France) + São Paulo-Asunción (LATAM, GOL). Total: 16-20h.
• Via Buenos Aires: Paris-Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France) + Buenos Aires-Asunción (LATAM). Total: 18-22h.
• Via Panama: Paris-Panama (Air France/KLM) + Panama-Asunción (Copa Airlines). Total: 18-22h.

Round trip flight budget: €800 to €1,200 depending on the season and booking time. Book 2 to 3 months in advance for the best fares.

Upon arrival

Silvio Pettirossi Airport (Luque), 20 minutes from Asunción. No visa for French, Belgian, and Swiss citizens — free 90-day stamp. Download Bolt before arriving for your first ride (8-15 USD to central neighborhoods). Buy a Tigo SIM card at the airport counter (3 USD + data plan). Full details in our app guide.

Where to stay during the scouting trip

Recommended neighborhoods

For your scouting trip, stay in neighborhoods where you would live as an expatriate — it's the best way to test the real living environment. As detailed in our Asunción neighborhoods guide:

• Villa Morra: the most cosmopolitan neighborhood — restaurants, bars, Shopping Mariscal. Ideal for testing the "expatriate living center" atmosphere.
• Carmelitas: Paseo Carmelitas, lively terraces, pleasant neighborhood life. Good for testing the high-end residential atmosphere.
• Manorá: developing neighborhood, quieter, excellent value for money. To test the "family residential" atmosphere.

Accommodation options

• Airbnb: the best option for a scouting trip. You live like a resident — kitchen, neighborhood, local supermarket. Price: 30 to 70 USD/night for a well-located one-bedroom apartment.
• Apart-hotel: several quality apart-hotels in expatriate neighborhoods. Price: 40 to 80 USD/night with hotel services (cleaning, reception).
• Classic hotel: 50 to 150 USD/night for a 3-4 star. Comfortable but you don't get to test neighborhood life.

Accommodation budget for 7-10 days: 250 to 700 USD (Airbnb) or 400 to 1,000 USD (hotel).

The scouting itinerary: 7 to 10 optimized days

Day 1: Arrival and first contact

• Arrive at the airport, Bolt to your accommodation
• Settle in, grocery shopping at Stock or Super 6 in the neighborhood — first contact with prices and products
• Walk around your neighborhood — scout out restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, banks
• Dinner at a neighborhood restaurant — test the local culinary scene. Our gastronomy guide will give you ideas.
• Day's goal: soak up the atmosphere, recover from the trip

Day 2: Residential neighborhoods

• Morning: visit Villa Morra — Shopping Mariscal, restaurants, residential streets. Note the atmosphere, noise, cleanliness, condominios.
• Lunch in Villa Morra — try a mid-range restaurant (15-25 USD for two)
• Afternoon: visit Carmelitas (Paseo Carmelitas, pedestrian street) then Manorá (quiet residential)
• Along the way, spot the buildings and condominios that appeal to you — note addresses, residence names, phone numbers on "Se Alquila" (for rent) signs
• Evening: dinner at Paseo Carmelitas — the evening atmosphere is different from the day
• Day's goal: identify 2-3 neighborhoods you like

Day 3: Meeting with our team + bank

• Morning: meeting with our team — discussion of your project, analysis of your profile, action plan for residency, bank account, legal structure. This is THE key meeting of your trip.
• Afternoon: visit one or two bank branches with our support — to see the premises, understand the process, and prepare for opening your bank account
• If you've already decided: you can start the tax residency procedure today — starting from €1,400, 3 months procedure
• Day's goal: move from theory to a concrete action plan

Day 4: Real estate and housing

• Morning: visit 3 to 5 apartments for rent or purchase in your target neighborhoods — via Infocasas or a local real estate agent (we can connect you through our Paraguay real estate page)
• Compare services: pool, security, parking, condition of AC units, light, noise, condo fees
• Afternoon: visit the residential neighborhood of your choice in "daily life" mode — supermarket, pharmacy, gym, park, school (if children, see our school guide)
• Evening: additional search on Infocasas and Clasipar to refine your selection
• Day's goal: have a clear idea of the real estate market and your housing budget

Day 5: Health, practical life, and services

• Morning: visit a private clinic (Sanatorio Migone, Hospital Italiano, or Centro Médico La Costa) — see the facilities, ask for consultation prices, blood test (see our healthcare system guide)
• Lunch at Mercado 4 (Asunción's largest market) — authentic experience, meal for 3-5 USD, total immersion in local life
• Afternoon: try an Spanish class (many schools offer a free trial class) — evaluate your level and teaching quality (see our guide to learning Spanish)
• If you have children: visit 1 to 2 schools (Lycée Marcel Pagnol, American School, or bilingual schools — see our school guide)
• Day's goal: validate practical aspects — health, language, education

Day 6: Excursion outside Asunción

• Full day: excursion to San Bernardino and Areguá (Lake Ypacaraí, 50 km from Asunción). Walk along the lake, visit Areguá's ceramic workshops (see our crafts guide), lunch at a restaurant with lake views.
• On the way, visit Itauguá (ñandutí village) — buy a piece of traditional lace as a souvenir
• Return to Asunción in the late afternoon
• Day's goal: see Paraguay outside Asunción — the countryside, villages, nature

Day 7: Networking and expatriate community

• Morning: meeting with other French-speaking expatriates living in Paraguay — we can facilitate connections. Their experiences are worth all the guides in the world.
• Networking lunch in a Villa Morra restaurant — exchange contacts, recommendations, and practical advice
• Afternoon: visit a coworking space (if you are a freelancer or digital nomad) — test internet connection, atmosphere, price (see our internet guide)
• Evening: outing to a bar or restaurant in Paseo Carmelitas — test the evening social life
• Day's goal: validate the human aspect — do you feel comfortable in this community?

Day 8 (optional): Encarnación or Ciudad del Este

If you have the time and desire, an extra day to visit a secondary city:

• Option A — Encarnación: flight or bus (4-5h), visit the costanera, beaches, and seaside atmosphere. Ideal if you are considering an alternative to Asunción (see our Encarnación guide).
• Option B — Ciudad del Este + Iguazú Falls: flight or bus (4-5h), visit CDE markets then cross to Iguazú Falls on the Brazilian side. The most spectacular natural experience in Paraguay (see our Ciudad del Este guide).

Day 9-10: Review and decision

• Morning: take stock — note your impressions, favorites, concerns
• Second meeting with our team (if necessary) to finalize your action plan
• If you have decided: start the residency procedure, sign a lease, or make a real estate offer
• If you need to think: return with a clear plan and a return schedule
• Depart from Silvio Pettirossi Airport with a fresh perspective on your future

The scouting trip budget

Category	7-day budget (1 person)	10-day budget (couple)
Round-trip flight from Europe	€800 - €1,500	€1,600 - €3,000
Accommodation (Airbnb)	250 - 500 USD	400 - 800 USD
Meals (restaurants + groceries)	200 - 400 USD	400 - 800 USD
Local transport (Bolt)	60 - 120 USD	80 - 150 USD
Excursion outside Asunción	50 - 150 USD	100 - 300 USD
SIM card + data	15 - 25 USD	30 - 50 USD
Miscellaneous (souvenirs, unforeseen)	50 - 100 USD	100 - 200 USD
Estimated TOTAL	€1,500 - €2,800	€2,800 - €5,300

This is a modest investment considering the decision you are about to make. If Paraguay convinces you, these €2,000 to €5,000 for a scouting trip will be the best spent of your life — the annual tax savings will amortize them in a few weeks.

The scouting trip checklist

Before leaving

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months)
• Flight + accommodation booking
• Download essential apps (Bolt, WhatsApp, Google Maps, Google Translate, Wise, AccuWeather — see our app guide)
• Contact our team to schedule an on-site meeting
• Apostilled documents prepared (police record, birth certificate) — if you plan to start residency during the trip
• List of your questions and decision criteria
• Reference letter from your European bank (useful for account opening)

During the trip — what to observe

• Noise: are residential neighborhoods quiet? Are there construction sites, traffic, dogs barking at night?
• Safety: do you feel safe walking at night? Are the condominios well-guarded? (see our safety guide)
• Heat: test your tolerance to temperature and humidity. Is the air conditioning in the accommodation effective?
• Internet connection: test the speed in your Airbnb, in a cafe, and in a coworking space. Is it sufficient for your work?
• People: are Paraguayans welcoming? Do you feel comfortable in daily interactions? (see our Paraguayan culture guide)
• Real prices: note every expense — meals, groceries, transport, drinks. Compare with our cost of living guide. Do the numbers match?
• Your instinct: after 3-4 days, what does your gut tell you? Do you see yourself living here? This is often the most reliable answer.

Upon return — questions to ask yourself

• Does Paraguay match what I imagined? Better or worse?
• Do the tax advantages justify the lifestyle adjustments?
• Am I ready to learn Spanish and integrate into a different culture?
• Is my spouse/family convinced?
• What is my realistic timeline for moving?
• What documents do I need to prepare for residency?

Mistakes to avoid during the scouting trip

Staying in the tourist bubble

Don't spend your week in a 5-star hotel with a pool and room service. This is a scouting trip, not a vacation. Stay in an Airbnb in a residential neighborhood, shop at the supermarket, take Bolt during peak hours, eat at local restaurants — live like a resident, not a tourist.

Only seeing Asunción

If possible, dedicate at least one day to getting out of Asunción — Encarnación, San Bernardino, the artisan villages, the countryside. Paraguay is not just its capital. And if you plan to invest in agriculture or real estate in the province (see our agricultural investment guide), an on-site visit is essential.

Only Talking to Expats

Feedback from expats is valuable but incomplete. Also talk to Paraguayans—your Bolt driver, the restaurant manager, your building’s doorman. Their perspective on life in Paraguay is different and complementary.

Deciding Without Experiencing the Heat (or Cold)

If you come in April (ideal temperature), you won’t know how you’ll handle January (40°C). And vice-versa. If climate tolerance is an important criterion, consider two short trips during different seasons before making your decision.

Coming Unprepared

A scouting trip without planned appointments, without a list of neighborhoods to visit, and without local contacts is a wasted trip. Prepare your itinerary before you go—and contact our team to arrange key on-site meetings. Our guide to fatal mistakes shows what happens when you improvise.

Our Support for Your Scouting Trip

We offer a welcome program for prospective expatriates making a scouting trip:

• Consultation meeting: analysis of your profile, discussion of your objectives, presentation of services, and personalized action plan
• Guided neighborhood tour: with a member of our team who knows Asunción like the back of their hand
• Bank support: visit to the recommended bank to prepare for the future opening of your bank account
• Networking with expats: meeting with established French speakers who share their experience
• Property visits: selection of apartments and houses matching your criteria via our real estate page
• Initiation of residency (if decided): submission of the tax residency application during your stay to save time

This support transforms your scouting trip from a solitary exploration into a structured and productive experience. You leave with concrete answers, not more questions.

Conclusion: The Trip That Changes Everything

A scouting trip to Paraguay is the smartest investment you can make before deciding to expatriate. In 7 to 10 days and for a budget of €2,000 to €3,000, you will have seen the neighborhoods, tested the cost of living, met the expatriate community, visited housing, understood the atmosphere, and—most importantly—listened to your instincts.

Expats who took a scouting trip before settling are consistently better prepared, better integrated, and more satisfied than those who arrived blindly. Paraguay deserves to be seen before being chosen—and once seen, it convinces the vast majority of those who visit it.

The best decisions are made with open eyes and feet on the ground. Come and see. Paraguay awaits you.

Want to organize your scouting trip to Paraguay? Contact our team to plan your itinerary, appointments, and on-site welcome. Your new life might start in 7 days.