Paraguay has no coast, and for most of its history the rivers did the work of one. The Paraguay and the Paraná carried people and cargo south toward Buenos Aires and the Atlantic. Aviation lifted that traffic into the air. The geography still holds, though. This is a country you enter through one main door and a few windows that belong to the neighbours.

The door is in Luque, on the edge of Asunción. Most international journeys to Paraguay begin or end there, and many pass first through São Paulo, Buenos Aires or Panama City. Paraguay's airports are small beside Guarulhos (GRU) or Ezeiza (EZE). The country's air links work best when you treat those hubs as part of the route.

Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) in Asunción
The airport carries the name of a Paraguayan aviator who flew loops over Buenos Aires and Paris in the early days of flight. It is a compact place with a single terminal. Outside, the road runs through Luque into the capital, where lapacho trees turn the avenues pink in the dry winter months.

Air Europa flies nonstop to Madrid, Paraguay's only direct link with Europe. Copa Airlines connects Asunción with its hub in Panama City, which opens North America and the Caribbean. LATAM and GOL cover São Paulo. Aerolíneas Argentinas flies to Aeroparque (AEP) in Buenos Aires, and JetSMART serves Ezeiza (EZE). Paranair, the Paraguayan airline based here, adds Montevideo, Santa Cruz de la Sierra and several cities in northern Argentina.

There is no rail link, and Asunción has no passenger trains at all. Yellow taxis wait outside arrivals. Ride-hailing apps operate in the city, and a public bus line runs into the centre for travellers with light bags.

Guaraní International Airport (AGT) in Ciudad del Este
Guaraní sits at Minga Guazú, west of Ciudad del Este, among the flat red farmland of Alto Paraná. Its runway takes the largest freighters, and cargo drives most of the traffic here, much of it tied to the free trade city and its crowded shopping streets. Passenger flights have come and gone over the years. Check current schedules before building a trip around this airport.

Across The Border
For Iguazú Falls, most travellers fly into Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) on the Brazilian side, which has regular flights from São Paulo and other Brazilian cities. Ciudad del Este lies across the Friendship Bridge. Puerto Iguazú (IGR) in Argentina serves the falls from the other bank.

The Jesuit missions at Trinidad and Jesús are a road trip south from Asunción. Some travellers come the other way, flying to Posadas (PSS) in Argentina and crossing the river to Encarnación.

Before You Fly
Entry rules for Paraguay depend on your passport. Some nationalities arrive without a visa, while others must arrange one in advance. Check the current requirements with a Paraguayan consulate before you book. Many routes connect through Brazil or Argentina, so confirm the transit rules for your connection as well.

Magelline Perspective
Paraguay rewards travellers who read the region as one map. Fly into Asunción when the capital, the Chaco or the missions are the goal. From Europe, Air Europa through Madrid is the simplest route. From North America, Copa through Panama usually works best. São Paulo and Buenos Aires are worth comparing when fares or timing suit you better there. For the falls and the Triple Frontier, Foz do Iguaçu is the most practical arrival point, with Ciudad del Este a short crossing away. Guaraní makes sense when a scheduled flight happens to fit your plan.