Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Paraguay - cash only, or do cards work too?
Buses in Asunción were cheap and went everywhere. From my guesthouse near Mercado 4, I paid ₲3,500 in cash for a colectivo to Villa Elisa. The driver was friendly, and I never had issues as long as I had small bills. Getting change was easy because BBVA and Itaú ATMs were around the city center. It’s old-school and cash-only, but for the price and coverage, it’s hard to complain. No metro here, but colectivos can take you to almost every corner of the capital.
Asunción’s bus system was one of the trickiest I’ve used. I stayed near the Costanera and had to ride colectivos daily. Drivers didn’t accept large notes, and my Banco Continental ATM kept spitting out ₲100,000 bills. I wasted time running into mini-markets to get change just to board. No card readers on buses, no tap-to-pay, nothing modern. I’d read about a smart card system called Jaha, but it didn’t seem functional. Be prepared for cash headaches and delays if you don’t plan ahead.
I stayed near Avenida Mariscal López in Asunción and rode the #30 bus to Luque almost every day. Every time, the driver waved off my ₲50,000 note and told me to find coins. I ended up breaking change at a Banco Itaú ATM and small corner shops. No way to pay with cards directly, not even with my Mastercard. One day I overheard students talk about a prepaid “Jaha” transport card, but when I asked, the kiosk lady laughed and said it’s not common. Definitely plan on using cash.
Paraguay doesn’t have a metro, but Asunción has a bus system called colectivos. I stayed in Barrio Catedral and used them daily to San Lorenzo. Every ride cost about 3,500 guaraníes, paid in cash to the driver. Cards are not accepted, and even giving big bills can be an issue. Banco Itaú and Banco Continental ATMs are easy to find along Avenida España. Some people mentioned a reloadable Jaha card in the news, but as a tourist I didn’t see it in use anywhere. Bring coins and small notes.