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Cars 4 Rental Information on  Paraguay

General Area: 406,752 sq km (157,048 sq miles). Population: 5,496,450 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 13.5 per sq km. Capital: Asuncin. Population: 561,386 (2000). GEOGRAPHY: Paraguay is a landlocked country surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, lying some 1440km (900 miles) up the River Paran from the Atlantic. The River Paraguay, a tributary of the Paran, divides the country into two sharply contrasting regions. The Oriental zone, which covers 159,800 sq km (61,700 sq miles), consists of undulating country intersected by chains of hills rising to about 600m (2000ft), merging into the Mato Grosso Plateau in the north; the Paran crosses the area in the east and south. East and southeast of Asuncin lie the oldest centres of settlement inhabited by the greater part of the population. This area is bordered to the west by rolling pastures, and to the south by thick primeval forests. The Occidental zone, or Paraguayan Chaco, covers 246,827 sq km (95,300 sq miles). It is a flat alluvial plain, composed mainly of grey clay, which is marked by large areas of permanent swamp in the southern and eastern regions. Apart from a few small settlements, it is sparsely populated. Government: Republic since 1967. Gained independence from Spain in 1811. Head of State and Government: President scar Nicanor Duarte Frutos since 2003. Language: The official languages are Spanish and Guaran; Guaran is spoken by most of the rural population. Most Paraguayans are bilingual, but prefer to speak Guaran outside Asuncin. Religion: Mostly Roman Catholic. Time: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from October to February). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications: Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 595. Outgoing international code: 002. Moderate internal network apart from the main cities. Mobile Telephone GSM 1900 network coverage is limited to main urban areas. The local network providers are Hutchison Telecommunications Paraguay SA and VOX. Fax Some hotels provide facilities. Internet ISPs include Planet (website: www.pla.net.py). Internet cafes are available in main urban areas. Telegram Many hotels have facilities. Services are also available at COPACO (Compaa Paraguaya de Comunicaciones). Post Airmail to Europe takes 5 days. Press The main newspapers are ABC Color, La Nacin, Noticias and Ultima Hora. American newspapers are available. Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. Back to Top Money Currency: Guaran (G). Notes are in denominations of G100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 5000 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of G500, 100, 50, 10 and 5. Currency exchange: Paraguay maintains a free monetary exchange policy and the purchase and sale of foreign currencies is not subject to any controls or regulations. There is a bureau de change at the airport. US Dollars, which are more easily negotiable than Sterling, are widely accepted throughout the country. Paraguayan ATMs may not always recognise foreign cards. Credit & debit cards: American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted (though not in smaller hotels), while Diners Club has more limited use. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: US Dollar travellers cheques are widely accepted although cheap hotels usually do not exchange travellers cheques. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Guaran against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May '04 £1.00= 10158.18 10639.90 11285.60 10216.5 $1.00= 6367.95 6270.00 6200.00 5720.00 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0845-1500. Back to Top Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A Malaria 3 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers leaving Paraguay to go to endemic areas. A certificate is also required from travellers coming from endemic areas. 2: Typhoid is a risk in rural areas. 3: Malaria risk, almost exclusively in the benign vivax form, is moderate in certain municipalities of Alto Paran, Caaguaz and Canendiy. In the other 13 departments there is a negligible risk. Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns is likely to be contaminated and sterilisation is considered essential. Milk may be unpasteurised and, if so, should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is also available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Hepatitis B and D are endemic; hepatitis A is common; hepatitis C occurs. There have been large epidemics of dengue fever across the country in the past few years. TB occurs. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: Health insurance is essential. There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Back to Top Climate Subtropical with rapid changes in temperature throughout the year. Summer (December to March) can be very hot. Winter (June to September) is mild with few cold days. Rainfall is heaviest from December to March. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens are worn in warmer months, with some warm clothes for spring and autumn. Mediumweights are best for winter. Rainwear is advisable throughout the year. Back to Top Passport   Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required British Yes No Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes Yes Yes USA Yes Yes Yes OtherEU Yes 1 Yes Japanese Yes No Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for 6 months after the intended length of stay required by all except nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay with valid ID cards entering as tourists directly from their own country. VISAS: Required by all except the following entering as tourists for stays of up to 90 days: (a) 1. nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do require visas); (b) nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Norway, Panama, Peru, South Africa, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela; (c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 6 hours provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: Single-entry: £36. Multiple-entry: £52. Validity: 90 days from date of issue. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Valid passport (plus two photocopies from page with personal data). (b) Two completed application forms. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Stamped, self-addressed envelope for postal applications. (e) Fee, payable in cash (or cheque in sterling at the Consulate of Paraguay in London). The following requirements must be presented with two photocopies: (f) Proof of adequate funds (bank statemen or credit card). (g) Travel tickets and copy of itinerary. For business visas: (a)-(g) and, (h) A covering letter from employer including name of contact in Paraguay (two photocopies). Note: Postal applications will not be processed until return post is paid or a courier service is arranged. Working days required: 24 to 48 hours. Temporary residence: Apply to Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Back to Top

Car Hire Paraguay

Cars 4 Rental can provide car hire vehicles in all the popular locations throughout Paraguay.

Whatever your requirements Cars 4 Rental will be able to provide a car to meet your needs. Our hire cars can be equipped with many optional extras including child seats so that your car rental is ideally suited to your needs.

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