Money Matters in Asunción

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Money Matters

In Asunción U.S. dollars are no problem to exchange. Cash is easier to exchange and earns a better rate than traveler's checks. Interbanco and Money Exchange change American Express traveler's checks for guaraníes, but the American Express office does not cash its own checks. Many places exchange Argentine pesos and Brazilian reales, but few deal with other currencies. You can change money and traveler's checks downtown at ABN Amro Bank and La Moneda or any of the casas de cambio (exchange houses) along Calle Palma and around the Plaza de los Héroes. Multibanco, just outside the customs exit at Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi changes cash dollars for guaraníes. You can also change money at major hotels, which have a less favorable rate. The money changers on downtown streets who call out "¡Cambio dólares!" offer decent rates during normal business hours but raise their rates evenings and weekends.

Machines on Paraguay's Infonet system of ATMs have an annoying habit of accepting either Plus- or Cirrus-linked cards, but rarely both. To be on the safe side, bring cards affiliated with both systems, and contact your bank about changing your password to four digits if you don't already use one -- that's what will work here. The ATM at ABN Amro Bank does take both, as does the machine just beyond the customs exit at Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi, as well as those in most Esso gas stations.

Banks

ABN Amro Bank (Estrella at Alberi. 021/419-0000). American Express (Yegros 690. 021/490-111). InTerbanco (Oliva 349. 021/494-992). La Moneda (25 de Mayo 127. 021/494-724). Money Exchange (Palma 403. 021/453-277). Multibanco (Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi. 021/647-199).