Travel agencies in San Lorenzo: how to choose well

To pick a travel agency in San Lorenzo, start by checking that it's listed in Registur, the national tourism register run by Senatur, Paraguay's tourism ministry, and that it has no sanctions. Then ask two agencies for a written quote for the same trip and compare what's included, how you pay and what happens if you cancel.

How do you know an agency is licensed?

Senatur advises checking Registur before booking any package, domestic or international (La Nación, 2024⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). It lists agencies registered to operate and any sanctions, plus tour bus companies, guides and accommodation. The database is updated weekly, and agencies with expired paperwork that ignore notices are removed.

• Search by both trading name and legal company name; they don't always match.
• The same report notes that many new agencies start selling without registering. If it's not listed, ask why before you pay.
• Agencies selling through social media need the same check: a polished profile isn't a licence.

Where to look in San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo is 9 km from Asunción, with commerce concentrated on Avenida Julia Miranda Cueto de Estigarribia and Avenida Mariscal Estigarribia, plus several shopping centres (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Search "agencia de viajes" on your phone's map, make a shortlist and check it against Registur before you go.

Traffic is heavy: around 850,000 people come in and out of the city daily, and the National University (UNA) campus area is always busy (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Handle the first enquiry by WhatsApp or email and visit the office only to sign and pay.

What should the quote say?

Have both agencies quote exactly the same trip (dates, departure city, number of travellers) and put in writing:

• What's included: flights or bus, baggage, transfers, accommodation and meal plan, tours, travel assistance.
• What's not: taxes, tips, optional tours, card fees.
• Total price and currency: guaraníes or dollars, taxes included. By law, providers must state the price including taxes and the payment terms (Law 1334/98, art. 15⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Instalments: if they finance, the cash price, interest rate, number of instalments and total (Sedeco via ABC⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Cancellation and changes: what you get back, and when, if you cancel or the operator does.

Every sale of services requires an invoice (Sedeco via ABC⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠): ask for one for the deposit and each payment.

What documents do you need?

Paraguayan citizens can enter Mercosur full and associated members (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador) with their national ID card; for Brazil and Argentina the card must be less than 10 years old (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Anywhere else, you need a passport and, depending on the destination, a visa. If you're a foreign resident in San Lorenzo, your own nationality's rules apply, so check them separately.

• Ask the agency who handles what: many quote the trip but leave passport and visa to you.
• If minors are travelling, ask well ahead which travel authorisation is required.
• Check ID and passport expiry dates before paying the deposit.

Paying safely

• Don't hand over the full amount in cash without an invoice. Pay by transfer or card where you can, as both leave a record.
• Get a voucher for each service (hotel, transfer, tour) and the flight booking code, and check them directly with the airline or hotel.
• Keep chats, quotes and invoices until you're home.

What if something goes wrong?

Complain to the agency in writing first. If that fails, file a complaint with Sedeco, the consumer protection authority, via its 24-hour web form or the free line 0800 11 88 99 (Hoy, 2026⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Sanctions against an agency show up in Registur (La Nación⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).