Is Paraguay safe? Many people ask me that question. It difficult to answer because it means so many different things to different people. Also, some seem to ask it so that someone else will be "responsible" if they have a problem. "But you told me it was safe!"If you look at the U.S. State Department travel information for Paraguay you will probably not think it is very safe. The same goes for their report on Uruguay. Of course, the British report on travel to the United States would do a pretty good job at scaring anyone from visiting there too! The U.S. report on Colombia was even worse when I first visited there. It referred to Colombia as the most dangerous country and to avoid travel there unless absolutely necessary. My experiences over many trips to Colombia will all positive and I felt safe at all time (well, maybe getting married could be considered dangerous). If you plan to get drunk and openly count large quantities of cash on a public bus, or even in a taxi, you'll probably find few places that are "safe" for you. Many people I've spoken to in Uruguay consider Paraguay to be a "dangerous" place in comparison. However, take any taxi in Montevideo and you are separated from the driver by a large, bulky, obnoxious glass panel, obviously installed in every taxi for ensuring protection. In Asuncion, you find no such protection. Apparently it's not needed. And, about taxis. Once I grabbed a taxi at the corner and the directions I had was "when you get in the taxi call me and hand your cell to the driver". When I got in I told the driver I would call my friend for directions and he grunted at me and made some motions with his arms as I was dialing. I handed the driver my cell and he immediately handed to it some guy outside the taxi. Uh oh! Time to say byebye to my cell... or not? It turns out the taxi driver was mute and couldn't talk on the phone. After the guy outside the taxi got the directions and relayed them to the driver, my phone was back in my hands. I think a lot of the safety issues in an area have a lot to do with how you fit in. My example above about being drunk and counting money is of course extreme, but in many simpler ways you can fit in or not, be safe or not. If you are walking in Asuncion and don't have any patience when crossing the street, it will not be a safe place for you. The only real way to get the right answer for you, to the question, "is Paraguay" safe is to come and visit and see how you feel. Expert Page: Expat Services from Total Paraguay | 
