Asunción’s international flights leave from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU), in neighbouring Luque on the city’s north-eastern edge. For Paraguayans heading to Bhutan, it is the start of one of the longer journeys anyone can make to the Himalayas, crossing the Atlantic and much of Asia on the way. There are no direct flights, so the art lies in choosing the right connections. This page explains how a trip from Paraguay’s capital typically fits together.
Silvio Pettirossi and the Flight Out of Asunción
Most travellers reach the airport from central Asunción by road, allowing plenty of time for traffic. Our Paraguay guide explains that common itineraries begin with LATAM Airlines or Copa Airlines to São Paulo or Panama City. These first sectors feed into the long-haul networks that carry you east, so check current schedules for both before you decide which way to go.
Crossing to Asia via Dubai or Istanbul
From São Paulo or Panama City, our country guide notes that travellers typically connect to long-haul carriers such as Emirates via Dubai or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. From there, you continue to a gateway for Bhutan, such as Delhi, Kathmandu or Bangkok, and finally board Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines) or Bhutan Airlines to Paro International Airport.
- Option A: Asunción – São Paulo – Dubai – Asian gateway – Paro.
- Option B: Asunción – Panama City – Istanbul – Asian gateway – Paro.
Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Bhutan, and Paro is the only international airport, so whatever route you choose ends with one of those two carriers. Because you are crossing so many time zones, we strongly suggest at least one planned overnight stop rather than trying to connect straight through.
When comparing the two options, look closely at the length of each layover and the hour you land in Asia. A route that is a little slower overall but delivers you to Delhi or Bangkok in the evening, ready for a proper night’s sleep, often makes the first days in Bhutan far more enjoyable.
Asunción to Paro: An Illustrative Journey
One possible pattern, offered as an example only: you fly from Asunción to São Paulo and connect onto an overnight flight to Dubai. After a long connection, you continue to Delhi, where you spend a night at an airport hotel. The following morning you take Drukair or Bhutan Airlines to Paro and are met by your guide on arrival. Including the rest stop, the trip spans three calendar days.
Paro’s approach is flown visually and weather can delay departures, so the Delhi night is valuable twice over: it eases jet lag and protects your first day of touring.
Nine Hours Apart: Asunción and Bhutan Time
Paraguay now keeps UTC−3 all year, having ended its seasonal clock changes, and Bhutan Standard Time is UTC+6 with no daylight saving. Bhutan is nine hours ahead of Asunción. When it is 9am in Asunción, it is 6pm in Thimphu.
A nine-hour shift eastwards is a serious adjustment. Use the stopover to move towards Bhutan time, keep the first day in Paro light, and drink plenty of water. Most travellers find the third or fourth morning is when they feel fully settled.
Paraguayan Summers and Bhutan’s Best Months
Asunción has hot, humid summers from around December to February and mild winters in the middle of the year. Bhutan’s seasons run on a northern-hemisphere calendar. The favourite months for visiting are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). June to August is the monsoon season, and December to February brings cold but clear weather, above all at altitude.
Because the hemispheres are reversed, Bhutan’s autumn coincides with Paraguay’s spring, and Bhutan’s spring falls during Paraguay’s autumn. Pack for the Bhutanese season rather than your own. Our Paraguay guide mentions Paro Tshechu as a spring highlight; Thimphu Tshechu is held in autumn, and both festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates change annually.
Paperwork for Paraguayan Travellers
Paraguayan citizens need a Bhutan visa, applied for online in advance and usually arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. Our Paraguay guide notes that the visa approval letter is generally processed within a few days, and the visa is then stamped on arrival in Paro.
- SDF: USD 100 per adult per night is the current rate for most international visitors. Ask the Department of Tourism for the latest figure before booking.
- Insurance: visitors must hold travel insurance for the full stay.
- Cash: the ngultrum is pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee, and ATMs are mainly in towns.
Check transit requirements for every country you pass through, as these depend on your passport and route.
How Long to Spend in Bhutan
Coming from South America, a short trip rarely makes sense. We would suggest seven nights as a minimum, covering Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and the Phobjikha valley. Ten to twelve nights lets you reach central Bhutan and slow down. Two weeks or more opens up a trek or a festival with time to recover from the journey at both ends.
Questions from Asunción
Should I route via São Paulo or Panama City?
Both work. The best choice depends on the long-haul connection you prefer, Emirates via Dubai or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, and the overall timing.
Has Paraguay stopped changing its clocks?
Yes. Paraguay now stays on UTC−3 all year, so the gap with Bhutan is a constant nine hours.
Can the whole trip be coordinated?
We arrange your visa, itinerary and Bhutan flights, and we are happy to time them around your long-haul tickets.
For full background on visas, routes and costs for Paraguayan visitors, read How to Travel to Bhutan from Paraguay. When you are ready, we would be glad to plan your journey from Asunción.
