Punctuality and Perception of Time

Paraguayans have little awareness of the value and importance of time. Nothing runs on time, and being a few minutes late to a meeting is not uncommon and isn't considered rude. People do not share the same sense of the importance of keeping to clock time as northern Europeans and North Americans conventionally do; they are closer in this regard to Merranean and other Latin American cultures.

Visitors from outside Latin America may find it frustrating at first that schedules and timetables are not followed strictly, and perceive frequent ‘lateness’. Flights and intercity buses may not run to schedule. Arriving late to a meeting is common in Paraguay and should not be considered rude. In contrast, punctuality in foreign visitors is admired.

Paraguayans may be late, but visitors are expected to be punctual for business meetings. Business appointments often begin 10 to 20 minutes late. Therefore, when setting up a meeting, either private or for businesses you should be aware that your Paraguayan counterpart will probably be late, maybe even really late. With time, even the most punctual expat will get accustomed to this habit of their new co-patriots.