Public transportation connecting Asunción with communities in Alto Paraguay was suspended for more than 40 days in Fuerte Olimpo and Bahía Negra because rain flooded sections of the roads. After service resumed, passengers faced an average fare increase of 10%.
The new prices vary by distance. A one-way ticket to Bahía Negra, the most distant town, costs G. 275,000, or G. 550,000 for a round trip. Service runs once a week. A one-way ticket to Fuerte Olimpo costs G. 235,000, and buses run twice a week. In Carmelo Peralta, which has an all-weather road, a one-way ticket costs G. 230,000, and buses run twice a week.
The increase comes despite the poor condition of the buses, which are described as heavily worn and frequently suffer mechanical breakdowns on the long journey. San Juan SRL, the company operating the route, says it cannot send more modern vehicles to the region because of the poor condition of the dirt roads.
Trips to Fuerte Olimpo and Bahía Negra remain dependent on road conditions. Even light rain can lead to service cancellations; during prolonged rainy periods, passengers may wait months for service to resume. Traffic is currently flowing in the area because the rains have stopped, not because the roads have been adequately repaired. The roads were reopened with the help of volunteers and machinery from ranchers, the MOPC, and the governor's office.