Overnight trip

Iguazú Falls from Asunción: An Overnight Trip

Iguazú Falls are an overnight trip from Asunción: the falls lie on the border between Brazil and Argentina, and the way there from the capital runs east to Ciudad del Este and across the Paraná into Brazil. Plan at least two nights, so you have time for the road and for one or both sides. Here is the bus, the border and what each national park offers.

Getting to Ciudad del Este

Long-distance buses leave from the Estación de Buses de Asunción, the city's bus station. Its timetable lists many buses to Ciudad del Este and a few that continue across the border to Foz do Iguaçu, the Brazilian city next to the falls (see the box above). Journey times are not published, so ask at the counter.

By road, a routing estimate puts Ciudad del Este's bus terminal about 334 km from central Asunción, roughly 5 hours of driving without stops. To break the trip, visit the Saltos del Monday, right next to Ciudad del Este.

Crossing at Ciudad del Este

The Friendship Bridge (Puente de la Amistad) crosses the Paraná from Ciudad del Este to Foz do Iguaçu. A second bridge, the Puente de la Integración between Presidente Franco and Foz, has been opening in phases since December 2025, according to ABC Color. Under a Paraguay and Brazil joint commission notice published by Paraguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regular international bus lines now cross only by the new bridge, while private cars may use it only if everyone on board lives in the border towns and carries a border resident document (details in the box above). Visitors driving their own car, like anyone without that document, still cross by the busy Friendship Bridge, so allow extra time.

Entry rules depend on your nationality and documents, and they change, so check the official pages linked in the box above before you travel, and allow time for border formalities both ways.

The Brazilian side

According to UNESCO, the falls stretch for nearly three kilometres, with drops of up to 80 metres, along the river that forms the border. On the Brazilian side, the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu is managed by ICMBio, Brazil's federal conservation agency, and visitor services are run by a concession company, Urbia Cataratas.

The classic visit starts at the Visitor Center, where park buses take you to the start of the Trilha das Cataratas. This trail runs past viewpoints to a walkway with a view of the Garganta do Diabo (Devil's Throat), and the park says the traditional visit takes about two hours. The ticket also covers other forest trails and a bike path. From Foz do Iguaçu, a city bus line runs to the park (see the box above).

The Argentine side

Argentina's Parque Nacional Iguazú, in the province of Misiones, was created in 1934 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, according to Argentina's national parks administration. Inside the Área Cataratas, the Tren Ecológico de la Selva, included in the ticket, runs to the walking circuits.

Its main circuits:

• Superior: panoramic views from the top of the falls.
• Inferior: views close to the falls, with some stairs.
• Garganta del Diablo: a walkway to the edge of the most powerful falls.
• Sendero Macuco: a forest trail to the Salto Arrechea, open depending on the weather.

The park says the Superior, Garganta del Diablo and Sendero Verde routes are fully accessible. From the bus terminal in Puerto Iguazú, the Argentine town nearby, a local bus runs to the park (see the box above).

FAQ

How do I get from Asunción to Iguazú Falls?

Take a long-distance bus to Ciudad del Este or directly to Foz do Iguaçu, then a local bus or car to the park. Plan it as an overnight trip, with at least two nights.

Do I need a visa to visit the Brazilian side?

It depends on your nationality. Check Brazil's official visa table, linked in the box above, before you travel.

Can I see both sides of the falls in one trip?

Yes, if you give each side its own day. We found no official information on getting between Foz do Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazú, so check before visiting.

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