PARAGUAY · TRAVEL GUIDE FOR AMERICANS
Key Facts
- The country Paraguay, a landlocked South American country whose second city, Ciudad del Este, faces Brazil.
- What happened Paraguay waives the visa for Americans until 13 August 2027, but Brazil next door requires one.
- US advisory The State Department rates Paraguay Level 1 overall but Level 2 in Alto Paraná, where the city sits.
- The money The US dollar buys about 5,811 guaraníes (US$1), so US$20 is roughly 116,000 guaraníes.
- Itaipu tours The Brazilian-side Panoramic tour costs R$63 (US$11.67) and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
- Power Index Paraguay ranks 10th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 36.0 points (October 2026 edition).
A Ciudad del Este day trip is easy to plan, but Americans face one rule many visitors miss. Paraguay lets US citizens in without a visa until 13 August 2027, while Brazil, a few minutes away across the Friendship Bridge, now requires one.
The US State Department lists Paraguay at Level 1, its lowest warning, but rates Alto Paraná, the department that holds the city, at Level 2. This Ciudad del Este day trip guide explains what that means, what to carry and what to see.
Is Ciudad del Este Safe for Americans?
The US State Department rates Paraguay at Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, for the country as a whole. It rates five northeastern departments, which are state-like regions, at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution: Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepción and San Pedro.
The advisory cites illicit trafficking of arms, narcotics and goods in those departments, and says police presence there is limited. It does not name Ciudad del Este itself, so check the current text before you travel.
Entry Rules and the Friendship Bridge
Paraguay waives the visa for US citizens on stays of up to 90 days until 13 August 2027, its foreign ministry says. The ministry’s visa page also lists a US$160 visa on arrival for US nationals, so confirm which applies.
Brazil is different: US citizens have needed a visa since 10 April 2025, and tourists apply for an e-visa, an online visa. Check the Brazilian foreign ministry’s e-visa page for the fee and the wait before you book.
Crossing the Friendship Bridge means leaving Paraguay and entering Brazil, so carry your passport and the e-visa for the Brazilian side. Allow extra time at the border, because queues vary by day.
What to See Around Ciudad del Este
Ciudad del Este is Paraguay’s border shopping hub, and the Itaipu dam is the main sight of any Ciudad del Este day trip. The Brazilian side runs the best-documented visitor program, with prices in reais that we convert at about R$5.40 per US dollar.
The Panoramic tour costs R$63 (US$11.67), lasts about 1 hour 10 minutes and runs every day from 8:30 to 17:00. The Special tour adds the power plant’s control room, costs R$185 (US$34.28) and lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes.
The Biological Refuge tour costs R$48 (US$8.89), takes about 2 hours 30 minutes and runs Wednesday to Monday. The Illuminated night tour costs R$50 (US$9.26) on Fridays and Saturdays at 19:00, and the Ecomuseum is free.
Spaces on the longer tours are limited, so book ahead through the operator. Bring your passport, because you will cross into Brazil to reach the visitor complex.
Money, Prices and Getting Around
The Paraguayan currency is the guaraní, and one US dollar buys about 5,811 guaraníes (US$1) on the latest rate we checked. A strong guaraní means prices cost Americans more than a year ago, as our report on how the guaraní’s gain hits farm exporters explains.
Reais are the currency on the Brazilian side, so budget separately for Itaipu tickets. Check the day’s exchange rate before you pay, then plan your Ciudad del Este day trip budget.
What It Means for You
For a Ciudad del Este day trip, confirm your Brazil e-visa before you leave and carry your passport on both sides of the bridge. Read our full travel advice for US visitors to Paraguay for entry rules and Asunción.
For background, read how Paraguay works, who holds power in the Paraguayan state and how Brazil shares Itaipu with Paraguay. Our page on Asunción covers the capital.
What Is Not Known
The cost of the Brazil e-visa and the exact wait for approval are not confirmed here. The Paraguayan foreign ministry’s waiver and its US$160 visa-on-arrival line have not been reconciled in any text we found.
Tour prices and hours can change, and the operator’s page does not list which identity documents each tour requires. Paraguay’s own Itaipu visitor program is not covered here because its prices are not confirmed.
More: Paraguay news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Americans need a visa for a Ciudad del Este day trip?
Paraguay waives the visa for US citizens until 13 August 2027 under Law 7314 of 2024. Brazil requires a visa for Americans, so you need an e-visa to cross into Foz do Iguaçu.
Is Ciudad del Este dangerous for US tourists?
The State Department rates Paraguay Level 1 overall and Alto Paraná Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution. It cites illicit trafficking and limited police presence in the northeast, and does not name the city.
How much does the Itaipu dam tour cost?
The Panoramic tour, a usual add-on to a Ciudad del Este day trip, costs R$63 (US$11.67) and lasts about 1 hour 10 minutes. The Special tour costs R$185 (US$34.28), and the Ecomuseum is free.
Do I need my passport to visit the Itaipu dam?
Yes, because the Brazilian-side visitor complex sits across the border. The operator’s page does not list the exact documents each tour requires, so carry your passport.
Sources: US State Department, Paraguay travel advisory, 2 November 2026; Paraguayan foreign ministry (consulate), visa information: Law 7314/2024 waiver to 13 August 2027, 2 November 2026; Brazilian foreign ministry, electronic visa, 2 November 2026; Itaipu Tourism, tours, prices and hours (Brazilian side), 2 November 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief