Alto Paraná Department · Paraguay
Where to stay in Ciudad del Este
Ciudad del Este is a city in Alto Paraná Department, Paraguay, home to about 350,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- IGU15 km · Cataratas International Airport
- Currency
- PYGParaguayan guaraní
- Time zone
- America/Asuncion
- Language
- Guarani, Spanish
About
About Ciudad del Este
Ciudad del Este is the second-largest city in Paraguay and capital of the Alto Paraná Department, situated on the Paraná River. It is located 327 km (203 mi) east of Asunción, the capital, and is adjacent to the border with Brazil, to which it is connected by the Friendship Bridge on the Paraná River.
In the city center, a myriad of shopping malls, arcades and department stores offer imported goods of luxury brands at unbeatable prices, making thousands of tourist-buyers coming during the day while the shops are open only to return home in the afternoon with the shopping bags full of bought merchandize. Also very close is a unique feature rarely seen around the world, a tri-nation viewpoint where the borders of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet at the mouth of the Iguazú river into the Paraná river.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Ciudad del Este
See
- Itaipú
- Panoramic tour of the dam
- Special visit to the dam
- Technical visit to the dam
- Monumental Light Show
- Scale model of the dam
- Itaipu Museum Guarani Land
- Salto del Monday
- Three Borders Landmark
Do
- Refugio Biológico Tati Yupi
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Ciudad del Este
11 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Convair Hotel | 0.7 km | |
| Gran Nobile Hotel & Convention | 5.3 km | |
| Hotel Casino Acaray | 1.1 km | |
| Hotel Catedral | 0.5 km | |
| Howard Johnson Ciudad del Este | 6.3 km | |
| Hummingbird Hostel | 1.8 km | |
| Las Orquideas Parque Hotel | 2.4 km | |
| Las Ventanas Suite Hotel | 4.6 km | |
| Marambaia Hotel | 3.1 km | |
| Megal Suites Hotel | 2.2 km | |
| Rio Hotel by Bourbon Ciudad del Este | 0.7 km |
All 11 hotels in Ciudad del Este, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Ciudad del Este
Ciudad del Este has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 242 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Ciudad del Este: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cataratas International Airport (IGU), about 15 km from the city centre in a straight line; Guaraní International Airport (AGT, 23 km) and Cataratas Del Iguazú International Airport (IGR, 28 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Crossing the borders can be a bit tricky. Sometimes, buses do not stop at the border. In this case, you need to go there first and get the entry stamp before taking the bus out. If you get in, you just get off at the border and walk the rest. Otherwise, you can always walk back to the border and do the immigration work. Nowadays, many nationalities do not need a visa and just receive a 90 days free to stay stamp. This considerably lowers the hassle in case you miss it, because generally you are allowed in.
Getting around
If you arrive with your own car, make sure you find a parking lot. Usually the local touts will lead you to one. However, if you do not feel comfortable with the situation you still can research a parking lot in advance as some of them have websites on the Internet. There are many local city buses available, typically charging GS. 4,000-5,000. It is common and advisable to sit down without paying due to the number of people boarding and disembarking as well as the fast pace of traffic. The driver's assistant will come by eventually to collect your payment and make change.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
IGU · Cataratas International Airport
AGT · Guaraní International Airport
IGR · Cataratas Del Iguazú International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Ciudad del Este
Eat
Due to the premium placed on street-front property, Ciudad del Este's eateries and dining establishments are commonly found inside multi-leveled shopping malls and are relatively scarce on the main street of San Blas. As a consequence of considerable immigrant populations, Ciudad del Este has a diverse variety of ethnic food options that one can take advantage of. Arab food can be found off the main streets and in many shopping centers and typically serve good Shawarma/kebab to go. Chinese and Korean food restaurants can also be found. Your best bet is to ask a local to direct you to the nearest restaurant or eatery.
Stay safe
Ciudad del Este might indeed be a little more dangerous than other cities in Paraguay. It has many dark alleys, overly many male tradesman, going forth and back around the border, and it is close to the Brazilian border. However, if you are aware and mind dark places at night, you should be safe.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Ciudad del Este: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Ciudad del Este?
Ciudad del Este has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 242 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Ciudad del Este?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Cataratas International Airport (IGU), about 15 km from the city centre in a straight line; Guaraní International Airport (AGT, 23 km) and Cataratas Del Iguazú International Airport (IGR, 28 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Ciudad del Este?
Paraguayan guaraní (PYG).
Nearby
Destinations near Ciudad del Este
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.