The Friendship Bridge (Ponte da Amizade) connects Foz do Iguaçu to Ciudad del Este across the Paraná River. It is one of the busiest border crossings in the region, with heavy traffic of pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, buses and vans.
Ways to cross
- On foot: avoids the vehicle traffic on the bridge. Plan where to leave your car, if you have one, and bring only what you need.
- By car: requires Carta Verde and the vehicle documents. Traffic on the bridge can be slow, and you need to sort out where to park on the Paraguayan side.
- Bus, taxi or ride-hailing app: check beforehand whether the driver crosses the border and where they will drop you off and pick you up.
Checkpoints
There are immigration and customs checkpoints on the way out and on the way back. Bring a valid document and, when returning, respect the Receita Federal allowance and limits. If you go over the allowance, declare it.
Precautions
- Avoid peak hours and allow extra time for the return.
- Keep your documents and money secure.
- Do not agree to carry goods for other people.
Build your checklist in the border guide.