City Tour of Ciudad del Este and Presidente Franco

What is included and what is not

The city tour is a guided trip, not a transfer. A local bilingual guide stays with the group for the whole route and tells the story of each stop. Bookings are confirmed up to 2 hours before departure.

• Included: bilingual guide throughout the tour.
• Included: entrance to Monday Falls.
• Included: pick-up from your hotel in Ciudad del Este to Shopping del Este, the meeting point.
• Not included: lunch. The food stop at La Mansa Paraguay is paid separately.

The four stops

The route crosses from Ciudad del Este into Presidente Franco and combines the city centre with the best known natural attraction in Alto Paraná. Four stops, in this order:

San Blas Cathedral

The cathedral dedicated to San Blas, patron saint of Ciudad del Este, is the landmark of the city centre. It is the first stop, and where the guide sets out the history of a city founded in 1957 that grew on the back of border trade.

El Mensú Museum

The museum tells the story of the mensú, the workers of the Alto Paraná yerba mate plantations who were paid by the month — hence the name. It is the stop that explains where the region's identity comes from, before the dam and the commerce existed.

Food stop at La Mansa Paraguay

A break to eat and try Paraguayan cooking along the way. What you order is not included in the tour fare and is paid on the spot.

Monday Falls

The closing stop, in Presidente Franco. The Monday Falls are where the Monday river drops into the Paraná, with viewpoints that face the falls head on. Park entrance is included in the tour fare, which is the difference from hiring a transfer on its own.

Times and meeting point

The tour departs twice a day, Monday to Saturday: at 09:00 and at 13:00. The meeting point is always Shopping del Este, and if you are staying in Ciudad del Este the transfer there is included — we arrange it on WhatsApp when you book.

Fares

Payable in dollars, guaraníes or reais, in cash or by card.

Coming from Foz do Iguaçu or Puerto Iguazú

This is the tour most people take when they cross for the day from the Brazilian or Argentine side. The difference from booking it in Foz is that LTO operates from the Paraguayan side: the guide is local, the invoice is Paraguayan, and the company is licensed by Paraguay's National Tourism Secretariat under registration no. 415.

Crossing the border requires a valid passport or national ID for every passenger. Brazilian, Argentine and Uruguayan citizens do not need a visa for Paraguay; other nationalities should check the requirement for their passport before travelling. The included pick-up covers hotels in Ciudad del Este — if you are staying across the border and want us to collect you there, message us and we will quote the crossing separately.

City Plus: the full-day version

If you have the whole day, City Plus adds a river cruise on the Paraná aboard the Barco Atlántico PY and a guided shopping tour through Shopping del Este, Intershop and other stores. It runs 09:00 to 17:00, costs USD 40 (Gs 250.000 / R$ 200), includes lunch and the Monday Falls entrance, and requires a minimum of 2 people.

What to bring

• Valid passport or national ID, essential if you are crossing the border the same day.
• Comfortable shoes: the Monday Falls viewpoints have stairs and walkways.
• Sunscreen and water in summer; Alto Paraná is hot and humid for much of the year.
• Cash or card for lunch, which is not included, and for shopping.

Other tours from Ciudad del Este

See all tours.

How to book

Bookings are made on WhatsApp at +595 983 945945, up to 2 hours before departure. We need the date, the time you prefer (09:00 or 13:00), the number of passengers and the hotel where you are staying, so we can arrange the transfer to the meeting point.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Ciudad del Este?

It depends on your nationality. Brazilian, Argentine and Uruguayan citizens do not: a valid national ID is enough. Other nationalities should check Paraguay's current visa requirement for their passport before travelling — the requirement is set by immigration authorities, not by us.

Is the Monday Falls entrance included?

Yes, park entrance is included in the city tour fare, on both the adult and the reduced fare.

How far in advance should I book?

Up to 2 hours before departure. It is the shortest lead time of any LTO tour: Iguazú Falls, Itaipu and the Jesuit Missions all need 24 hours.

What language is the guide in?

Tours run in bilingual mode. Tell us which language you need when you book and we will confirm guide availability for that departure.

Is there a minimum number of people?

The city tour has no minimum: it runs on the regular 09:00 and 13:00 departures. City Plus does require a minimum of 2 people.

Can I pay in US dollars?

Yes. The fare is set in dollars, guaraníes and reais, and can be paid in any of the three, in cash or by card.