In this guide
For a day trip to Itaipú Binacional, first decide which side of the dam you will visit from. On the Paraguayan side, in Hernandarias, tours are free with advance booking; on the Brazilian side, in Foz do Iguaçu, you pay and buy tickets online. Once that is settled, the day has three stops: the dam tour in the morning, a park or waterfall in the afternoon and, on Fridays and Saturdays, the dam light show at night.
Paraguayan side or Brazilian side: which suits you
Paraguayan side (Hernandarias) · Brazilian side (Foz do Iguaçu)
Cost · Free (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)) · Panorâmica R$ 63; Especial R$ 185 (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab))
Booking · Phone +595 61 599-8040/8094, cturistico@itaipu.gov.py or the Ib-tur app (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)) · Online on the Turismo Itaipu site (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab))
Night lighting · Fri and Sat, check-in from 18:30 (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)) · Fri and Sat at 19:00, R$ 50 (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab))
Brazilian prices are those on the official site in October 2026. If you are based in Ciudad del Este, the Paraguayan side saves you money and the bridge crossing. If you are staying in Foz, or want to go inside the plant, look at the Brazilian side.
Paraguayan side: stops in order
1. Visitor Reception Center, Hernandarias. From Ciudad del Este take Route PY02 to the km 4 roundabout, then PY07 to Hernandarias, about 15 km away (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). By bus, anything to Hernandarias drops you about 500 m from the entrance (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Bookings close on the Thursday of each week (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)), so plan ahead for a Saturday.
2. The plant tour. The classic: almost 125,000 people took it in 2025 (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). In 2022 groups left at 9:00, 10:00, 10:30, 13:10 and 13:30 (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)); you get the exact time when booking. Bring your passport or ID, which is almost always requested (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
3. Lunch and afternoon at Playa Tacurú Pucú. On Route PY07 in Hernandarias, with 14 covered barbecue shelters, sand courts for beach tennis and volleyball, playgrounds and toilets (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). It was Itaipú's most visited attraction in 2025, with over 362,000 visitors (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)): arrive early if you want a shelter.
3b. Alternative: Saltos del Monday. In Presidente Franco, on the other side of Ciudad del Este, with a drop of over 45 m, trails, lookouts, zip line and treetop course (Última Hora, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
4. Night (Friday or Saturday): Iluminación Monumental. Return to the reception center to check in from 18:30 (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)).
Brazilian side: what to buy in Foz
- Itaipu Panorâmica: about 1 h 10, daily 8:30–16:00 (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab)). It starts with a film at the reception center, then a bus with a stop at the central lookout (Quero Viajar Mais (opens in a new tab)).
- Itaipu Especial: about 2 h 30, limited places (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab)). It goes inside: a gallery of about 1 km, the turbine level and the central control room where Brazilian and Paraguayan technicians work (Quero Viajar Mais (opens in a new tab)). The pick for engineering fans.
- Ecomuseu: free, Wednesday to Monday 8:30–16:00 (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab)), with a giant scale model and a replica turbine shaft (Quero Viajar Mais (opens in a new tab)).
- Refúgio Biológico Bela Vista: about 2 h 30, R$ 48, Wednesday to Monday (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab)); a 2 km walk through native forest (Quero Viajar Mais (opens in a new tab)).
A full Brazilian-side day: Panorâmica or Especial in the morning, Ecomuseu after lunch, Refúgio in the afternoon. Note that the Refúgio and Ecomuseu are closed on Tuesdays (Turismo Itaipu (opens in a new tab)).
Crossing the border the same day
Ciudad del Este and Foz do Iguaçu are joined by the Friendship Bridge, with frequent buses (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). If you travel on a passport, clear exit and entry immigration on both sides: Wikivoyage warns that Paraguay will not stamp you in if you have not legally left Brazil (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Leave a margin before a fixed-time tour.
Dates to avoid
- Year-end holidays: the Paraguayan complex closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Mondays in Paraguay: in 2022 the museum and scale model ran Tuesday to Sunday (ABC Color, 2022 (opens in a new tab)); in late 2025 both were closed for maintenance (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
- Tuesdays in Brazil: no Refúgio or Ecomuseu.
FAQ
Is visiting Itaipú free?
From the Paraguayan side, yes: tours are free with advance booking. The Brazilian side charges; Itaipu Panorâmica was listed at R$ 63 in October 2026.
How do I book the Paraguayan-side tour?
Call +595 61 599-8040/8094, email cturistico@itaipu.gov.py or use the Ib-tur app. Bookings close on the Thursday of each week.
When is the Itaipú light show?
Fridays and Saturdays on both sides: in Paraguay check-in starts at 18:30 and it is free; in Brazil it starts at 19:00 with a paid ticket.
Can you go inside the power plant?
Yes, on the Itaipu Especial tour from the Brazilian side: about 2 h 30 through the gallery, turbine level and control room.
