In this guide
Refugio Tatí Yupí (officially Reserva Natural Tatí Yupí) is an Itaipú nature reserve in Hernandarias, about 15 km from Ciudad del Este. Entry is free but you must book ahead. For a full day: do the reserve in the morning, eat lunch in Hernandarias, add the dam tour or the Tekotopa trail in the afternoon and finish at Parque Tacurú Pucú on the lakeshore.
How to book Tatí Yupí
No booking, no entry. Itaipú asks visitors to book in advance by phone on (061) 599 8040 or 599 8094, or by email at cturistico@itaipu.gov.py (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Wikivoyage advises asking for the permit at least one day ahead with each visitor's ID or passport details (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
- Published hours: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, 8:00–11:45 and 13:00–15:30 (ABC Color, January 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Other sources list different slots, so confirm when you book.
- Closed dates: the Itaipú tourist complex closes on 24–25 December and 31 December–1 January (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Cost: free (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
What to do inside the reserve
Tatí Yupí protects about 3,866 hectares of Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest and is the nature reserve closest to the power plant (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). It had 42,157 visitors in 2025 (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
- A pier on Lake Itaipú, sports courts and a playground.
- Guided bicycle and cart tours (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Wildlife: Wikivoyage mentions birds, capuchin monkeys, armadillos and capybaras (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
The facilities sit 10–15 km inside the gate (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)), so a car makes this much easier. Bring water, insect repellent and food.
A one-day plan from Ciudad del Este
Morning (8:00–11:45): Tatí Yupí. Leave early on Route PY02 to the km 4 roundabout, then take Route PY07 towards Saltos del Guairá (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). The gate is about 3 km north of Hernandarias on that road (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
Midday: Hernandarias. The reserve pauses between 11:45 and 13:00, so eat in town.
Afternoon, option A: Itaipú Dam. Panoramic tours of the plant are free and booked through the same channels; in 2023 bookings for the week closed on Thursday (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). Carry ID, as it is almost always requested (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)).
Afternoon, option B: Tekotopa and the Jaguareté Trail. This 95-hectare environmental centre in Hernandarias opened in September 2025. The trail runs through Atlantic Forest, and the site also has a tree nursery, a medicinal herb garden and the Museo de la Tierra Guaraní. Book through the Itaipú website or by phone and check in at the Visitor Reception Centre (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). In late 2025 the museum and the dam's scale model were closed for maintenance (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)).
Sunset: Parque Tacurú Pucú. On the Hernandarias waterfront, open daily 6:00–21:00, free and with no booking. It has about 2,100 m of cycle path and trails, grass courts, a playground and outdoor gym equipment (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)), plus shelters, sand courts, toilets and a pier (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)).
Friday or Saturday: the Monumental Lighting
The dam's light show runs on Fridays and Saturdays, with check-in from 18:30 at the Visitor Reception Centre, and access is free (ABC Color, 2023 (opens in a new tab)). Wikivoyage notes the time shifts in summer and you must register by the Thursday before (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). If you stay for it, sleep locally: the drive back to Asunción is long.
Getting there and timing
- From Asunción: Hernandarias is 335 km away (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). A same-day round trip is possible but tiring; stay overnight in Ciudad del Este or Hernandarias.
- By bus: buses from Ciudad del Este to Hernandarias pass close to the Itaipú visitor centre. For the reserve, Wikivoyage suggests getting off at the Hernandarias roundabout and taking a taxi (Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab)). Agree the fare first; taxis are unmetered.
- Heat: summer afternoons are very hot, so walk trails in the morning and leave the park for the evening.
FAQ
Where is Refugio Tatí Yupí?
In Hernandarias, Alto Paraná, about 3 km north of town on Route PY07 towards Saltos del Guairá. Hernandarias is 15 km from Ciudad del Este.
Is Tatí Yupí free?
Yes, but you must book ahead with Itaipú by phone on (061) 599 8040 / 8094 or by email at cturistico@itaipu.gov.py.
What are Tatí Yupí's opening hours?
ABC Color (January 2025) lists Tuesday to Sunday and holidays, 8:00–11:45 and 13:00–15:30. Confirm when booking, as other sources differ.
Can I visit Tatí Yupí and Itaipú Dam on the same day?
Yes: the reserve in the morning and the dam tour or Tekotopa in the afternoon, with both booked in advance.
