I realized how stupid my question was the moment I said it but he humoured me.
“I’ve been to Paraguay. And to Brazil!”
Well, no shit. Welcome to the tri-border area where Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil are only a few kilometres or a bridge away.
My goal in Foz do Iguaçu was to re-enter Brazil (it’s a straightforward land border, unlike fucking Chuy) and admire the Iguazu Falls—the Brazilian and the Argentina side.
Missions accomplished.
I had a couple of extra days in Foz do Iguaçu. What now?
Foz do Iguaçu is a lovely place but it’s also a city in the middle of the jungle with your typical Brazilian sidewalks (expect trees right in the middle of it), long uphill and downhill streets, and very little action considering it’s about 45°C during the day and 25°C at night. It’s also very spread out. I took an Uber one evening to go to the Marco das Três Fronteiras and I was stuck there for half an hour, waiting for another ride, when it turned out the “three-border viewpoint” was some kind of 50-real Disneyland show.
So I decided to walk to Paraguay—or at least, try to.
This is one of the only countries in South America where we’ve never been, mostly because Canadians need a visa and there isn’t that much to see. Sorry, Paraguay. I’m sure it’s a lovely place with lovely people, though. Even in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazilians and Argentinians don’t go to Paraguay to enjoy the sights—they cross to Ciudad del Este to buy stuff. This is Paraguay’s edge, apparently. “We don’t have the biggest waterfalls, but we have cheap perfumes, cigarettes, electronics and more, fake or not!”
Going to Paraguay from Foz do Iguaçu isn’t difficult. Pretty much all signs point to either Argentina or Paraguay. I only had to walk to the Ponte da Amizade and keep on going.
I wasn’t sure whether I needed to officially exit Brazil and enter Paraguay. If I did, I could always exit Brazil with my Canadian passport and enter Paraguay with my French passport, no visa required, call me Jason Bourne.
Turned out I didn’t need to go through immigration on either side. “Don’t worry about it!” the Paraguay immigration said when I showed up after the ten-minute bridge-crossing walk.
I hang out in Ciudad del Este’s organized chaos for a little while. It reminded me of China in the late 1990s—you can just buy or sell absolutely anything, from earphones to guns and from fishing materials to car parts.
I bought earbuds and a pair of sunglasses, then I crossed back to Brazil, no questions asked.
Time for new adventures… I’m heading south.
Brazil on the right, Paraguay on the left (and uncomplete trip since I had no network in Paraguay!)Puente Internacional de la Amistad. Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad. Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad from Brazil to ParaguayPuente Internacional de la Amistad from Brazil to ParaguayPuente Internacional de la Amistad from Brazil to ParaguayPuente Internacional de la Amistad from Brazil to ParaguayPuente Internacional de la Amistad from Brazil to ParaguayEntering Paraguay Puente Internacional de la Amistad, Puente Internacional de la AmistadEntering Paraguay Puente Internacional de la AmistadCiudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, Paraguay
Ciudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, Paraguay
Ciudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, Paraguay
Ciudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, ParaguayCiudad del Este, ParaguayPuente Internacional de la Amistad. Paraguay sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad. Paraguay sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad. Paraguay sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad. Paraguay sideCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilCrossing Puente Internacional de la Amistad from Paraguay to BrazilRe-entering Brazil, Puente Internacional de la AmistadPuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sidePuente Internacional de la Amistad, Brazil sideMoto-taxis close to the border, Foz do Iguaçu, BrazilMoto-taxis close to the border, Foz do Iguaçu, BrazilCoffee after the cross-border trip, Foz do Iguaçu, BrazilEu amo Foz do Iguaçu, R. Tarobá – Centro, Foz do Iguaçu – PR, 85851-220Foz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuAv. Paraná, Foz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuAv. República Argentina, – Centro, Foz do Iguaçu – PR, 85851-200Ponte da Integração, Paraguay in front, Parque Res. Tres Fronteiras, Foz do Iguaçu – State of Paraná, 85855-610Parque Res. Tres Fronteiras, Foz do Iguaçu – State of Paraná, 85855-610Foz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do IguaçuFoz do Iguaçu
Zhu, I’m so curious since Indonesian are probihited to have dual citizenship (although s/he was born overseas and one parent is foreigner, you know what I mean).
Reading many of your posts, you have flexibility to chose what pasport to be used. Do you carry both pasports all the time then?
Do the immigrant officers give you question since you’re out from (let say, Brazil) using Canadian then few mins later using French pasport?
In my mind, the officers check our last port if embarkation, so they will questioning your last port if they don’t see one. :)) sorry for my silly question hahahah
I do carry both passports with me. Since I’m usually travelling with Mark and Feng who only have Canadian passports, I use my Canadian passport as well. Only when I go to France alone I use my French passport. So yes, I can use either. It’s recommended to use the same passport to enter and exit the country, though.
Both passports are the same to me, i.e. only in very rare cases it’s “better” to have a French or Canadian passport. Paraguay is the exception. I also need my Canadian passport to go to the US otherwise, with a French passport, I need a travel authorization and I have to get fingerprinted.
Zhu, I’m so curious since Indonesian are probihited to have dual citizenship (although s/he was born overseas and one parent is foreigner, you know what I mean).
Reading many of your posts, you have flexibility to chose what pasport to be used. Do you carry both pasports all the time then?
Do the immigrant officers give you question since you’re out from (let say, Brazil) using Canadian then few mins later using French pasport?
In my mind, the officers check our last port if embarkation, so they will questioning your last port if they don’t see one. :)) sorry for my silly question hahahah
Great question!
I do carry both passports with me. Since I’m usually travelling with Mark and Feng who only have Canadian passports, I use my Canadian passport as well. Only when I go to France alone I use my French passport. So yes, I can use either. It’s recommended to use the same passport to enter and exit the country, though.
Both passports are the same to me, i.e. only in very rare cases it’s “better” to have a French or Canadian passport. Paraguay is the exception. I also need my Canadian passport to go to the US otherwise, with a French passport, I need a travel authorization and I have to get fingerprinted.