The Tancredo Neves Bridge crosses the Iguazú river between Puerto Iguazú, in the Argentine province of Misiones, and Foz do Iguaçu, in the Brazilian state of Paraná. Almost everyone who wants to see the falls from both countries uses it. Opening hours, queues and entry rules change often, so this guide explains how the crossing works and where to confirm the details before you go.
Who crosses here
- Visitors staying in Puerto Iguazú who go to the Brazilian side of the falls, and the other way round.
- Passengers who land at one city’s airport and sleep in the other city.
- Travellers heading on to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay, reached from here by driving through Foz do Iguaçu and over a second bridge.
- Residents of both cities, who cross for work and shopping.
The steps at the border
- Exit control of the country you are leaving: immigration and, where it applies, customs.
- The drive over the bridge.
- Entry control of the other country.
- On the way back, the same in reverse.
Every passenger shows their own document. Depending on the day and the type of vehicle, this is done from the car or at a counter. Make sure both your exit and your entry are recorded. A missing record can cause trouble on the way back.
What the wait depends on
There is no fixed waiting time. Queues grow on long weekends, on Argentine and Brazilian public holidays, during summer and winter school holidays and in Easter week. The time of day and the direction matter too: tours leave in the morning and return in the afternoon. For that reason, do not combine a visit to the other side with a flight on the same day unless you leave a wide margin.
What each traveller needs
- Their own valid travel document in good condition. Which document is accepted depends on your nationality.
- For children, read the rules on travelling with minors first.
- If you drive, the vehicle papers and insurance are the driver’s responsibility. With a hire car, ask the company whether it may cross.
Check the rules in force with the national migration authority of Argentina and of Brazil, or with the consulate of the country you are entering. The general points are in our guide to documents to enter Brazil.
Ways to cross
- Local bus between the two cities. The lowest-cost option. Ask the driver whether the bus waits while you go through immigration.
- Taxi. Agree beforehand whether waiting at the border is included.
- Your own or a hire car. Flexible, but the paperwork is yours to sort out.
- Private transfer. One vehicle for your group only, door to door. Whether the crossing is available, and on what conditions, is confirmed when you book. We do not promise a crossing time.