Saltos del Guairá National Park

Memory of the Saltos del Guairá (Sete Quedas)

The site where what were considered the mightiest falls in the world existed, today under the Itaipú reservoir.

The great draw —and the great absence— of this place are the vanished Saltos del Guairá, known in Brazil as Sete Quedas. Before the Itaipú dam, the Paraná River plunged here in a series of enormous falls that, due to their colossal flow, were considered by many the mightiest on the planet, far above Iguazú and even Niagara in water volume. They were an overwhelming natural spectacle, with a roar heard from kilometers away. In the early 1980s, as the Itaipú reservoir filled, the falls were submerged under the waters and disappeared forever. Today, visiting the area is an exercise in memory: contemplating the reservoir knowing what was beneath it, understanding the magnitude of what was lost and reflecting on the tension between energy progress and the conservation of nature. The name 'Salto del Guairá' that the city and the region preserve is, in itself, a tribute to those falls. Getting there: to the Salto del Guairá area, in Canindeyú, by road. Best time: year-round (autumn and winter milder). Tips: it's worth finding out beforehand about the history of the place to appreciate the dimension of the site; on the Brazilian side there's a park (Ilha Grande National Park / memory of Sete Quedas) that also recalls the falls. Check locally which viewpoints or spots let you appreciate the reservoir and the memory of the falls.

ℹ️ Admission: free (public tour and viewpoints). Duration: 1 to 2 hours.

Itaipú reservoir and Salto del Guairá waterfront

The great artificial lake of the Paraná and the city's riverside promenade, with views, resorts and border life.

Where the falls once roared, today stretches the immense Itaipú reservoir, a great artificial lake of calm waters on the Paraná River. The city of Salto del Guairá overlooks this reservoir, and its waterfront is one of the most pleasant places to stroll, enjoy the water views and feel the border atmosphere of this corner of Paraguay, right across from Brazil. The reservoir offers possibilities of navigation, fishing and recreation, and in the warm months its resorts and river beaches come alive with bathers. The landscape of the great lake, especially at sunset, has a serene beauty, though laden with the memory of the falls that lie beneath its waters. The waterfront concentrates part of the city's social life, with its border-trade movement, its walks and its spots to eat and have a drink facing the water. Getting there: in Salto del Guairá itself, steps from the center. Best time: sunset for the stroll; summer for the resorts. Tips: combine the waterfront with a launch outing on the reservoir if you want to appreciate the immensity of the lake; check locally about navigation options and the conditions of the resorts.

ℹ️ Admission: free (public promenade). Launch navigation: about US$ 20–40 per person/hour (verified July 2026).

City of Salto del Guairá (border center)

The capital of Canindeyú, a commercial and border city facing Guaíra (Brazil), the heart of the area.

Salto del Guairá, capital of the department of Canindeyú, is the service city and the urban heart of the whole area. Situated right on the border with Brazil, facing the Brazilian town of Guaíra, in the state of Paraná, it's an active border commercial center, with shops, arcades and stores that draw shoppers from both sides of the line. Beyond its commercial character, the city preserves the air of a border town of eastern Paraguay, with its square, its center and its waterfront on the reservoir. It's the point where the services for the traveler are concentrated —lodging, dining, transport— and the base for getting to know the region and its history tied to the vanished falls. Getting there: by road from Asunción and Alto Paraná; it's on the border with Brazil. Best time: year-round. Tips: if you plan to cross to Guaíra (Brazil), mind the documentation and border formalities; use the center and the waterfront to get to know local life. The city is practical as a base for exploring the reservoir area and the memory of the falls.

ℹ️ Admission: free (open tour of the city). Duration: 1 to 2 hours.

Nature of eastern Paraguay and the Atlantic Forest

The remnants of the Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest and the wildlife of the Canindeyú region.

The department of Canindeyú and the eastern Paraguay region were part of the great Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest (Paranaense Jungle), one of the most biodiverse and, at the same time, most threatened ecosystems of South America. Although much of that jungle was replaced by agriculture and transformed by the great works, remnants of forest and natural areas still survive that preserve part of the original richness of the region. The area houses wildlife typical of the Atlantic Forest —woodland birds, mammals, reptiles— and transition landscapes between the jungle, the farm fields and the waters of the reservoir. For the traveler interested in nature, touring these settings lets you get an idea of what eastern Paraguay was like before the great transformations, and understand the value of conserving what remains of that ecosystem. Getting there: in the Canindeyú region, by roads and rural paths from Salto del Guairá. Best time: autumn and winter for the cooler weather; the morning for birdwatching. Tips: check locally which natural areas or reserves are accessible and worth visiting with a guide; bring repellent, suitable footwear and water. The nature-tourism offering in the area is nascent and worth verifying at the destination.

ℹ️ Admission: variable depending on the natural area, generally free or low-cost (check when you visit). Duration: half a day.

Connection with Itaipú and the Triple Frontier

The proximity to the Itaipú Dam, Ciudad del Este, the Monday Falls and the Triple Frontier.

The Salto del Guairá area is part of the great tourist circuit of eastern Paraguay, tied to the Itaipú reservoir that connects it, downstream, with the dam itself. That's why a visit to this far-eastern region can integrate very well with the great attractions of Alto Paraná and the Triple Frontier, which lie further south. Within that circuit are the imposing Itaipú Dam (in Hernandarias, one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world and whose reservoir is the one that submerged the falls), commercial Ciudad del Este, the Monday Falls and the Triple Frontier between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, with the famous Iguazú Falls a short distance away. It's meaningful to tour this circuit keeping in mind that the reservoir linking all these points is, also, the one that made the Guairá falls disappear. Getting there: by road within eastern Paraguay, connecting Canindeyú with Alto Paraná. Best time: year-round. Tips: if you have several days, put together a circuit that combines the memory of the Saltos del Guairá with Itaipú, Ciudad del Este and the Iguazú Falls; mind the documentation for the border crossings. Check distances and the state of the roads before traveling.

ℹ️ A multi-day circuit; Itaipú (guided visits) and the Iguazú Falls have separate paid admission (check on their specific pages).

Shopping and border trade (Salto del Guairá–Guaíra)

The intense commercial movement between the twin cities of Salto del Guairá (Paraguay) and Guaíra (Brazil).

Salto del Guairá is, along with Ciudad del Este, one of the most active border commercial hubs in Paraguay. Its proximity to the Brazilian city of Guaíra generates an intense coming and going of shoppers, with arcades and shops offering electronics, clothing, perfumery and varied products at competitive prices thanks to the area's shopping-tourism regime. For the traveler, touring these arcades is an experience in itself, though it's best to go with time and patience, since the commercial area can be intense on weekdays. It's important to know the purchase allowances and customs limits if you plan to take merchandise to another country. Getting there: in the center of Salto del Guairá, near the border crossing. Best time: year-round, avoiding month-end and high-demand dates. Tips: bring ID for the crossing if you're going to Guaíra; check the current customs allowances before buying in quantity.

ℹ️ Admission: free (open access to the arcades). Documentation required to cross to Guaíra (Brazil).