Pedro Juan Caballero

The dry border with Ponta Porã (Brazil)

One of the most singular borders in South America: two cities separated only by an avenue, with no river or bridge.

The great peculiarity of Pedro Juan Caballero is its border with the Brazilian city of Ponta Porã, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Unlike most border crossings, here there's no river or bridge: the two cities are attached, separated only by a wide avenue that acts as the international line. Walking along that avenue, on one side you're in Paraguay and on the other in Brazil, with a naturalness that astonishes the visitor. This dry, open border creates a unique binational urban zone, where daily life flows between the two countries: people cross to shop, work, eat or stroll almost without noticing the boundary. The urban landscape mixes signs in Spanish and Portuguese, currencies and customs of both sides, and a hybrid Paraguayan-Brazilian cultural atmosphere. It's one of the most curious corners of the continent for experiencing up close what a living border means. Getting there: the border avenue is in the heart of Pedro Juan Caballero. Best time: any time of year. Tips: although crossing the avenue is informal in daily use, if you're going to venture into Brazil (beyond the border zone) or to travel, mind the immigration and documentation requirements. It's a fascinating place to observe the binational dynamic and shop on both sides.

ℹ️ Distance: In the center of Pedro Juan Caballero, on the avenue bordering Ponta Porã · Best time: Year-round · Admission: Free (public space; mind the documentation for travel to Brazil) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours

Cerro Corá National Park

The historic and natural site where Marshal López fell in 1870, with hills, savanna and petroglyphs, near the city.

Cerro Corá National Park is the great attraction of the region and one of the most important places in Paraguay, for its double historical and natural value. It's a short distance from Pedro Juan Caballero, in the Amambay range, and combines landscapes of hills, savannas, forests and watercourses with an enormous historical charge: here, on March 1, 1870, Marshal Francisco Solano López fell in combat, ending the War of the Triple Alliance. The park safeguards the sites and monuments tied to that decisive episode of Paraguayan history, with memorials recalling the marshal's death and the end of the war that devastated the country. It's a place of deep significance for national identity, visited especially around the patriotic dates. Alongside the historical dimension, it offers nature: characteristic hills, trails, wildlife and flora of Amambay, and archaeological sites with petroglyphs (rock carvings) that attest to the presence of native peoples. Getting there: by road from Pedro Juan Caballero (a day trip, about 35 km). Best time: autumn and winter for the milder weather and firmer roads; the morning for hiking. Tips: it's worth going with a guide or prior information to understand the historical context; bring water, sun protection, a hat and suitable footwear for the trails. The usual visiting hours are 8 to 15 h (latest exit 17 h). It's the unmissable visit of the area.

ℹ️ Distance: About 35 km from Pedro Juan Caballero, in the Amambay range · Best time: Autumn and winter (mild weather, firm roads); morning for hiking · Admission: Gs. 20,000 adults, Gs. 5,000 children (source: ABC Color / MADES, verified July 2026) · Duration: Half a day to a day

Border trade and arcades

The intense trade that defines the city's life, with shops and arcades that draw shoppers from both countries.

Border trade is one of the engines and distinctive features of Pedro Juan Caballero. Due to its condition as a dry crossing with Brazil and its proximity to Ponta Porã, the city concentrates shops, commercial arcades and stores offering a wide variety of products, drawing shoppers from both sides of the border and from more distant regions. Touring the commercial areas of the center is part of the city's experience: it lets you feel the energy of a place devoted to exchange, where the two currencies, the two languages and the two cultures coexist on every block. It's also a chance to understand how the border structures the economic and social life of the whole Amambay region. Getting there: in the center of Pedro Juan Caballero, steps from the border avenue. Best time: year-round; the city works as a shopping destination permanently. Tips: as in any border commercial zone, it's worth comparing prices, checking the quality of the products and keeping the customs rules in mind if you plan to take merchandise between countries. Combine the shopping with a stroll along the border.

ℹ️ Distance: Center of Pedro Juan Caballero (on foot) · Best time: Year-round · Admission: Free (open tour; purchases depend on budget) · Duration: Variable

Nature of the Amambay range

The hills, savannas and forests of the department of Amambay, a characteristic landscape of northern Paraguay.

The department of Amambay owes its name to the Amambay range, a chain of low to medium height that runs along the border with Brazil and that gives the region a characteristic landscape: hills of particular shapes, savannas, forests and river sources that feed important basins. It's a natural setting different from the rest of Paraguay, with an identity of its own tied to the elevation and to the transition of ecosystems. This nature is appreciated in concentrated form in Cerro Corá National Park, but extends across the whole region, offering landscapes of hills, natural viewpoints, watercourses and wildlife and flora of the north. For the nature-loving traveler, touring Amambay is discovering a less-known face of the country, with the range as a backdrop and the constant proximity of the Brazilian border. Getting there: in the Amambay region, by roads and paths from Pedro Juan Caballero. Best time: autumn and winter for the cooler weather; the morning for walks and viewing. Tips: check locally which natural areas and viewpoints are worth visiting and whether they require a guide; bring repellent, water and suitable footwear. Nature tourism in the area rests mainly on Cerro Corá, but there are more landscapes to discover.

ℹ️ Distance: Amambay region, around Pedro Juan Caballero · Best time: Autumn and winter; morning for walks · Admission: Free at most viewpoints; Gs. 20,000 at Cerro Corá (verified July 2026) · Duration: Half a day to a day

Binational culture and urban life

The mestizo Paraguayan-Brazilian atmosphere of the city, with its mix of languages, foods and customs.

Experiencing Pedro Juan Caballero is, to a large extent, immersing yourself in its binational culture. The daily coexistence with Ponta Porã and the open border have created a very particular mestizo identity, where Spanish, Portuguese and Guaraní mix in the same setting, and where the customs, foods and music of the two countries intertwine naturally. This mix is felt in urban life: in the markets and shops, in the cuisine —which combines the Paraguayan with the Brazilian—, in the 'Portuñol' way of speaking that many use, and in the everyday rhythm of a city that looks to both sides of the line. Touring the city, its square, its commercial streets and its meeting points lets you perceive that border atmosphere that is one of its greatest riches. Getting there: in the city itself, walkable in its central area. Best time: year-round. Tips: dare to try the local cuisine of both traditions, observe the mix of languages and chat with the locals to understand the border dynamic. It's a cultural experience in itself, beyond the shopping and the nature.

ℹ️ Distance: In the city of Pedro Juan Caballero (on foot) · Best time: Year-round · Admission: Free (urban life) · Duration: Variable

Main square and historic center

The civic heart of the city, a meeting point and reference for getting your bearings before crossing to Ponta Porã.

The square and central area of Pedro Juan Caballero serve as the city's reference point, surrounded by public buildings, banks, exchange offices and shops. It's the usual place where walking tours start toward the border avenue and the busiest commercial areas. Around the square much of the city's social life is concentrated: people coming and going between the two countries, street vendors, cafés and eateries. It's a good spot to observe the daily pulse of a border city and to get your bearings before exploring the rest of the center or crossing to Ponta Porã. Getting there: in the center of the city, a short distance from the border avenue. Best time: year-round, though mornings and early afternoons are the busiest for commercial activity. Tips: bring cash in guaraníes and reais, since both currencies circulate in the area; watch your belongings as in any busy urban center.

ℹ️ Distance: Center of the city · Best time: Year-round, morning and early afternoon · Admission: Free (public space) · Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour