Travel guides
Fly into Asunción or into Foz and cross? Choosing the right airport
The airport you land at decides the road that follows. Asunción puts you 15 km from the capital but 327 km from Ciudad del Este; Foz do Iguaçu, in Brazil, puts you about 20 km from Ciudad del Este, across one border bridge.
The short answer
Paraguay has two places most visitors want to reach, and they are far apart: Asunción, the capital, and Ciudad del Este, the trading city on the Brazilian border next to the Iguazu Falls. The main international airport is in Asunción. For the border region, the airport that is often closest is not in Paraguay at all: it is Foz do Iguaçu, in Brazil.
| Going to Asunción | Fly into Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, in Luque, about 15 km from the centre: 25 to 40 minutes. Our airport transfer starts at USD 49 per vehicle |
| Going to Encarnación or the Jesuit ruins | Fly into Asunción. Encarnación is 370 km south on Route PY01, 5 h to 5 h 30 min by private car, with no border |
| Going to Ciudad del Este | From Asunción it is 327 km, 4 h 30 min to 5 h. From Foz do Iguaçu it is about 20 km over the Friendship Bridge, 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the queue |
| Going to the Iguazu Falls and Asunción | The two are 340 km apart, 5 to 6 h with the border. Fly into one and out of the other if your ticket allows it |
| The catch with Foz | Foz do Iguaçu is in Brazil. Landing there means entering Brazil first, so check Brazil’s entry rules for your passport as well as Paraguay’s |
| Ciudad del Este’s own airport | It exists, but it handles few commercial flights. In practice, the airport for Ciudad del Este is usually Foz |
| No nonstop from your city? | Then you will connect somewhere. Pick the connection that ends at the airport on your side of the country, not just the cheapest one |
The question to settle before you search for flights
People searching for direct flights to Paraguay usually picture one destination. Paraguay has two that matter to most travellers, and they sit 327 km apart. Asunción is the capital, the main international gateway and the starting point for the south of the country. Ciudad del Este is the second city and the commercial hub, joined to Brazil by the Friendship Bridge, a short drive from the Iguazu Falls and the Itaipu dam.
That distance is why the airport matters more than the fare. We see the same message on WhatsApp again and again: someone has booked into Asunción and now asks how to reach Ciudad del Este. The answer is 327 km of road, 4 h 30 min to 5 h, USD 347 in one of our sedans. Sometimes that is the right plan. Often the traveller only wanted the border region, and a flight into Foz do Iguaçu would have left them about 20 km from it.
We will not compare airfares or list routes here: they change constantly, and they are not ours. Which airlines fly to Paraguay is covered in our flights guide, linked at the end. This post is about what comes after landing: the stretch by road, with kilometres, hours and our fixed price for each case.
Destination by destination: which airport, and how much road is left
Distances and times measured on our routes; prices from our August 2026 rate card, per vehicle rather than per passenger, in a sedan for 1 to 3 people.
| Final destination | Best airport | Road leg | Time | Private sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Asunción | Asunción (Silvio Pettirossi) | About 15 km | 25 to 40 min | From USD 49 |
| Encarnación | Asunción | 370 km on PY01 | 5 h to 5 h 30 min | USD 417 |
| Ciudad del Este, from the capital | Asunción | 327 km on PY02 and PY07 | 4 h 30 min to 5 h | USD 347 |
| Ciudad del Este, from the border | Foz do Iguaçu | About 20 km over the Friendship Bridge | 30 min to 1 h, plus crossing Foz | On request |
| Foz do Iguaçu, from the capital | Asunción | 340 km including the Friendship Bridge | 5 to 6 h with the border | USD 417 |
| Puerto Iguazú, from the capital | Asunción | 350 km with two borders | 5 h 30 min to 6 h 30 min | USD 447 |
The Ciudad del Este – Foz do Iguaçu leg has no published price: we quote by day and time, because the bridge queue changes how long the job takes. Return trips booked together cost less: USD 539 Asunción – Ciudad del Este and USD 707 Asunción – Foz do Iguaçu, in a sedan.
The pattern is simple. Land in Asunción and you are under 40 minutes from the capital but more than 300 km from everything on the Brazilian border. Land in Foz and you are next to Ciudad del Este and the falls, and far from the capital.
Asunción or Foz: how to decide
The question is not which airport is better. It is where you will sleep on your first night.
Fly into Asunción if
- Your trip is about the capital: business, an event, family, or seeing the city.
- You are heading to Encarnación, the Jesuit ruins or anywhere in southern Paraguay: all of it starts from Asunción on PY01.
- You are going to the Chaco or the north of the country.
- You want to see Asunción first and then travel overland to Ciudad del Este and the falls, without doubling back.
- You would rather clear immigration once, at the airport, and have no land border on the rest of your Paraguay trip.
Fly into Foz do Iguaçu if
- Your trip is the falls, Itaipu and Ciudad del Este, all in the same corner of the map.
- You are staying in Foz and crossing into Paraguay for the day.
- You have nothing planned in Asunción or the rest of Paraguay.
- You are short on time: landing about 20 km from the bridge is what keeps the day free.
- You are already travelling in Brazil and Paraguay is a side trip, not the main event.
If your trip covers both, the most efficient plan is an open jaw: in through one airport and out through the other. That way the 340 km between Asunción and Foz do Iguaçu becomes part of the trip instead of a leg you drive twice. The details of that drive are on Transfers Asunción – Foz do Iguaçu.
Landing in Foz: from the plane to Ciudad del Este
This is the route for the border region. The road legs are short, and only one of them is unpredictable.
- 1
Entering Brazil
If you arrive in Foz on an international itinerary, you pass Brazilian immigration first. Check Brazil’s entry requirements for your nationality before you book: they are separate from Paraguay’s.
- 2
Crossing Foz
The airport is on the falls side of the city and the Friendship Bridge is on the other side, so the drive to the bridge runs through Foz. We do not publish a kilometre figure for this stretch because we found no official measurement; check a map against your landing time.
- 3
The Friendship Bridge
Foz do Iguaçu and Ciudad del Este are about 20 km apart, 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the border queue and the time of day. This is the part that varies, so do not plan a tight appointment straight after landing.
- 4
Paperwork
It is an international border. Carry your passport and check Paraguay’s entry rules for your nationality before you travel.
- 5
Coming back
Anything you buy in Ciudad del Este goes through customs in the country you return to, whichever airport you fly home from.
We run this leg by private car with a driver who knows the border, including straight from Foz airport. How it works and how we quote is on Transfers Ciudad del Este – Foz do Iguaçu.
Landing in Asunción: what changes
Silvio Pettirossi International Airport is in Luque, about 15 km from central Asunción. The drive takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, and for anyone staying in the capital that is the whole road leg.
Paraguayan immigration is done at the airport on arrival. After that there is no border on the way to Asunción, Encarnación or Ciudad del Este, because they are all inside Paraguay. For a first-time visitor travelling with luggage, that is a real advantage over a land crossing.
Asunción is also where the routes to the rest of the country begin. Encarnación is 370 km away on PY01, through Carapeguá, Quiindy and San Ignacio. Ciudad del Este is 327 km on PY02 to Coronel Oviedo and then PY07. If you want to see Paraguay beyond the border towns, the capital is the natural way in.
Our Airport transfers Asunción start at USD 49 per vehicle for up to three passengers, with flight tracking, 30 minutes of free waiting and service 24 hours a day, every day. That matters if your flight lands in the small hours.
If you have already booked into the “wrong” airport
It happens, and it is fixable: it is road. These are the legs we quote most often for travellers who landed far from where they are going, at our price per vehicle.
| You landed in | But you are going to | Distance and time | Sedan, 1 to 3 | Minivan, up to 7 | Sprinter, 8 to 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asunción | Ciudad del Este | 327 km, 4 h 30 min to 5 h | USD 347 | USD 397 | USD 858 |
| Asunción | Foz do Iguaçu | 340 km, 5 to 6 h with the border | USD 417 | USD 497 | USD 892 |
| Asunción | Puerto Iguazú | 350 km, 5 h 30 min to 6 h 30 min | USD 447 | USD 527 | USD 918 |
| Foz do Iguaçu | Asunción | 340 km, 5 to 6 h with the border | USD 417 | USD 497 | USD 892 |
August 2026 rate card, one way, with fuel, tolls and driver included. The sedan takes 1 to 3 passengers, the Hyundai H1 minivan up to 7 and the Mercedes Sprinter 8 to 14. We quote in US dollars and also accept guaraníes, Brazilian reais and Argentine pesos.
With the ticket already bought, the useful question becomes: change the flight or pay for the road? Travelling alone, it is almost always worth checking the change fee first. For a group of four to seven, the USD 397 minivan to Ciudad del Este split between everyone changes the maths.
What about Ciudad del Este’s airport?
Ciudad del Este has its own international airport, Guaraní, in Minga Guazú. On paper it would be the obvious choice for the border region. In practice it handles few commercial flights, and most visitors end up flying into Foz instead. What currently flies there is in our Ciudad del Este airport guide, linked below.
There is also an option few people know about: a private flight from Asunción to Ciudad del Este, 1 h 30 min in a Cessna 172, from USD 1,099 for the aircraft with up to three passengers. It costs far more than the car, and only makes sense when time is worth more than money, such as a business trip with meetings in both cities on the same day.
When to call us, and when not to
We are a private ground transport company. We do not sell airline tickets and we gain nothing from the airport you choose.
Worth it
- There are three or more of you: the price is per vehicle, so the sedan from Asunción to Ciudad del Este costs the same for one person or three.
- Your flight lands in Asunción in the middle of the night and you would rather not look for a taxi at that hour.
- You land in Foz and want to go straight from the airport to a hotel in Ciudad del Este, without changing cars at the bridge.
- You are doing the full loop, Asunción and the falls, and want the 340 km sorted at a fixed price.
- You do not want to drive Paraguayan roads or handle the Friendship Bridge on your own in a hire car.
Not worth it
- You are travelling solo on a tight budget and only going to central Asunción: a ride-hailing app will do.
- You booked into Asunción only to reach Ciudad del Este and can still change the flight to Foz: change it before paying for 327 km of road.
- You are walking or taking the city bus across the bridge for a day, with no luggage.
- You are looking for a scheduled flight between Asunción and Ciudad del Este at airline prices: that is not what we do.
- You just want to know the airfare: that changes by the hour and lives on the airlines’ websites, not here.
Four questions before you click buy
- Where do I sleep on night one? If it is Asunción or further south, fly into Asunción. If it is Foz or Ciudad del Este, fly into Foz.
- Does my trip cover both areas? Then look at an open jaw, in through one airport and out through the other, with the 340 km in the middle of the trip.
- What does the leftover leg cost? Add the road leg from the table above to the fare. A cheaper flight into the wrong airport can end up costing more.
- What time do I land? A small-hours arrival calls for a transfer booked in advance at either airport, and a late-afternoon landing in Foz may meet the bridge queue.
Frequently asked questions
What travellers ask us on WhatsApp while they are booking flights to Paraguay.
Where do direct flights to Paraguay land?
The main international airport is Silvio Pettirossi, in Luque, about 15 km from central Asunción. Ciudad del Este has its own airport, Guaraní, but it handles few commercial flights. Which cities have nonstop service changes by season: check the airlines, or our guide to flights to Paraguay.
Is it better to fly into Asunción or Foz do Iguaçu?
It depends on where you are going. For Asunción, Encarnación or the rest of Paraguay, fly into Asunción. For Ciudad del Este, the Iguazu Falls and Itaipu, Foz do Iguaçu is usually closer: about 20 km from Ciudad del Este, against 327 km from Asunción.
Do I need to enter Brazil if I fly into Foz?
Yes. Foz do Iguaçu is a Brazilian city, so you go through Brazilian immigration before crossing into Paraguay over the Friendship Bridge. Check Brazil’s entry requirements for your passport as well as Paraguay’s before you book.
How long does it take from Asunción airport to the city centre?
Silvio Pettirossi is about 15 km from the centre, 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Our airport transfer starts at USD 49 per vehicle for up to three passengers.
I booked into Asunción but I’m going to Ciudad del Este. What now?
It is 327 km on PY02 to Coronel Oviedo and then PY07, 4 h 30 min to 5 h by private car, with no border. Our sedan costs USD 347 per vehicle, the minivan USD 397 and the Sprinter USD 858. A return trip in a sedan is USD 539.
How much is a transfer from Asunción to Foz do Iguaçu?
It is 340 km, 5 to 6 h including the Friendship Bridge. A sedan for up to three passengers costs USD 417 per vehicle one way, or USD 707 return booked together. Minivan for up to seven, USD 497. Sprinter for 8 to 14, USD 892.
Which airport for Encarnación and the Jesuit ruins?
Asunción. Encarnación is 370 km south on Route PY01, 5 h to 5 h 30 min by private car with no border. Our sedan costs USD 417 per vehicle.
How much is the transfer from Foz airport to Ciudad del Este?
There is no published price, because the duration depends on the bridge queue and the time of day. Send us your flight time and your address in Ciudad del Este on WhatsApp and we will reply with a fixed price.
My flight lands in Asunción in the middle of the night. Can you pick me up?
Yes. Our Asunción airport transfer runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We track the flight number, so if you land late the driver is still there, and the first 30 minutes of waiting are free.
Can I fly from Asunción to Ciudad del Este?
We offer a private flight: 1 h 30 min in a Cessna 172, from USD 1,099 for the aircraft with up to three passengers. It costs far more than the car, which covers the 327 km in 4 h 30 min to 5 h for USD 347 in a sedan.
Can I see Asunción and the Iguazu Falls on one trip?
Yes, and the easiest way is to fly into one airport and out of the other. Asunción and Foz do Iguaçu are 340 km apart, 5 to 6 h by road with the border, so you only cover that distance once.
Do you sell flights?
No. We provide private ground transport and private charter flights. We do not sell or compare airline tickets; for that, go to the airlines’ own websites.
How do I book and pay?
Send us your airport, flight time, destination and number of passengers on WhatsApp. We reply with a fixed price per vehicle. We quote in US dollars and also accept guaraníes, Brazilian reais and Argentine pesos.
Pick the airport by destination, not by fare
If your trip is Asunción, Encarnación or the rest of Paraguay, Silvio Pettirossi puts you 15 km from the capital and at the start of the country’s main roads. If your trip is Ciudad del Este, the falls and Itaipu, Foz do Iguaçu puts you about 20 km from the bridge, as long as Brazil’s entry rules work for your passport. With the right airport the road leg is short; with the wrong one it is half a day. If in doubt, send us your plan before you book.
Distances, times and prices are our own, from the August 2026 rate card, per vehicle, in US dollars, with fuel, tolls and driver included. We do not include airfares because they are not ours and change daily. We do not publish a distance between Foz airport and the Friendship Bridge because we found no official measurement, checked on 13 October 2026.