Triple Frontier Landmark (Marco das Três Fronteiras)
Marco das Três Fronteiras / Hito Tres Fronteras
Where the Iguazú River flows into the Paraná, an obelisk viewpoint where you can see the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay all at once. The Brazilian side has been turned into a themed park, where the sunset and performances are the highlights.
The Triple Frontier Landmark lies at the confluence of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers. The two rivers divide the land into three sections, and each country erected an obelisk painted in its national colors in its own corner in 1903. From any one side, you can see the obelisks of the other two countries across the water. The Brazilian site, Marco das Três Fronteiras, is 7 km southwest of Foz do Iguaçu. It was converted into a paid attraction in 2016 (about BRL 40 to 45, open 14:00 to 22:00, with some hours closed Monday through Wednesday; tickets can be bought online). It has an observation deck, a reconstructed Guarani village, a small exhibit on the history of Jesuit missions, a sculpture of the explorer Cabeza de Vaca, and a restaurant. Around 7:30 p.m. each night there is a light-and-fountain show with traditional Guarani and Paraguayan dances. As the sun sets, the lights of Argentina and Paraguay come on across the river, one after another, making it a great time for photos. The Argentine side, Hito Tres Fronteras, lies at the western end of downtown Puerto Iguazú. It's free and has a small handicraft market and a viewing path. In the evening, locals gather there to drink yerba mate and watch the sunset, and it feels simpler than the Brazilian side. From the site you can also see the direction of the Friendship Bridge connecting Brazil and Paraguay. Many visitors cross the bridge to shop duty-free in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. A one-day visa-free entry is allowed, but mind the passport stamps when leaving Brazil and watch for petty theft. From downtown Foz on the Brazilian side, it's 15 minutes by taxi or by the Três Fronteiras bus line. A visit takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Scheduling it for the evening of a day spent on the Brazilian side works best, and you can have dinner at the on-site restaurant.
Opening hours
Brazilian side approx. 14:00–22:00; Argentine side open all day
Nearby sights
- La Feirinha (Puerto Iguazú)
- La Aripuca
- Monday Falls
- Güirá Oga Wildlife Refuge
- Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque
- Ciudad del Este
- Parque das Aves (Bird Park)
- Chen Tien Buddhist Temple