Crossing any border – when travelling in a foreign country – can be a stressful, challenging and sometimes difficult experience, but more often than not, it’s not as intimidating as you might think. I’ve experienced border crossings in four continents, moving in and out of at least 50 countries.
If you’re crossing the border from Argentina to Paraguay, the train from the Argentine city Posadas to the Paraguayan city Encarnación is a fun, fast, and affordable way to do it. It’s also one of the easiest land border crossings in South America.
This blog talks about my Argentina border crossing, whereby I crossed between the two border towns Posadas, Argentina to Encarnacion, Paraguay, using the eight kilometre commuter rail service.
I’ll cover the following:
- The Argentina to Paraguay border crossing time
- The Argentina to Paraguay border crossing cost
- My general experience of crossing the border from Argentina to Paraguay
What to do before you cross the Argentina – Paraguay border
- Carry both physical and digital copies of your passport – Passing through two immigration checks, it’s worth having both copies just in case.
- Double-check entry requirements – Most nationalities don’t need a visa for stays in both Argentina or Paraguay, but confirm this before you go. Use this handy search tool over at VisaCentral.
- Have small bills in local currency – Carry both Argentine pesos and Paraguayan guaraníes, especially for taxis, snacks, or for any onward transport.
- Pack light and keep your essentials close – In any busy station it’s easy to be caught off guard or get distracted, so you’ll want your valuables in something you can always keep on you.
- Give yourself extra time – Immigration is usually very quick, but queues can appear at busier times of the day, so allow enough time for onward connections.
- Consider the Argentina – Paraguay time difference – Paraguay is one hour behind Argentina, so remember to change your phone or watch. This mistake meant I was waiting for my bus in the wrong time zone.
- Be aware, not anxious – Like any land border, keep your wits about you, but this border is known for being stress free and travel friendly. Posadas and Encarnacion both felt like safe cities to walk around on foot
Posadas to Encarnacion train timetables and cost
How to get to the Argentina-Paraguay border train station
Argentina Train Station Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zSGbndDiWRvJfgb18
Posadas is a small, but pleasant city and can be used to cross the border into Paraguay or for an overnight stop between Buenos Aires and Iguaçu Falls. There is an airport and a bus station with bus connections all over Argentina including cities in Brazil and Uruguay. Flights also operate from Buenos Aires and Cordoba to its international airport.
I arrived by night bus from Buenos Aires, which took a total of 12 hours, with the company Rio Uruguay, and cost £68. This was booked in advance using Busbud. You can either walk to the border train station, or take a taxi (charged by the meter) either from your overnight hotel, airport or bus station.
Paraguay Train Station Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7Wd6MdvHQZDEJ1Gs7
Encarnacion is the third largest Paraguayan city and is not just a transport hub, it’s also known for its riverside beach, laid back vibe, and for being a shopping haven for Argentinains, due to the lower taxes.
Encarnacion is also near Paraguay’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site – the ruins of a Jesuit Mission. It would have been perfect for a 24-hour stopover, and I was disappointed I didn’t have the time to see it.
On arrival into the train station in Encarnacion you can easily walk to the Encarnacion bus station, for onward travel via public transport to Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, or to the town centre – if you are spending a few days here. There were plenty of taxi drivers and local buses, but I didn’t use either of these methods to get to the bus terminal.
*Note: This route can easily be done in reverse using the above method.
**Note: There is also the option of an international bus between these two countries from their respective central bus stations for $1.50, if you don’t want to take the train, but this can take longer with the border crossing formalities. Also bear in mind that the bus driver may not wait for you to complete your passport checks if you’re held up in a long queue, which adds more time onto the journey.
What happens when crossing the Argentine border
The border crossing between Argentina and Paraguay is one of the easiest I have ever done during my travels – it’s a smooth process, from start to finish.
The border staff will ask you to complete standard passport control border formalities before and after boarding the train on each side, which simply involves queuing at each station entry point.
Here’s what you can expect upon crossing the Argentina to Paraguay border:
- At border control, your documents will be scanned
- You might be asked to submit to bag checks.
- You will be given passport stamps with both an exit stamp and entry stamps.
I would recommend having onward travel or at least an accommodation booking to present to the Paraguayan Immigration border officers – just in case they ask. I didn’t need to do this, but it’s worth having as a precaution.
The Argentina to Paraguay border crossing time
Bear in mind that weekends and rush hours can result in longer wait times, as locals use this train for daily commutes – it can get crowded around 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm. If you are looking for the sweet spot for the quickest possible crossing… try to travel at midday or early afternoon.
How to cross the Argentina – Paraguay border by foot
The border bridge – the San Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz Bridge -is open to pedestrians, but it’s a long, hot walk. I found it much easier to hop on the train.
How easy was the Paraguay border crossing?
Taking the Tren Internacional Posadas–Encarnación, between Argentina and Paraguay is fun, simple and cost effective.
