Horacio Cambeiro · CC BY 4.0Puente Internacional San Roque González de Santa Cruz
Two and a half kilometers of bridge, train included, to cross the Paraná to Posadas.
What it is
This road and rail bridge links Encarnación with Posadas (Argentina) across the Paraná. Cars, international city buses and the binational Posadas-Encarnación train all use it; the short train ride has become an outing in its own right. It is one of the busiest border crossings in the region, and many visitors combine a day in Posadas with the Argentine mission of San Ignacio Miní. From Encarnación's promenade, its illuminated silhouette is part of the nighttime skyline.
What to see and do
- The binational Encarnación-Posadas train
- The illuminated bridge seen from the promenade
- A trip to Posadas and the Argentine missions
Did you know…?
It is named after Saint Roque González de Santa Cruz, Paraguay's first saint and founder of both Encarnación and Posadas.
It sees around ten million border crossings a year, according to figures cited on Wikipedia.
History
The bridge was built as compensation for the flooding the Yacyretá dam would cause. It was put out to tender in 1980, construction began in 1983, and it was inaugurated on 2 April 1990 by presidents Andrés Rodríguez and Carlos Menem. It is 2,550 m long, with a 579 m central span, and won the International Puente de Alcántara Award. The binational passenger train began running on 31 December 2014.
Tips
- Bring your ID card or passport and, if driving, your vehicle documents and insurance valid in Argentina.
- Check whether the binational train is running and how often before you go: service has been interrupted in recent years.
- Avoid rush hour and long weekends: immigration lines can be long.
Border crossing open every day (check immigration and train schedules before you go).
Best time: Weekday mornings to cross; at night to photograph it.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Encarnación Carnival
Feathers, drum troupes and dance groups in the Sambadrome: Paraguay’s “summer capital” throws the country’s biggest carnival.
CarnivalEncarnación, ItapúaFeaturedFeb→ MarNatsumatsuri, Encarnación Japanese Summer Festival
Taiko, dances and Japanese food on a summer night hosted by Encarnación’s Nikkei (Japanese-descendant) community.
Heritage communitiesEncarnación, ItapúaAugWRC Rally del Paraguay
The World Rally Championship races on the red-dirt roads of Itapúa, based in Encarnación.
SportEncarnación y Colonias Unidas, ItapúaFeaturedDecFeast of Our Lady of Itacuá
The shrine on the banks of the Paraná welcomes thousands of the faithful from southern Paraguay on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
ReligiousEncarnación, Itapúa25MarNuestra Señora de la Encarnación · Encarnación
Mass at the cathedral and a procession of the Virgin through the city center, merging with the celebrations of the city's founding.
Patron saintEncarnación, ItapúaFeaturedNearby
Encarnación · Itapúa
Molino y Silo San José, patrimonio de la vieja Zona Baja
Two 1940 industrial structures that survived the Yacyretá flooding and can now be seen from San José beach.
Encarnación · Itapúa
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
Seat of the Diocese of Encarnación, built between 1913 and 1938 on the site of earlier 18th and 19th-century churches.
Encarnación · Itapúa
Costanera y playas de Encarnación (San José, Mbói Ka'ẽ y Pacu Cuá)
Miles of promenade and sandy beaches on the Paraná: this is the capital of the Paraguayan summer.
Encarnación · Itapúa
Réplica de la estación de ferrocarril de Encarnación y Museo Ferroviario
Replica of the station demolished in 2009 by Yacyretá, housing the Municipal Railway Museum steps from San José beach.
Encarnación · Itapúa
Plaza de Armas de Encarnación
Heart of Roque González's old Guaraní mission, now a tree-filled square with monuments, ponds and cultural events.
Encarnación · Itapúa
Encarnación
The Pearl of the South: riverfront promenade, river beaches, carnival and the perfect base for the Jesuit missions.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.