International Hydropower Association (IHA) · CC BY 2.0Central Hidroeléctrica Itaipú
One of the world's largest hydroelectric plants, free and guided: colossal engineering on the Paraná River.
What it is
Buses touring the plant leave from the Visitor Reception Center (CRV) in Hernandarias: you'll see the 196-meter-high dam, the water intake and the Right Bank viewpoint, from where you can watch the spillway when it's open. The scale is staggering: twenty generating units, 14,000 MW of capacity and a reservoir of about 1,350 km². The visit is free but must be booked in advance, and it pairs well with Tekotopa, the Itaipu Tierra Guaraní Museum and the Tatí Yupí reserve, all within the Itaipú Tourist Complex.
What to see and do
- Guided bus tour of the plant with stops at viewpoints
- See the spillway open when the reservoir is high, as happened in September 2026
- Combine it on the same day with Tekotopa and the Itaipu Tierra Guaraní Museum
- Ask at the CRV about technical tours of the inside of the plant
Did you know…?
In 1994 the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) named it one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World".
The Monumental Lighting show, with 829 light points, premiered on November 14, 2002, and gave its final performance on August 8, 2026: it is being replaced with LED technology.
The energy is split down the middle: 50% goes to Paraguay and 50% to Brazil.
The complex closes to the public only three days a year: May 1, Christmas and New Year's Day.
History
The Itaipú Treaty was signed by Paraguay and Brazil on April 26, 1973, and construction began in January 1975. On October 13, 1982, the reservoir began to fill, submerging the Guairá Falls, and the first unit went into operation on May 5, 1984. In 2016 it set a world record for annual generation, with more than 103 million MWh.
Tips
- Book ahead on the official app (apps.itaipu.gov.py/PWAP) and show up at the CRV in Hernandarias with your ID card or passport.
- Daily departures reported in September 2026: 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 10:30, 13:10, 14:00 and 14:30 (check before you go for changes).
- The Monumental Lighting show will not run until the new LED system is complete, estimated at one year from August 2026.
- Inquiries: (061) 599-8040 / 599-8094 and cturistico@itaipu.gov.py.
Daily, with advance booking; free. Closed May 1, December 25 and January 1. Departure times subject to change: check before you go.
Best time: Year-round; the first morning departure is the coolest, especially in summer. After heavy rain in the watershed, Itaipú may open the spillway: an extra spectacle worth asking about on the day.
Activities
Festivals and events here
Guided visits
Itaipú Binacional (Complejo Turístico Itaipu)
Visita panorámica a la Central Hidroeléctrica Itaipú
A free guided panoramic visit to the Itaipú power plant, with advance booking and morning and afternoon departures.
Nearby
Hernandarias · Alto Paraná
Costanera y Playa Tacurú Pucú
A waterfront with a 2,100 m bike path, playgrounds and a 450 m beach on Itaipú lake, managed with the municipality.
Hernandarias · Alto Paraná
Museo Histórico Tacurú Pucú
A museum aiming to preserve Alto Paraná's cultural and historical heritage, housed in the Chaco War Veterans Union building.
Hernandarias · Alto Paraná
Hernandarias
The city of energy: dams, a beach on the Itaipú reservoir and a Way of the Cross lit by candles.
Hernandarias · Alto Paraná
Modelo Reducido de la Represa de Itaipú
A 1:100-scale physical model of the Itaipú dam, with the reservoir and the Acaray, Yguazú and Monday rivers, at the Visitor Reception Centre.
Hernandarias · Alto Paraná
Reserva Natural Tatí Yupí
Itaipú's forest closest to the dam: horse-drawn carts, bikes, a giant peroba tree and birds everywhere.
Hernandarias · Alto Paraná
Tekotopa Centro Ambiental (Sendero del Jaguareté y Museo de Itaipu Tierra Guaraní)
Jaguars, tapirs and harpy eagles of the Atlantic Forest, plus Itaipú's great museum of nature and Guaraní culture.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 9 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.