turismo ·
Ciudad del Este Black Friday for Argentines: allowance, route and what to know
Guia 3 newsroom · edited by Annie GrellmannEspañolPortuguês
Ciudad del Este Black Friday 2026 runs from November 19 to 22. There is no direct bridge from Puerto Iguazú: Argentines cross to Foz over the Tancredo Neves Bridge and then into Paraguay over the Friendship Bridge. Back in Argentina, the land allowance is US$300 a month, and anything above it pays 50%.
Quick answer: Ciudad del Este Black Friday 2026 runs from November 19 to 22 (Thursday to Sunday). There is no direct bridge from Puerto Iguazú to Paraguay: you cross into Foz do Iguaçu over the Tancredo Neves Bridge and then into Ciudad del Este over the Friendship Bridge. Back in Argentina, the land and river allowance is US$300 a month, and it does not roll over. Anything above it pays 50% on the excess, according to ARCA (formerly AFIP).
For Argentines, Ciudad del Este Black Friday comes with its own math. The allowance rules you see online are usually Brazil's, and the route crosses two countries before reaching the third. This guide sets out what Argentine rules say, how the route works and what still needs confirming.
Dates and hours
The 15th edition runs from Thursday, November 19, to Sunday, November 22, 2026. The 2025 event was the 14th (La Nación, Paraguay, 24/11/2025), and Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies called the 2026 event the "fifteenth" on 29/07/2026.
The general hours on the official event website are 8 am to 6 pm. That is the event's reference only: each shop sets its own hours, and some announce opening in the early hours of the morning. In 2025 the Ciudad del Este Chamber of Commerce reported more than 300,000 visitors.
The route: two bridges with a city in between
There is no bridge linking Argentina and Paraguay at the Triple Frontier. From Puerto Iguazú the route is:
- Tancredo Neves Bridge, from Puerto Iguazú to Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil).
- Through Foz to the Brazilian end of the Friendship Bridge.
- Friendship Bridge, from Foz to Ciudad del Este (Paraguay).
Coming back, the same route in reverse. That means checkpoints on both bridges plus travel time across Foz.
One date matters: Friday, November 20, is Black Consciousness Day, a national holiday in Brazil (Primera Plana, 24/07/2026). Expect more Brazilians on the Friendship Bridge that day. If you can, choose Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. Where the Friendship Bridge queue builds and what time to cross are covered in the guide to the Friendship Bridge queue on Black Friday 2026.
Before you leave, check the live bridge queue page. Know what it measures: our probes read traffic on the approach to each bridge. The queue at the immigration and customs booths does not show up in those readings, and on the Friendship Bridge the probe cannot see it at all.
ID: your DNI is enough
To travel between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, Argentines can use a valid DNI instead of a passport under Mercosur travel document rules. That is how Argentina's immigration service explains it, and it is covered in our guide to documents by nationality at the Triple Frontier. Carry the physical card in good condition.
Argentina's allowance on the way back
The rules that apply to you are ARCA's (formerly AFIP), on its traveller help page:
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Land or river allowance | US$300 per person |
| Frequency | Monthly, does not roll over |
| Under 16 | 50% of the allowance |
| Family group | Spouse and minor children may combine their allowances |
| Excess | Pays 50% on the amount above the allowance |
| Arrival duty-free shop | By land it only exists in Puerto Iguazú, with a US$500 limit |
La Nación (Argentina) reported the same figures on 22/01/2026. One practical point: the US$300 is per month. If you already used it on another land trip that month, what you buy now counts as excess.
Passing through Brazil with your shopping
To be clear: we found no specific Receita Federal (Brazilian customs) rule for Argentines crossing Foz in transit with goods bought in Paraguay. The US$500 allowance you see everywhere is Brazil's rule for people entering Brazil, explained in our guide to the Paraguay shopping allowance. We do not know whether it applies the same way in your case, and we will not claim either an exemption or a charge.
The safe approach is to ask at Brazilian customs before buying anything expensive, keep the receipt for each purchase, and avoid carrying goods for resale, which changes how you are treated in any of the three countries.
How to pay
In Ciudad del Este, Argentines usually pay in US dollars cash or by card. Before you go, read what works in Paraguay with reais, Pix or card and check today's exchange rates to compare prices.
Staying nearby
Doing both bridges there and back in one day is a long trip. If you want to sleep in Paraguay, book early: according to Senatur (Registur) data published by InfoNegocios on 11/09/2026, Ciudad del Este has 68 hotels, with occupancy of 95% to 100% at peak times. See where to stay in Ciudad del Este. Discounts and product categories are in the guide to Black Friday in Ciudad del Este 2026.
Useful phone numbers in Ciudad del Este
Numbers published on the official event website:
| Service | Phone |
|---|---|
| Tourist Police | +595 981 732409 |
| Consumer Protection (Defensa del Consumidor) | +595 973 592792 |
Sources: ARCA (formerly AFIP), traveller help: allowance · La Nación (Argentina), 22/01/2026 · Black Friday Oficial · La Nación (Paraguay), 24/11/2025 · Primera Plana, 24/07/2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is the allowance for Argentines returning from Ciudad del Este?
- By land or river, US$300 per person, monthly and non-cumulative, according to ARCA (formerly AFIP). Under-16s get 50%, and a family group (spouse and minor children) may combine allowances. Anything above that pays 50% on the excess.
- Is there a direct bridge between Puerto Iguazú and Ciudad del Este?
- No. You cross from Puerto Iguazú to Foz do Iguaçu over the Tancredo Neves Bridge and from Foz to Ciudad del Este over the Friendship Bridge. Coming back, the same route in reverse.
- Do Argentines need a passport?
- No. Argentines can travel between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay with a valid DNI, under the Mercosur travel document rules explained by Argentina's immigration service.
- Will Brazil charge tax on my shopping when I pass through Foz?
- We found no specific Receita Federal rule for Argentines in transit with goods from Paraguay. Confirm at Brazilian customs before buying anything expensive and keep your receipts.
- Which day is best to go?
- If you can, Thursday the 19th, Saturday the 21st or Sunday the 22nd. Friday the 20th is Black Consciousness Day in Brazil, and more Brazilians are expected on the Friendship Bridge.
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