Unexplored South America- The Triple Frontier

The Triple Frontier is a tri-border area where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay meet at the confluence of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers. It’s a major global hub for smuggling, money laundering, and organized crime, so we decided to check it out.

Whilst in Foz Do Iguaçu, the town on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls, we were only a bridge away from Paraguay.

We walked across the Friendship Bridge to Ciudad del Este and entered Paraguay, which felt like entering a different planet.

The border town is built around people hopping across the border for duty free shopping, which has made it Paraguay’s second largest city.

It felt like a frontier town at the edge of the world, a dodgy, chaotic place where you always had to be alert.

Marooned within the mayhem, giant, modern shopping centres (with high levels of security) met the demand of Brazilians, Argentinians and tourists for tax-free goods.

Visiting was definitely an unforgettable experience, but we’re not the sort to only visit the polished, tourist-friendly areas!