The Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay tripoint is located in the remote, arid northwest region of the Gran Chaco. Visiting ARBOPY is highly challenging and remains one of the least-visited tripoints in South America due to its harsh terrain, an added complication is that it is located in a military zone and therefore access was uncertain. Little information was available on the internet, After contacting the Paraguayan Embassy in London permission was granted, and I am grateful for all the help and support they offered.

The nearest settlements are Esmeralda (Bolivia) at 5 km, Santa Victoria Este (Argentina) at 8 km, and Pozo Hondo (Paraguay) at 20 km. The tripoint is marked by a concrete pillar, at the edge of the Pilcomayo River on alluvial deposits. The tripoint was established following Paraguayan independence from Argentina in 1856. I visited this point as part of the IBRG SATEX-25 expedition. This is Tripoint #39 for me. My other Americas tripoint visits are reported here.

Click on the maps below for a larger image

Our journey started in Asunción with a straightforward journey to Mariscal Estigarribia, the gateway to the Paraguayan Chaco, where we stayed overnight. In November 2025 the 220km stretch of Ruta 15 we needed to take was being upgraded. What made it more difficult is rather than doing it in stages, the whole section was one long construction site creating very tough driving conditions taking 4.5 hours for 230 km.

Arrival at the Naval Base (Area Naval y Prefectura de Pozo Hondo)

We were unsure if the permissions granted in London would be known here, as it was we were checked and allowed to drive along an increasingly narrower road toward a small military camp nearer the tripoint.

Ceremonial Tripoint marker

In the centre of the camp was a ceremonial marker.

We travelled 7 km along a narrow dirt road through the Chaco until we reached the forward encampment where we were greeted by 3 military personnel. We explained we wanted to visit the tripoint and the senior officer agreed to guide us, we were really grateful especially given the terrain, plus he took his sidearm due to the danger from local wildlife.

Hito Esmeralda

Hito Esmeralda refers to Bolivia/Paraguay BM#1 which was originally the Tripoint monument (1949-2016) now 2650m away. At the time of construction the tripoint was located in Pilcomayo River and this was the indirect marker. Alluvial deposits led to the tripoint becoming dry and a new tripoint monument was built. Redundant as a tripoint marker, Hito Esmerelda was still very interesting, with a geodesic point, names and colours of the respective countries inscribed as well as the distance from Argentina.

We left the border marker and headed on increasingly rough tracks until we could drive no further. This is where we were grateful for our guide as he knew exactly where to go. Once leaving the car we hiked to the tripoint.

The Tripoint marker

The westernmost point of Paraguay

The Pilcomayo River carries an immense volume of sediment through the Gran Chaco region. Over the decades, massive alluvial deposits and heavy sedimentation caused the river channel to choke, overflow, and shift. This geographic evolution eventually left the original wet tripoint completely dry. As the true tripoint was no longer submerged, a physical marker could finally be placed directly on the exact tripoint location. This is the westernmost point of Paraguay. On June 14, 2016, authorities officially inaugurated a new, 4.5-meter-high masonry concrete pillar directly at the dry tripoint. The commemoration of the tripoint occurred on the 81st anniversary of the Chaco Peace Treaty, ending a war fought by Bolivians and Paraguayans between 1932 and 1935.

Videos

References

• Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay tripoint landmark built on anniversary of the Chaco Peace Treaty. Bolivia Ministry of External Relations (July 2016) Details here