Brazil - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 347

FOZ DO IGUAÇU
A classic stop on the backpacker trail, the
city of FOZ DO IGUAÇU is the Brazilian
gateway to the magnificent Iguaçu Falls ,
one of the world's greatest natural
wonders, which lie 20km south. Much
larger than its Argentine counterpart
Puerto Iguazú (see p.87), it makes a
better base for exploring the falls, with
the advantage of decent restaurants and
a livelier nightlife.

springing directly from the underground
Guaraní aquifer, the largest natural
freshwater source in the Americas. It
features a series of giant slides, children's
pools and a decent grill restaurant.

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane Foz do Iguaçu International Airport ( T 45 3521
4200) is 13km south of town, halfway along the road to the
falls (12km north of the falls themselves). It is served by
flights from Curitiba, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília,
Salvador and Belém. A taxi into town costs R$45-50, or
take a bus from outside the airport (“Aeroporto Parque
Nacional”), which shuttles between the falls and the local
terminal in town on Av Juscelino Kubitschek (every 25min
5.30am-7pm, then hourly until midnight; 45min; R$2.65).
By bus The rodoviária ( T 45 3522 2590) is on the northern
outskirts of town on Av Costa e Silva; buses #105 and #115
from here, marked “Rodoviária”, can take you to the local
bus terminal (TTU or Terminal de Transporte Urbano) on
Av Juscelino Kubitschek in the city centre (R$2.65); taxis
cost around R$16-17. Here you can pick up bus #120 to
the falls (“Aeroporto Parque Nacional”; R$2.65).
Destinations Curitiba (9 daily; 9-10hr); Florianópolis (5
daily; 15-16hr); Porto Alegre (8 daily; 14-16hr); Rio de
Janeiro (2 daily; 22-23hr); São Paulo (10 daily; 15-17hr).
Tourist information There are tourist o ces at the airport
(daily 8.30am-8pm; T 41 3521 4276), the rodoviária (daily
7am-6pm; T 41 3522 1027) and the local bus terminal in
town (daily 8am-6pm). The main Foz tourist o ce is at
Av das Cataratas 2330 (daily 7am-11pm; T 45 3521 1455,
W www.pmfi.pr.gov.br).

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Foz do Iguaçu is a modern city, with no
real sights of its own, but there are a
couple of attractions on the road to the
falls (Av de Cataratas) that are worth
checking out. Despite the hefty entrance
fee, the parrots and showy toucans at
Parque das Aves , Km17.1, just 300m
from the falls entrance (daily
8.30am-5.30pm; foreigners pay R$32
or US$17; W parquedasaves.com.br), are
well worth the expense, with enormous
walk-through aviaries in dramatic forested
surroundings (all birds have been rescued
from traffickers and would not survive
alone in the wild). There is also a large
walk-through butterfly cage - butterflies
are bred throughout the year and released
when mature. All the butterflies and
eighty percent of the eight hundred bird
species are Brazilian, many endemic to
the Atlantic forest. Around 200m back
along the road and along a narrow lane is
the Thermas Parque Aquático Cataratas
(Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat & Sun
8am-7pm; R$15; T 45 3529 6016),
which maintains a series of thermally
heated pools supplied with water

3

ACCOMMODATION
When choosing where to stay, your main decision will
be whether to pick a central option or to go for a place
closer to the falls. Central options have the advantage of
proximity to good restaurants and bars, while those closer
to the falls cut down your travelling time and include a
number of excellent hostels and a great campsite.

IGUAÇU FALLS TOURS AND ACTIVITIES
The Iguaçu Falls has become a major adventure travel hotspot with a bewildering range of
activities available. Every 15min the Helisul helicopter ( T 45 3529 7474, W helisul.com) takes
off just outside the park entrance, offering 10min flights over the falls for US$110 per person
(minimum three people); sensational views, but controversial thanks to the noise pollution
(which scares wildlife).
TOUR OPERATORS
Macuco Safari W macucosafari.com.br. Based within
the national park, offers a guided forest safari and a
boat trip into the Devil's Throat (see p.353) among its
varied programmes.

Martin Travel Travessa Goiás 200 T 45 3523 4959,
W martintravel.com.br. A reliable local travel agency
that specializes in ecotourism and puts together
groups to go canoeing, rafting or mountain biking
along forest trails.