The South - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 565

CROSSING THE PARAGUAYAN BORDER
TO CIUDAD DEL ESTE
By bus Buses depart across Av Juscelino Kubitschek from
the Terminal de Transporte Urbano every 30min or so
(7am-8.50pm; around R$4). The Ciudad del Este bus terminal
is just south of the centre, to which it is linked by local buses.
By taxi Taxis to Ciudad del Este charge around R$40.
Depending on border tra c, it can take between fifteen
minutes and two hours to travel between the two cities -
it's often faster to walk across the international bridge and
pick up a taxi or bus on the other side.
Entry requirements for Paraguay Border controls
over the Ponte da Amizade into Paraguay are usually quite

9

lax: if you are visiting Ciuded del Este for the day there's no
need to stop at immigration. However, note that if you are
from a nation that o cially requires a visa to enter
Paraguay and you get stopped randomly by immigration
o cers, they may expect you to cough up a “fee”. Visas are
o cially required for citizens of the US (US$160), Australia
(US$135-equivalent), Canada (US$160-equivalent) and
New Zealand (US$140-equivalent); you must apply for
visas in advance (visas on arrival are only available at
Asunción airport).
Entry requirements for Brazil Heading back into Brazil
the same rules apply as with going to Argentina (see p.567).

GETTING AROUND
Buses and taxis in Foz usually take currency from Argentina and Paraguay as well as Brazil, but don't count on it - they
are not obliged to, so it depends on the individual driver.

Itaipu (#101, #102; daily 5.55am-12.07pm).

BY BUS
All city bus fares at the time of writing were R$2.85, which
you pay at the gate at the TTU terminal (reais only), or on
the bus itself.
Destinations (from the TTU terminal) Brazilian falls via
the airport and Parque de Aves (#120; Mon-Sat
5.45am-12.40am, every 20min, Sun 5.30am-12.40am
every 45min); rodoviária (#105; Mon-Sat 5.40am-7.07pm,
Sun 5.35am-5.35pm; #115: Mon-Sat 5.38am-11.35pm);

BY TAXI
Finding taxis is easy; most hotels and restaurants will call
them if required. Taxi meters start at R$4.09; figure on
around R$50 to the Brazilian park entrance from the city
centre (taxis can go no further into the park). Fixed rates
apply to Puerto Iguazú (R$50), Ciudad del Este (R$40) and
the Argentine Falls (R$100).

INFORMATION
Tourist information There are tourist o ces at the
airport (daily 8am-10pm; T 45 3521 4276) and at the
rodoviária (daily 7am-6pm; T 45 3522 1027). In town,
there are o ces at the Terminal de Transporte Urbano

(daily 8am-5pm; T 45 3523 7901), and on the way to the
falls, the Centro Municipal de Turismo, Av das Cataratas
2330, Vila Yolanda (daily 7am-11pm; T 0800 451516,
W pmfi.pr.gov.br/turismo).

ACCOMMODATION
Finding somewhere to stay in Foz do Iguaçu is usually easy, and outside the peak tourist months of January, February and
July, and over Easter, you are likely to be offered a discount rate at all but the top-end establishments. Note that many
of the hotels are located some distance from town on the road leading to the falls - the Avenida das Cataratas -though
the bigger, more luxurious resorts cater primarily to Brazilian families and are not especially good value for independent
travellers. The obvious exception is the magnificent Hotel das Cataratas in the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu itself (see p.571).
Hotels tend to be a bit cheaper in Puerto Iguazú (p.572).

Concept Design Hostel Rua Vereador Moacyr
Pereira 337, Vila Yolanda T 45 3029 3631,
W conceptdesignhostel.com; map p.567. This stylish,
budget boutique hotel has spacious doubles with
individual colour themes, slick Ikea-like dorms (each bed is
equipped with reading lights and power sockets), a central
pool, bar and communal l kitch en. It's al so clos e to the bus
stop for the falls. Dorms R$65 ; doubles R$180
Continental Inn Av Paraná 1089 T 45 2102 5000,
W continentalinn.com.br; map p.567. Good value for a
high-quality - if somewhat anonymous - downtown
hotel. The well-equipped rooms are spacious, breakfasts

are ample, the staff are e cient a nd Engl ish-speaking, and
there's a good pool and free wi-fi. R$215
★

★

Favela Chic Hostel Rua Major Raul de Mattos 78
T 45 3027 5060, W favelachichosteliguassu.com; map
p.567. New, spotless hostel opened in 2012 by friendly
English owner, Nick, near the bus stop for the falls. It's all
nicely done, with bright, comfy hang-out areas, hammocks,
and dorms with a/c and shared bathrooms (R$35-45).
Includ es coo ked breakfast, free yoga classes and wi-fi.
Dorms R$35
Hostel Paudimar Campestre Av das Cataratas, Km
12.5 T 45 3529 6061, W paudimar.com.br; map p.565.