PR · Brazil
The Falls, Itaipu and the meeting point of three countries.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Foz do Iguaçu is the kind of destination where nature shows up on an outsized scale: 275 waterfalls forming Iguazu Falls, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and right nearby the Itaipu Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric plants on the planet. The city sits on the triple border, so you can see Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay from the same viewpoint.
You can visit the Falls from both sides. On the Brazilian side, inside the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Iguaçu National Park), a trail along the edge of the canyon leads to the walkway over the Garganta do Diabo (Devil's Throat), with a panoramic view of the falls. On the Argentine side, the walkways run over and right into the waterfalls. The two sides complement each other, and each one takes a day.
Beyond the Falls, the city has the Parque das Aves (bird park), with aviaries in the middle of the Atlantic Forest, the Buddhist Temple, the Marco das Três Fronteiras (Triple Frontier Landmark) at sunset and tours of Itaipu, including the lighting of the dam at night. In the surrounding area, towns on the shores of Lago de Itaipu (Itaipu Lake), such as Santa Terezinha de Itaipu and Itaipulândia, have freshwater beaches and lakeside resorts.
This destination brings together 4 cities: Foz do Iguaçu, Santa Terezinha de Itaipu, São Miguel do Iguaçu, Itaipulândia.
A look at the place
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Foz do Iguaçu brings together grand river landscapes on the border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. You can see the falls and explore the national park's forest on the Brazilian side.
Santa Terezinha de Itaipu combines rural areas and leisure spaces on the shores of the Itaipu reservoir. You can stroll along the waterfront at Terminal Alvorada and take in the lake scenery.
São Miguel do Iguaçu combines rural scenery and leisure areas linked to the Itaipu reservoir. You can visit Balneário Ipiranga and stroll among wooded shores and inland waters.
Itaipulândia is on the shores of the Itaipu reservoir, in western Paraná. You can visit Balneário Jacutinga and enjoy outings by the water, among lake beaches and wooded areas.
The local experience
An artificial beach on the shores of Lago de Itaipu, less than 5 kilometers from downtown, with more than 800 meters of waterfront. It has a camping area, a pier for fishing and jet skis, a sand court and views of the sunset over the lake.
A set of 275 waterfalls inside the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, voted one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The Brazilian trail delivers the panoramic view and the walkway that reaches out over the Garganta do Diabo.
Discover Cataratas do Iguaçu (lado brasileiro)
A leisure complex on the shores of Lago de Itaipu, with an artificial beach, a camping area, kiosks and space for water sports. The strip of sand was completely replenished, and camping is booked through an app.
Discover Terminal Turístico Alvorada de Itaipu
A tourist terminal on the shores of Lago de Itaipu, about 14 kilometers from downtown, with an artificial beach, a natural pool and a boat dock. It has a camping area and is a starting point for sport fishing and boat rides on the lake.
Discover Terminal Turístico de Balneário Ipiranga
At 26 meters tall, the statue is said to be the largest depiction of the patron saint in southern Brazil and has a chapel inside. On October 12, the feast of Nossa Senhora Aparecida draws thousands of pilgrims from the region.
Discover Monumento de Nossa Senhora Aparecida
Opened in 2005, it holds about 200 objects and more than a thousand photographs about the town's settlement. The collection documents how the town was formed and the cultural influences of the border region.
Discover Museu Histórico Municipal
A green area in the Santa Mônica neighborhood, next to the BR-277, with ponds formed by springs of the Rio Tucano, walking trails and picnic areas. It was revitalized and expanded by the town hall and reopened in 2020.
Discover Parque Ecológico Domingos Zanette
A binational Brazil-Paraguay project and one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world, with panoramic tours and a tour inside the dam. At night, special lighting turns the dam wall into a show.
Discover Usina Hidrelétrica de Itaipu
Opened in 1984 on Avenida das Nações, it is the main church of the parish dedicated to the saint the town is named after. The interior is decorated with frescoes by local painter Marcílio Soares.
A leisure complex with natural hot-water pools, water slides and attractions for all ages, in an area of more than 250,000 square meters. It also has the themed area Mundo do Dino, with an interactive dinosaur.
Discover Itaipuland Thermas Park
One of the largest bird parks in Latin America, with aviaries where you walk side by side with macaws, toucans and flamingos. It is at the entrance to the National Park and a must-stop with children.
An obelisk where the Iguaçu and Paraná rivers meet, from which you can see Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay at the same time. The sunset with a cultural show is the highlight of the visit.
Discover Marco das Três Fronteiras
A Buddhist complex with a Buddha statue about 7 meters tall and more than a hundred sculptures spread across the gardens. The visit is peaceful and offers a beautiful view of the city.
Discover Templo Budista Chen Tien
A complex of indoor attractions with a wax museum, miniature wonders of the world, a dinosaur valley and an ice bar. It is the best backup plan for rainy days.
Your base to explore
Where you stay is part of the trip. Choose the area that best fits your itinerary.
A hotel with 176 rooms and suites inside the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, next to the Falls, with restaurants, a spa and a heated pool. It suits those who want to sleep in the park and have access to the falls before and after visiting hours.
A resort attached to a water park, with covered and outdoor pools filled with thermal water and rooms with balconies for up to seven people. It suits families who want to combine lodging and the park, about 70 km from Foz do Iguaçu.
A rural pousada with chalets along the PR-497, with a pay-to-fish pond for tilapia, catfish and carp, a mini farm for children and a home-style restaurant open on weekends. It suits families who want a weekend in the countryside.
A hotel on the BR-277, in the Parque dos Estados neighborhood, with pools for adults and children, a green area and an auditorium for up to 50 people. It caters to those exploring the Triple Frontier and corporate groups, about 17 km from downtown Foz do Iguaçu.
A pousada (guesthouse) on the shores of Lago de Itaipu, near the small beach of Vila Jacutinga and the water park, with family rooms and a pool. It caters to families and anglers who come for peacock bass and croaker in the lake.
A 176-room hotel on Rua Tarobá, opened with 19 rooms by a Portuguese immigrant woman and expanded during the construction of Itaipu. It has a heated pool and a rooftop terrace, and suits those who want to stay in downtown Foz.
A farm hotel in the Santa Inês district, on the shores of Lago de Itaipu, with 12 themed rooms, cabins, a heated pool, trails and a chapel. It suits families and groups looking for rural tourism, with boat rides and fishing on the lake.
A family-style pousada with rustic decor on Avenida Gustavo Dobrandino da Silva, a few steps from the bus station. It suits those who want a simple downtown base for visiting the Falls and the Parque das Aves.
Vivaz Cataratas Resort is in the Carimã neighborhood, in Foz do Iguaçu. It has heated and outdoor pools, Wi-Fi, a gym, a spa, restaurants, breakfast, recreation and a water park (open in the summer season); accessibility is noted for some room categories.
Viale Cataratas Hotel & Eventos is on Avenida das Cataratas, in the tourist corridor, near the airport, the Falls and the road to Argentina, in Foz do Iguaçu. It has two pools, breakfast, a restaurant, bars, a gym, saunas, a spa, a game room and 24-hour room service.
Viale Tower Hotel is on the Via Gastronômica, near bars, restaurants and shops, in Foz do Iguaçu. It has air conditioning, an infinity pool, breakfast, a restaurant, a bar, a gym and paid parking with limited spaces.
Viale Iguassu Hotel is across from Cataratas JL Shopping, in Foz do Iguaçu. It has a 24-hour front desk, parking, an ironing room, a safe and breakfast at the adjoining restaurant, charged separately.
Pousada das Águas Bissolotti is in the Santa Rosa do Ocoi neighborhood, in São Miguel do Iguaçu. It has pools and water slides, a restaurant, parking, and is pet-friendly (no pool access for pets); chalets with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and minibar; breakfast included in the chalets.
Flavors of the destination
An all-you-can-eat rodízio steakhouse opened in 1989 on Rua Engenheiro Rebouças, at the corner of Rua Tarobá, with a salad buffet, hot dishes and Arab cuisine. It suits those who want a meat rodízio in downtown Foz do Iguaçu.
The restaurant of the Praia Sol Hotel, on the BR-277, serving a buffet at lunch and dinner and a barbecue buffet on Sundays. It caters to hotel guests and travelers passing along the highway on their way to Foz do Iguaçu.
A buffet restaurant on Rua Castro Alves, in downtown Itaipulândia, that also works as an event space and offers takeout and delivery. It suits those passing through town and looking for lunch downtown.
A Lebanese restaurant on Rua Vinícius de Moraes, near the mosque, with sfihas, raw kibbeh, kafta and rice with lentils. It suits those who want to try the food tied to Foz do Iguaçu's Arab community.
A family-style pizzeria with a large dining room on Rua Magistério, in Santa Terezinha de Itaipu. The menu revolves around pizzas, with sides such as beef tenderloin and stuffed potatoes, and suits a quiet family dinner or anyone passing through the Lago de Itaipu area.
A place on Avenida das Cataratas that combines a restaurant and an art space, with outdoor tables and snacks such as angu (cornmeal) pastel and cassava fritters. It has vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and suits those who want a relaxed late afternoon.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Foz do Iguaçu/Cataratas International Airport (IGU), about 10 km from downtown and 14 km from the Falls, with flights from the main state capitals. By road, the city is about 640 km from Curitiba on the BR-277 highway. The airport is on the way between downtown and the park, on the BR-469.
From March to May and from September to November, when the heat lets up and the Falls usually have a good volume of water. Summer is hot and humid, but that is when the falls are fullest. In winter the mornings are cold and the water volume is usually lower, without taking away from the beauty of the falls.
Plan at least 3 days: one for the Brazilian side of the Falls and the Parque das Aves, which are on the same road; one for the Argentine side; and one for Itaipu and the Marco das Três Fronteiras. With 4 days, you have time for boat rides under the falls or for the beaches of Lago de Itaipu.
Most hotels are in downtown Foz do Iguaçu, with restaurants within walking distance and buses to the attractions, or on Rodovia das Cataratas, the road to the park, where the resorts and hotels surrounded by greenery are. Downtown is more practical if you don't have a car; the highway is quieter and close to the airport and the Falls.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Yes. The Brazilian side offers the panoramic view of the falls and takes half a day. The Argentine side has longer trails and walkways that run over and very close to the waterfalls, and takes a full day. If you are short on time and can only choose one, the panorama from the Brazilian side is the usual pick.
Brazilians can enter Argentina with an RG (ID card) in good condition and issued less than 10 years ago, with the new National Identity Card or with a valid passport. A driver's license (CNH) is not accepted. Minors traveling without one of their parents need authorization. Before you travel, check the current entry requirements on the Argentine government's official website.
The main trail is about 1.2 km long, with viewpoints along the canyon, and ends at the Garganta do Diabo walkway. Counting the park's internal bus, the visit takes 2 to 4 hours. Boat rides that get close to the falls are booked separately, inside the park.
It is a viewpoint where the Iguaçu and Paraná rivers meet, from which you can see Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay at the same time. Each country has its own landmark painted in the colors of its flag. The most popular time is late afternoon, with the sunset over the rivers.
No. City buses connect downtown to the Falls and the Parque das Aves, and there are taxis, ride-hailing apps and agencies with transportation to the Argentine side and Itaipu. A car helps if you want to visit the towns on Lago de Itaipu or do several tours on the same day.
