Iguassu Falls Tour

IGUASSU FALLS – BRAZILIAN SIDE:

One of the most beautiful among world’s natural postcards, the Iguassu Falls are located  in Foz do Iguaçu and a few minutes from the city. The Falls, situated in the Iguassu National Park is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Created on  January,10, 1939 and listed in 1986 by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, the Iguassu National Park is one of the largest of the Forest reserves in South America as a well as important for the protection of the State’s renewable resources. The type of predominant vegetation is the subtropical rainforest and the araucaria forest, with the presence of   palms, imbúia, caviúna, mate herb and other species.  The visit to the Park starts at the Visitors’ Center, located at the Park’s entrance, about 12 kilometers from the Iguassu Falls. In this center it is possible to find, besides photo exhibits on the Park and the Falls, a large souvenir shop and a bank terminal. To ensure greter comfort to visitors, the Visitors’ Center has a Medical Post and Bath Rooms including those specially made for the physically impaired. The fees to the Park can be bought at the Visitors Center. After passing through the Visitors’ Center, the tour continues, through a road that crosses the Park and takes us to the wonderful Iguassu Falls. Along the way, information and instructions about the area are given. Once at the Falls the tour takes place over an easy-to-walk path of approximately 1.200 meters which allows contact with the host coatis. At the end of the tour, we are presented with a panoramic view of the Falls, from a platform where we feel elated after an energizing bath tanks to the Floriano, Deodoro and Garganta do Diabo Falls. The tour ends on the upper part of the Falls, reached by a panoramic elevator. From here, we go to the Porto Canoas area, that receives us with a soothing view of the Upper Iguaçu River.

Duration of tour: 1h/01h30

Recommendations: Light clothes, tennis shoes, hat or cap, sun lotion.

Wheel chairs: Access possible

Opening hours:  From  9 a.m. to 4 p.m

Observation: Monday is not open for visitation.

Location: Rodovia das Cataratas (Falls Highway).

This tour is completely different from that on the Argentine side. It is recommended that both be taken.

MACUCO SAFARI BOAT TRIP:

If the Iguassu Falls do impress because of its beauty, imagine being part of this post card. The Macuco Boat Safari is an Macuco Safari captures the interest of ecologists from the whole Planet and is one of the most requested tours among the tourists, due to its proximity to the exuberant fauna and flora. It is because of this and other reason why this tour is one the most sought after by tourists who visit Iguassu falls. The tour starts a little before the Falls. To be specific, on the Macuco Trail. From there we leave on board open carts, drawn by electric vehicles that allow us to contemplate the fauna and flora, in this case represented by threatened species. After this ride, we walk the distance to the Macuco Port with the right to a panoramic view of the Macuco Falls. On the platform we briefed on the safety equipments.

From here we depart on specially projected inflatable boats. We go up the Iguassu River, toward the Falls, where the boatman brings us to approximately one kilometer from Devil’s Throat. From there we have a unique vision of one of the seven wonders of the modern world. On the way back we are baptized under a shower of water from the Three Musketeer Falls.

 

Duration of tour: 1 hour 40 minutes

Recommendations: Light clothing, tennis shoes, sun lotion

Opening hours:  From  9 a.m. to 4 p.m

Observation: Monday is not open for visitation.

Location: Cataratas Highway, inside the INP

 

BIRD PARK:

The Foz Tropicana Bird Park is a private enterprise, located in one the most regions on the planet: next to the Iguassu Falls. Here, tropical, rare and colorful birds fly in wide aviaries  integrated to the exuberant humid subtropical forest. During this tour we have the opportunity to get into this aviairies in order to get to know these birds.

The Bird Park is admittedly one of the most important tourist attractions in the region of Foz do Iguaçu. It is an environamental theme park that combines ecotourism and preservation. It is the only park in South America where the tourist can have direct contact with the birds.

The tour happens on a 1.000-meter trail through native forests where we can see over 900 tropical birds of over 150 species. Among them, the flamingos and the hyacinth macaws. Other attractions include an area, where butterflies and hummingbirds share the same space. There is also a repitilan sector where snakes and caymans live metres away from curious and attentive eyes. But the main attraction is the Pantanal Aviary. One of the most fascinating spots in the park. The birds can be seen from a rustic bridge, imitating thousands of similar bridges that span rivers and creeks in the Southern Mato Grosso Pantanal. Toucans, egrets, jacanas, ducks and even ibises balance themselves on branches and rail. In the tanks, turtles bask in the sun. It is one of the chosen spots for photos.

 

Duration: 1 hours

Recommendations: Light and comfortable clothing, tennis. Films for photographs.

Opening hours:  From  9 a.m. to 4 p.m

Observation: Monday is not open for visitation.

Observations: Films for photographs.

Location: Cataratas Highway, km 15 – 300 meters from the INP.

 

HELICOPTER FLIGHTS

Offers panoramic flights over the Falls, Itaipu Dam, Three-Frontier Mark and other touristic attractions in the area. The company has modern equipments and experienced pilots that have detailed knowledge of the area’s attractions. An opportunity to photograph the beautiful sceneries that the Iguaçu National Park offers us.

 

2 Flights:

Regular Flight: Duration: 10 minutes over the INP; Itinerary: • Iguaçu National Park

Iguaçu Falls . Obs: Minimum 3 people to take the flight.

Private Flight: Duration: 35 minutes over the INP; Itinerary: • Itaipu Dam • Three Borders Landmark • Iguaçu National Park • Iguaçu Falls

 

Recommendations: Light and comfortable clothes,

Operational Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Observations: Flights canceled in case of unstable weather or rain.

Location: Rodovia das Cataratas, km 27 – inside the INP

 

ITAIPU BINATIONAL

 

A great construction demands a lot of iron, concrete, technology and the endless search for conquering of the impossible. These were the pre-requisite resposnible for putting Itaipu in the list of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

 

The Itaipu Binational Hydrolectrical Power Plant, world’s largest in operation, is a binational entreprise by Brazil and Paraguay on the Paraná River. The Dam’s installed potential is of 12.6000 MW (Megawatts), with 18 generating units, each with an output of 700 MW. The record production of 2000 was 93,4 billion KW per hour (KWh) was responsible for 95% of the total Paraguayan consumption and 24% of the Brazilan market demand.

 

The largest hydroelectrical power plant in the world impresses for its sheer numbers and dimensions. Predestined, before the power of waters, the region lives a contrast: between nature’s grandiose work and man’s ingenuity. Besides generating energy, Itaipu Binational completes the scenery by offering a spectacle with the waters of the  Paraná that are  forced to go through its spillway.

 

It took 17 years and thousands of men to build it. In the latter days of construction, the number of workers was in excess of 40.000. Itaipu itself holds some big numbers of its own like a length  of 7.600m and the capacity to generate 12.60Mw. With the closing of the floodgates in October 1982, an artificial lake was formed, the Lake of Itaipu, with a an extension of 1.350 km and a volume of 29 billion cubic meters of water.

 

Tourist Visit  – Open to all and there is no need for appointments

It is a visit to the outside of the Dam with two stops: one at the Spillway Lookout Point and the other at the Central Lookout Point. The visit has to be done on tour buses or Itaipu Buses. This vist has a duration of one hour and a half.

 

Recommendations: Light, comfortable clothes, tennis shoes. Film for photography;

Opening hours: From Tueday to Saturday from  08h a.m to  05h p.m

 

 

IGUASSU FALLS – ARGENTINEAN SIDE

 

On the transfer to the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls, visitors will cross a bridge measuring 480 meters in length and built 1985, known popularly as the “International Fraternity Bridge” although its official name is International Tancredo Neves Bridge, conecting the two firnd countries, Brazil (Foz do Iguaçu) and Argentina (Puerto Iguazu).

 

The Iguassu Falls on the Argentine side are located in the Iguazú National Park, province of Misiones, 28 kilometers from the center of Foz do Iguaçu and 45 kilometers from the Tropical Hotel das Cataratas of the Cataracts. The bridge lies approximately 20 kilometers, downstream from Ioguassu Falls and just 2 kilometers, upstream from the confluence of the Iguaçu and Paraná Rivers, where visitors will be able to have a pretty panoramic sight of the Three-Frontier Landmark on each corner of the three borders: Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.

 

Upon arrivial at the Iguazú National Park visitors will pass through a  Visitors’ Center equipped with an excellent infrastructure such as: toilets, medical emergency, and interpretation panels on the biodiversity of the Park, from where they will leave for the two stations of the ecological trains, idealized to transport people to the Park’s attractions with a low environmental impact; with a duration of 20 minutes approximately as far as the several points of interest.

 

The first stop will be at Cataratas Station from where the visit to the Upper and Lower part of Iguassu Falls begins. After the end of this tour passangers, will board the train again for the Devils’ Throat Station, this is one of the most important observation points of the Falls.

 

The tour is done as a Full day program –  3 circuits and Half a day program 2 circuits:

 

Full Day

Superior Circuit: Tour on the Upper side of Falls approximately a 1.100-meter walk.

Lower Circuit: Tour under the Falls approximately a 1.600-meter walk. Devils’ Throat : Tour of contemplation on the upper part of the Iguassu River over a catwalk built over the river spanning 1.100 meters which   allows the chance to admire and appreciate the breathtaking spectacle offered by nature; the magnitude of the “Devils’ Throat.

 

Half Day

Upper Circuit: Tour on the Falls approximately a 1.100-meter long walk. Devils’ Throat : Tour of contemplation on the upper part of the Iguassu River over a flat 1.100-meter long catwalk built on the Iguaçu River that gives you the chance to to admire and appreciate the breathtaking spectacle offered by nature; the magnitude of the: “Devils’ Throat”.

Duration: Full day: 6 hours; Half day: 4 hours;

Recommendations: Light and comfortable clothes, sneakers, repellent.

Wheelchairs: Access possible

Opening hours: Everyday from 8h30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Observations: Depending on country of origin of visitor an entry visa may be required.

Provide Covid-19 protocol to enter Argentina.

Location: Inside the Iguazú National Park, Argentine side.

 

GREAT ADVENTURE:

 

Side Located in the Iguazú National Park, this tour proposes, in its first stages, the discovering and learning of the mysteries of a subtropical environment; our guide will be your host in this 8-kilometer tour down the Sendero Yacaratiá (Trail) through 4×4 truck

as far as Puerto Macuco, in the banks of the Iguazu River, in order to board motor boats especially projected for this type of navigation.

 

With the life-jacket duly adjusted, we leave for the challenge of  going up the rapids in the lower IIguaçu River, for about 6 kilometers of rock and vegetation, up to 80 meers high, as far as the majestic Devils’ Throat; we will be  surrouded by the powerful water curtain raising skyward and with its mist inviting us to  the adventure of being side by side with the caress of the “Great Waters”; after visiting all the main cataracts we will return and disembark at the base of the tour.

 

This tour can only be taken as an extension to the Argentinean Falls Tour, on the Argentinean side.

 

Duration: 2 hours

Recommendations:

Light and comfortable clothes (swimming suit),  tennis shoes, repellent. Camera.

Wheelchairs: Access not possible

Opening hours: Everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: In the Iguazú National Park, Argentine side.

 

Observations: 

Tour done only as extension of Iguassu Falls tour.

Children under 12 can not take the tour.
Pregnant women can no take the tour.

People with heart or lumbar spine problems cannot take the tour.

 

RAFAIN CHURRASCARIA SHOW

Specialty

Fine beef, Arab, Italian and Japanese food.

Dessert 

Serving Hours 

Daily for Lunch and Dinner

Latin American Folk Show from Monday through Saturday 

Capacity 

1.500 people

Air-conditioned ambiance 

Location 

Avenida das Cataratas – Vila Yolanda

 

Menu

Entrées: Paprika paté, garlic paté, onion paté, cheese paté, ham paté, breads, toasts, Italian bread, baguette with hedge mustard, carpaccio.

Salads: Meat splash (salpicão) with vegetable, potato salad, mayonnaise, chicken in pineapple, tuna salad, German salad, chicken galatina, Niçoise salad, tropical salad.

Conserves: Cucumbers, olives, quails eggs, eggplant, green salads: lettuce, wild chicory, chicory, Chinese kale.

Hot dishes: Rice, beans, spaghetti, rice cookup, rice with lentils, lasagna, strogonoff, Ignochi, canelone, Pancakes,  caçulet beans, Fried dishes, fish stew and posta branca.

Roasted beef and “churrasco”: Sausage, chicken, bull’s hump, rump beef, pork, Maminha, Picanha, chiken heart, stuffed pork palette, chicken dainty , pururuca pork, picanha on  the hot metal sheet with garlic and oil.

“Sauce: Golf, tartar, vinagrette and lemon.

On the way to the Iguassu Falls, you will find the Rafain Cataratas Churrascaria. It is a different place because it gives your clients a great variety of hot dishes buffet, salads and desserts besides an enormous variety of noble beef cuts. Above all, it presents a Latin American Show, where different creations add a party atmosphere to the place.

The show starts with the true Popular Brazilian Music (MPB) which fades into the enchantment of the Paraguayan harp, marvels all those present with beautiful bottle dance, shows the essence of Bolivian music, brings the Argentine tango, goes to Mexico with its “sombreros”, takes us to the lands of the Gaucho, with the fantastic presentation of the “boleaderas” and brings more attractions from folkloric Bolivia such as the “Endeablados and Carporales”.