Foz do Iguaçu sits where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet, and there is more to it than the falls. This guide is for you if you have seen them already, or have a second or third day in town. It covers the day of the week to choose, what to expect at the dam, how to dress, and whether to stay on for the evening.
Pick the right day of the week
Start with the calendar. The Marco das Três Fronteiras, the last stop, opens Tuesday to Sunday, and only from the afternoon. On a Monday we finish after lunch, or add something you choose instead. If the Three Borders matter to you, book any day but Monday.
The rest of the day is less fussy. Itaipu runs its Panoramic visits every day, starting at 08:15 and leaving about every half hour.
The order of the day follows those hours. Itaipu comes first, while the early departures are running. The bird park fills the late morning. The Marco comes after lunch, once it has opened.
Itaipu: the security check and the bus
Itaipu is the largest hydroelectric plant in the world by annual energy production, and it is a binational project shared by Brazil and Paraguay. You see it from above, not from inside.
At the visitor centre you buy your ticket for the Panoramic visit and go through a security check, with an X-ray machine and metal detectors. Treat it like an airport: carry little, and leave anything awkward in the car with your driver. Drones are not allowed, so do not plan aerial shots.
The visit itself is about an hour and ten minutes on an open-sided bus. It drives over the top of the dam and stops at two viewpoints. Because the sides are open, you feel the weather. On a wet day bring a raincoat. On a hot one, sun cream and a hat.
Do not count on seeing the spillway in action. It only runs when the reservoir has water to spare.
If you want more than the Panoramic, Itaipu also runs longer technical visits. Tell us when you book and we will plan the morning around one.
Parque das Aves at midday
The bird park is in the forest near the entrance to the national park. Its work centres on the birds of the Atlantic Forest, and the aviaries are walk-through, so the birds are around you rather than behind glass.
The walk is on paths through the forest, an easy middle stop between the dam and the river. The ticket is separate from the tour price, as is Itaipu's.
If you are also doing our falls and Parque das Aves day, you will see the bird park twice. Tell us, and we can change the plan; the itinerary can be changed on the day.
The Three Borders and the evening
After lunch in town, the day ends at the Marco das Três Fronteiras. A green and yellow obelisk stands where the Iguaçu river meets the Paraná. Across the water you see Argentina's marker in blue and white, and Paraguay's in red, white and blue. The site presents itself as a celebration of friendship between the three countries. The day stays in Brazil: you look at the other two countries across the water.
The Marco is known for its sunsets, and it stays open into the evening with a show at dusk. Our day ends back at your hotel at about 16:00. If you want to stay for the light and the show, tell us and we will price the extra time.
Weather and what to wear
Foz has a subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Most of this day is outdoors: the top of a dam, a forest walk and a riverside viewpoint.
- Light clothes and comfortable shoes for the bird park paths.
- A raincoat for wet days, since the Itaipu bus is open at the sides.
- Sun cream, a hat and water for the dam and the Marco.
- A layer for the evening if you stay on at the Marco.
Lunch is not included. Your driver will suggest a place in town, or take you wherever you choose.
Who it suits
This is a good second day for anyone who has already done the falls, and it works for people curious about engineering and borders as much as nature. Children usually enjoy the bird park most.
It is not a falls day. The falls need half a day of their own, and you will not see them properly on this route. If you have only one day in Foz, choose a falls tour instead. The Brazilian side half day is the shortest. Our guide to the Iguaçu Falls tours explains how the five days compare.
Questions people ask
Can we go inside the dam?
The Panoramic visit stays on top. For a longer technical visit, tell us when you book.
What if there are more than 16 of us?
Two vehicles travelling together on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you get a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Choose a day from Tuesday to Sunday, pack for sun and rain, and decide whether you want to stay for dusk at the Marco. Tickets for Itaipu, the bird park and the Marco are paid on the day. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the Itaipu, Parque das Aves and Three Borders tour page.
