The Top Things to Do and See in Foz Do Iguaçu, Brazil

Brazilians love the beach. But in Foz it’s a long way away – or it was, until Blue Park built a white-sand strand in their huge waterpark. Everything is on tap, from the waves to the beach umbrellas and thatch-roofed bars. It’s beside a string of huge swimming pools and waterslides, with an artificial river, sports fishing and kayaking lake and dozens of fast-food booths. The park is always packed with Brazilian families so expect to queue for the attractions – especially at weekends.

When this neogothic Catholic church was completed in the early 20th century, Foz town was little more than a collection of terracotta-roofed houses on the edge of a vast forest. Priests would come to the village on horseback from Argentina to say mass and Iguaçu Falls were the second biggest in the area – after Guairá, which was drowned by the construction of the Itaípu dam. The church preserves a collection of historic photographs and has daily masses.

With a multiple frontier – there are borders with both Paraguay and Argentina – this is a special place on the Paraná River, scenically surrounded by rainforest. There’s a lookout post with great views over the turbid waters, and a selfie-suitable marker inscribed with the names of all three countries. This is set in a little park with a tinkling fountain and numerous restaurants and cafes. It’s a popular spot for sunset, after which there are tango, samba and Paraguayan dance shows.

Stuck for something to do for an hour or two on a sunny afternoon? On the western edge of the city, near the Paraná River, you’ll find Praça da Paz square: a welcoming, leafy space, inhabited by toucans and monkeys in the trees. You’ll often arrive to discover a concert or a show taking place here, and big parties over New Year and at Carnival time. Over Christmas, the park is lit up by the illuminations of an artificial Christmas Tree.

Winter barely exists in steamy Foz de Iguaçu, where night-time temperatures never drop below 10C (50F). The people here make up for it by donning thick puffer jackets and heading into Dreams for an ice-cold vodka or schnapps, sipped at tables made of solid blocks of ice. The venue claims to be the largest ice bar in the world and, at a constant -11C (12F), it’s a delicious experience in the height of summer – when Foz’s daytime temperatures can soar to 33C (91F).

The Cataratas do Iguaçu are known in Spanish as the Cataratas del Iguazú – and they’re right on the border between Brazil and Argentina. Hundreds of different-sized cascades make up the attraction, some of them enormous. The national parks on both the Argentinian and the Brazilian sides have been World Heritage sites since the 1980s, and are full of fascinating wildlife, as well as panoramic viewing points. They make a great day out – and you can visit them in various ways, whether you like hiking or would rather relax on a boat. However you take them in, you’ll find them a spectacular phenomenon – one peacefully shared by two nations.

This tranquil shrine was built by the Chinese communities of the tri-state area of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, and is considered one of the biggest centers for meditation and Buddhist study in Latin America. Roll up and you’ll discover an expansive green area for meditation and relaxation, as you contemplate the many sculptures and statues of various deities. The temple enjoys an elevated position above the city, delivering beautiful views down over Foz do Iguaçu, as well as to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. If you need a break from the big-city push and shove, this is the place to head.

The Iporã Lenda Show is upbeat and unforgettable, presenting the cultural backstories of South America’s nine countries with judicious use of extravagant costumes and changing scenery – which it does with riveting song and dance. What you’ll get is a riotous display taking in the celebrated tango moves of Argentina and the Brazilian samba, as well as beautiful South American folk music. It’s a fascinating event for anyone with a passion for the culture of this magnificent continent.

Right in the center of Foz do Iguaçu is this very beautiful building, an essay in calm white and blue established in the early 1980s. With its welcoming atmosphere, it’s a must-visit while you’re in town – visitors are able to join a guided tour once women have covered their heads and all shoes have been removed. You’ll be amazed at the amount of information you’ll digest about Islam as a religion and cultural force in the world.

These two bridges are very special indeed, connecting three countries – Foz do Iguaçu is almost on the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. To travel from Brazil to Paraguay, you have to cross the Ponte Internacional da Amizade (in English, the ‘International Bridge of Friendship’). If you want to head to Argentina,and the town of Puerto Iguazú, you have to traverse the Ponte Internacional da Fraternidade – also called the Ponte Tancredo Neves – which means ‘International Bridge of Brotherhood.’