Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil)

A small modern city, Foz lies 28 km from the falls, with a wide range of accommodation and good communications by air and road with the main cities of southern Brazil and Asunción in Paraguay. It's not a particularly attractive town, and Argentina's Puerto Iguazú makes a better base, with cheaper hotels and better access to the falls. Street crime has increased in Foz in recent years, but the inhabitants are friendly and welcoming, and there are some good places to eat.

Tourist information 

Tourists are warned not to stray from the main roads in town, not to wear jewellery, and to leave a copy of their passport in the hotel. Take taxis or tours wherever possible. Avenida Kubitschek and the streets south of it, towards the river, have a reputation as being unsafe at night as there is a favela nearby.

Sights

Apart from the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu there are a couple of other attractions. The world's largest hydroelectric dam at Lago Itaipu www.itaipu.gov.br, is quite a feat of human achievement, an interesting contrast to the natural wonder of the falls. There are also attractive artificial beaches on Lake Itaipu, Bairro de Três Lagoas and in the municipality of Santa Terezinha do Itaipu - good places for relaxing in the summer. The Parque das Aves www.parquedasaves.com.br  contains some local and Brazilian species, but most of its beautiful caged birds are from Africa and Asia. It's a picturesque setting, particularly the butterfly house, with hummingbirds whirring about, but it's far more satisfying to spot birds in the wild, or at Güira Oga on the Argentine side of the falls.