As an excellent complement to the natural attractions of the region, Foz offers the traveler a range of entertainment options, as well as the purchase of typical Brazilian textile products (on the famous Avenida Brasil in the city center).

DAILY

Tropicana Bird Park
An immense variety of native and exotic birds, in a natural environment, specially adapted to hold birds of great beauty and color in the best conditions. A few meters from the entrance to the National Park.

Schedule: from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Three Frontiers Marker
As on the Argentine side, a marker has been built at the junction of the Rivers Iguazu and Paranato show the point where three countries meet.

Municipal Zoo
In the center of the city, on Avenida JK, is the zoo in which beautiful animals from the region can be found. One that is particularly beautiful is the black yaguareté. Entrance is free. Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00 hours.

Helicopter Trips
Flying over the Waterfalls in a helicopter is one of the activities that make it possible to observe all the geography of this magnificent paradise. The Helisul Company leaves from its heliport, located on Avenida de las Cataratas, on the road to the National Park. Tickets cost US$ 70 per person, for a seven-minute flight.

Acquamania Water Park
This park is open from October to March, with big slides and pools for all ages. It is located on Avenida das Cataratas, Km 6.
Schedule: from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Artesanato Tres Fronteiras [Three Frontiers Crafts Fair]
This space is devoted to the sale of regional handcrafts, items of semi-precious stone, and pieces carved in wood and stone. Souvenirs with a range of types and prices can be found in the Crafts Fair. It is located on Avenida das Cataratas, Km 9.
Schedule: from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Itaipú Hydroelectric Dam
This dam on the River Paranais one of the largest constructions in the world. Built on the border of Brazil and Paraguay, with an installed capacity of 12,600 MW, it is responsible for generating 25% of the electricity consumed in Brazil, and 95% of that of Paraguay.

Itaipú -"the land that sings", in Guaranilanguage - is the result of a treaty signed on April 26, 1973 between Brazil and Paraguay establishing that the energy produced by the hydroelectric power station should be divided equally between the two countries. Building started on the station in 1975, and was ended in 1991.

40,000 workers were involved in its construction, and 9,600 dwellings were built for them on both banks of the Parana, as well as hospitals and schools. The reservoir flooded an area 1,350 square kilometers, and contains 29 billion cubic meters of water.

The generating station has 18 turbines of 700,000 KW each. The main dam is 1,406 meters in length, and has a height of 185 meters, equivalent to a 62-storey building.

The total length of the different dams is eight kilometers, and the water flowing through the sluice gate is the equivalent of 30 times the volume of water of the Iguazu Falls, i.e., 58,000 cubic meters per second. It is thus the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.

Thanks to this extraordinary engineering work, Itaipú has become a great tourist attraction in Foz de Iguaçu. Videos are shown and there is an interesting guided tour through the installations, giving the visitor a fine panoramic view from the central lookout point towards the lake formed by the dam. They can also see the diversion canal, the laborers' mural, and the workers' wood, where every employee after 15 years work in the company plants a tree.

In addition, in the area of the lake there is considerable tourist activity including sailing activities and sports fishing.

Surprising figures

• The building rate of Itaipú was equivalent to the construction of a 20-storey building every 55 minutes.
• With the total volume of concrete poured in the construction of Itaipú, 210 stadiums like the Maracaná in Río de Janeiro (one of the world's largest soccer stadiums) could have been built.
• The total volume of earth and rock excavated in Itaipú is equivalent to more than twice the volume of the Sugar Loaf Mountain in Río de Janeiro.
• The iron and steel used in the construction of the power station would be enough to build the Eiffel Tower in Paris 380 times over.
• The Itaipú sluice gate discharges 62 million liters a second, 40 times more than the average flow of the Iguazu Falls.

NIGHTLIFE

Iguassu Boulevard Entertainment Center
With a wide gastronomy offer, a cinema, ten modern-technology bowling alleys, a cyber café, bingo, musical shows and an outdoors beer garden, this entertainment center offers an interesting option for leisure time.
Operating timetable: noon to 11 p.m.

Oba-Oba Brazilian Samba Mulatto Show
With its show of the different Brazilian dance varieties and its beautiful mulatas (half-castes), it affords a delightful moment while one savors a caipirinha.
Show timetable: 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Closed on Mondays

Golf
In the city of Foz do Iguaçu stands the Iguassu Golf Club & Resort, only 5 km from Puerto Iguazu. With its five-star hotel infrastructure, this magnificent new resort (1997) has an 18-hole course.

The Clubhouse offers a sauna, changing rooms, Pro Shop, tennis courts, basketball, volleyball, a pool, fishing, archery and soccer. It also has a covered and floodlit driving range. Clubs, shoes and carts are for hire, and caddies are available as well as golf classes.

A little further away, the similarly sized ParanaCountry Club offers players every convenience.