Things to see and do Paraná

The Iguaçu National Park on the Brazilian side complements the Argentinean park to cover all the waterfalls and the regional ecosystem. From a practical point of view, the Brazilian part of the falls can be covered in half a day, which makes it possible to combine it with another activity, such as the bird park for example. After the beginning of the path, always turn right. There's a possibility to zip-line. We end up on the bridge, in the middle of the spray. Magic!

Nicknamed the "Eye Museum", it is the largest Brazilian museum dedicated to visual arts, architecture, urbanism and design. This building is an architectural marvel from Niemeyer's imagination. In 2002, an annex was added to the building, which has since become the building's landmark. Niemeyer created a kind of raised flying saucer here, with an elliptical ramp and a glass façade in which the sky is reflected. A must see

Opposite the entrance to the Iguaçu National Park, the Bird Park reconstitutes, in situ, a fragment of the formidable wealth of local biodiversity and presents birds, butterflies, or snakes evolving in a spectacular environment. One can admire the magnificent macaws, or toucans, symbols of Iguaçu. This 16-hectare park, opened in 1994, has 600 birds of 150 species. Efforts have been made to rebuild their ecological niche, although it may be reminiscent of a zoo. This visit is magnificent and indispensable, to be combined with the visit to the falls, shortly afterwards.

This garden was created in 1991 and was designed "à la française". It leads to its impressive Art Nouveau palace inspired by 19th century English crystal palaces, a postcard of the city. A grandiose greenhouse of glass and steel is surrounded by lush vegetation.

The Museu Botânico/Herbário that it houses attracts researchers and botanists from all over the world. It holds a scientific herbarium of nearly 330,000 plants, one of the most important collections in Brazil. Exhibitions on environmental issues are regularly scheduled here.

You can visit the Itaipu complex by bus, to be coupled with the falls on the Brazilian side. The Conjunto C or Itaipu Dam buses go there from the bus terminal in the center (R$ 3.20, 30 min). Installed on the Rio Paraná which separates Brazil from Paraguay, the Itaipu Dam is gigantic. It is 7.7 km long and stands 196 m high. It has 20 turbines. The last two turbines went into operation in 2007.

A bi-national project, the plant produces 91% of the electrical energy consumed in Paraguay and meets 25% of the demand of the entire Brazilian market.

In May 1974, the Itaipu Treaty led to the creation of the binational Itaipu entity, whose purpose is to build and manage the plant. The first Itaipu generating unit began producing electricity in May 1984. Thus, 10 turbines were assigned to Brazil and 10 others to Paraguay.

Today, Itaipu is the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world (even if it is no longer the largest dam since the Three Gorges Dam in China), which is why it was included in the ranking of the seven wonders of the technological world by the American magazine Popular Mechanics. The classic tour (2 hours) consists of the viewing of a documentary film in Portuguese or English. The special tour (over 14 years old, in small groups) includes a visit of the turbines with a technician, in the heart of the dam, but also the panoramic visit.

The eco-museum traces the history of the dam, from the first populations who lived there in prehistoric times to the arrival of the Guarani Indians in the region. We learn a lot about the natural ecosystems that live here and the different animal species.

The biological sanctuary shelters some animals saved before the flooding of the region when the dam was created. You can see the famous jaguar, if you are lucky! Count 2 hours for 2 km of walking in a beautiful nature, in company of the animals displaced following the construction of the dam which are in semi-liberty. It is not always easy to see them, and when it rains or is too windy the sanctuary is closed, as the animals are protecting themselves.

Tip : if you only plan to visit the panoramic tour and the eco-museum, you should know that on the Paraguay side the visit is free! It's a bit of an adventure to get there, but the experience is nice. On the other hand, if you want to visit the biological sanctuary, you will have to go to the visitors center of Foz de Iguaçu, on the Brazilian side.

This is where the Iguaçu River, into which the eponymous falls flow further upstream, joins the immense Parana River, the river that is further exploited by the binational Itaipu Dam between Paraguay and Brazil. Here we come to see the junction of the three borders: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Like Puerto Iguazú, whose centre is nearby, Foz has set up a new space to attract visitors to this corner away from the centre.

A 109.5-metre-high, rather unsightly telephone tower has been transformed into a major tourist attraction in the city. From its summit, you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the city. You can see the whole metropolitan area of Curitiba and on a clear day you can even see the mountains of the Serra do Mar. Even though Curitiba is not very touristy, the waiting line can be long because you can only get up to five people in the elevator. Small telephone museum at the entrance of the tower.

It is the extravagant Italian quarter of Santa Felicidade, 20 minutes by bus, to take Tav. Nestor de Castro, behind the cathedral. It was the neighbourhood where Italian immigrants arrived between the late th and early th centuries. It was Dona Felicidade Borges who gave this neighbourhood to the Italian colony (hence his name), who devoted himself to the production of earth products. Today Santa Felicidade is the large gastronomic district in Curitiba, where you will find several Italian restaurants of quality.

Its clock overlooking the passages is part of the postcards of the city of Curitiba. In the popular "Parisian passage" style, the Rua 24 horas is a lively pedestrian crossing, with shops and restaurants, but remains open only until 10pm, contrary to its name. It's a bit of an expression of the soul and spirit of Curitiba. We like to walk there at the end of the day. Nearby, especially at weekends, it is easy to find music groups that play concerts. From coffee to happy hour, you can have a good time.

What was only a small wooden chapel in the early 18th century became the main church of the city. It is the main church of the Archdiocese of Curitiba, built between 1876 and 1893, and the seat of the eponymous parish, which was created in 1668, when Curitiba was still a village, under the authority of the Bishopric of Rio de Janeiro. The present building dates from the end of the 19th century, in neo-Gothic style, inspired by the cathedral of Barcelona.

It's the city's main park. The Curitibenses play football, go pedal boating on the lake or have a picnic. At weekends, some spend the whole day under the trees in the middle of a huge park. There is also an automobile museum and exhibition rooms. Ideal tracks for jogging are scattered throughout this beautiful park for those who want to stay in shape. As in Pampulha, friendly capybaras are walking around the lake. You can have a drink or eat on the terraces overlooking the vast lake.

This small white church is the oldest in the town, built in 1737. In the 19th century it was the temple of the Franciscans, then in the 19th century it was the parish of Polish immigrants. It was renovated in 1880 on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Dom Pedro II. It was at this time that the tower was built. It then became the preferred place of worship for German immigrants in the region. Since its last restoration in 1980, it has been home to the Curitiba Museum of Sacred Art.

In a comical Art Nouveau style (dating from 1876), the building housed until 1969 the government palace of Paraná. Today it has several exhibitions that pay tribute to the creation of Paraná and its society. There are coins, a piano from 1843 and a collection of weapons. In the side building, on exhibition panels there are scenes of immigrants arriving in Paraná, Tupi tribes and scenes reminiscent of the riots that enamelled the history of Paraná or Curitiba.

There is another religious building in Iguaçu. A Buddhist temple, with about 120 Chinese statues, was built in 1996 by the Chinese communities of the triple border to provide the region with a place of prayer. It is frequented for its religious use. Among the most remarkable statues, a 7 m high statue of a seated Buddha, and 18 of Buddha's disciples including Kalika, Nantimitolo and Kanakavatsa. A little far from the center, we go there for the stroll, the originality of the place and the sight on the triple border from the heights.

One cannot pass to Iguaçu without seeing the big domes of the mosque Omar Ibn al Khattab. This religious building is at the height of the second Arab community of the country, constituted in majority by Siro-Lebanese. It was built in the early 1980s. The architecture is impressive to the layman and the interior is decorated with arabesques and inscriptions from the Koran. It is necessary to take off one's shoes and wear appropriate clothing. May 12 in Foz is the day of the Muslim community. There is an Arab market and many restaurants in Foz.

The park is only open in the morning and until early afternoon (closed on Tuesdays), so you have to make arrangements to avoid having to postpone your walks to a later date. As in many parks in Brazil, all visits to the park must be done with a guide. You cannot venture onto the park's trails alone, for safety and legal reasons. In case of an accident, you may not be covered by your insurance. You can book a hike by e-mail or by phone.

The Superagüi Park is administered, like most of the national parks in Brazil, by ICMBIO, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. The entrance to the park is free. It is advisable to use certified guides, duly registered with the local guide offices, for two reasons. The official local guides are trained in nature observation and will be able to present the biodiversity. They supervise the visitors in a concern of respect of the environment. Finally, they guarantee the safety of the visits.