Foz is town very close to the
famous Iguaçu Falls, and shares a border with Argentina and
Paraguay. In Foz
you'll not only meet Brazilians, but probably also Argentinians and Paraguyans
who cross the border by bus to come to school in Brazil every day - an international town! We have a variety of Projects
available in Foz do Iguaçu.
Please go
here to select the
type of projects you think would interest you in
Foz do
Iguaçu. This page provides information about
the town of Foz do Iguaçu and the type of
accommodation that you'll stay in if you choose to do a project here.
Remember that you don't need any qualifications to
participate in a placement in Brazil.
Foz do Iguaçu
is a small Brazillian town with a population of approximately
260,000, that has grown around the famous
Iguaçu
falls. It lies on the edge of the Iguaçu river and the Paraná river, which
separate Brazil from
Argentina and Paraguay. From the centre of Foz you can reach the borders to
Argentina and Paraguay within 25 minutes. In Foz
you'll not only meet Brazilians, but probably also Argentinians and Paraguyans
who cross the border by bus to come to school in Brazil every day - an international town!
There are bars, restaurants,
cinemas and bowling to keep you entertained and mixing with the lively locals. The natural setting of the town is beautiful and the
people are friendly, accommodating and interesting to talk to. Avenida Brasil, the
centre of town, is brimming with jewellery stores, edgy boutiques, travel
agencies and a stretch of river front.
Foz do
Iguaçu
has the added bonus that it is very close to the sublime
Iguaçu
Falls. Wider than Victoria Falls, higher than Niagara and more beautiful
than both, photos and words cannot do justice to this awe inspiring feat of
nature, it must be seen and heard to be appreciated.
Foz attracts thousands of local and international visitors
each year who come to see the falls.
Most visitors spend an average of two days at the falls, seeing them from
both the Brazillian side and the Argentinean sides. The decision as to which
country offers the best side of the falls always promotes a lively debate
amongst locals, who will be determined to 'win' you over. Make sure that you
experience both sides so that you can decide for yourself! Read more about
the fallshere.
Evenings in Brazil will typically start
with dinner at around 9 or 10 pm, usually at a local 'Churrascaria'.
This is a traditional Brazillian BBQ where you'll help yourself to a
buffet of salads, pastas and potatoes. Smartly dressed waiters then
circulate the restaurant with an endless variety of flame grilled meat for
you to choose from, which will be sliced straight onto your plate. A
spoonful of Manioc flour (made from the locally grown cassava root) is then
sprinkled on top of the meat. This gives a unique, slightly salty flavouring
and is strangely moreish!
Authentic experiences such as these are a great
way to eat out affordably and provide the best opportunities to try out the
variety of Brazillian cuisine available. Dinner is commonly washed down with
a couple of beers or cocktails, and then its time to let the music take
over! Nightlife, even in the smaller regions like Foz, doesn't get going
until at least 12 am, where live music and dancing are nearly always the
focus. You'll soon find yourself picking up the infectious Samba beat!
The proximity of Argentina means that you
can also experience the traditional way of life here. Past volunteers have
even crossed the border for a night out - a good way to rack up some extra
stamps in your passport!
Foz has a subtropical climate, reaching 35ºC
in the height of summer, whilst winter is a more bearable 5ºC
- 22ºC.
To read about the extensiveSupport & Backup we provide in our countries,
please click here.
Local band Estelio Moleque playing Samba in one of Foz's live
music venues!
Sunset views across the town of Foz do Iguaçu
THE IGUAÇU (or IGUAZU or IGUASSU)
FALLS
The Iguaçu Falls is an immense
natural wonder dwarfing even Niagara Falls with its beauty and power. Among
the most spectacular sights in South America are the
Iguaçu Falls. They are
located on a stretch of the
Iguaçu River that forms the boundary between
Brazil and Argentina.
At two and a half
miles wide these horseshoe-shaped falls are four times the width of Niagara
Falls in North America. The falls divide into some 275 separate cascading
waterfalls catching the light and creating a kaleidoscope of rainbows in
their spray.
Many of the
individual falls are broken midway by protruding ledges. The deflected water
and the spray that arises cause this barrage of rainbows to glisten
ethereally over this natural majesty. From the foot of the falls, a curtain
of rainbow-colored mist rises 500 feet into the air.
In 1986 the area surrounding falls was
declared a UNESCO Natural Heritage site, and two national parks were
created on either side of the falls for the preservation of the natural
setting. Within these parks there are approximately 225 hectares of tropical
forest, with rich and varied vegetation and many endangered wildlife
species. The park entrance fee is used to maintain and preserve the area. Tourists on
the Argentine side have complete freedom of movement, whereas there are
restrictions on the Brazilian side. From the Brazilian shore, the falls can
be seen in their entirety. On the Argentinean side, boat trips taking you up
to the 'Devil's throat' are popular - even if you are wearing waterproofs
you will be drenched after being in the spray for a matter of seconds!
THINGS TO DO IN FOZ
DO
IGUAÇU
Bird Park: The bird park
in Foz
is located close to the entrance to the falls and contains
many rare and colourful birds in aviaries and enclosed walkways, enabling
you to get up close to many exotic species without netting. As well as over
500 birds there are a variety of snakes, butterflies and crocodiles.
Iguaçu Falls: As
above, make sure that you visit both the Brazillian side and the Argentinean
side. If you are feeling adventurous, there are many sporting activities on
offer at the falls. You can do a bungee jump, have a go at abseiling, try
your hand at rock climbing, hire bikes, follow a guided trail, take a
boat trip or fly across the falls on a helicopter flight!
Itaipu Dam: Visit the
huge Itaipu Dam and Hydroelectric project which altered the course of the
Paraná River. This incredible structure took 30,000 people seven years to
complete and now provides 25% of Brazil's electricity. It is the largest of
its kind in the world. The dam was built in
order to use the water from the Paraná river more effectively to help both
Brail and Paraguay have enough water for cattle, factories, industries and
crops. Millions of visitors from around the globe have taken the guided tour
to learn about the dam's construction.
In the region surrounding Foz
there is also a local golf course, water park and if you feel the need, a
casino! With the lively nightlife and variety of restaurants in Foz itself
you won't be short of things to do in this area.
Visit some of Brazil's exotic birds at the bird park in Foz
ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL PROJECTS BASED IN FOZ DO
IGUAÇU
You'll stay in a very comfortable hotel
located in the very centre of Foz, close to shopping, restaurants,
nightlife and good transport links to take you to your placement and
back again. Facilities at the hotel include; TV lounge, Internet
access, swimming pool,
kitchen facilities, central location. Bathrooms are shared. You'll more than
likely share a room with another Travellers volunteer.
Past
volunteers in Brazil have found that one of the highlights of living in
the culture is eating out locally in the evenings.
Therefore, to enable you to sample the endless variety of Brazilian dishes
while you're there, we've limited this project to breakfast only, which
will be served at the hotel.
Meals in local restaurants are
very inexpensive and you'll dine out handsomely on about £3.50 ($5),
although you could spend only £2.50 ($3) a day and still be eating well
(prices are correct at time of writing). In Foz, there are many
restaurants catering for every taste, from fast food, to traditional
BBQ's, steak houses and pizzerias! A must see during your stay is the
buffet, dance and musical show at Hotel Rafain - a performance of
traditional dances and music from 5 South American countries, with
excellent food and a great atmosphere!
To get a good 'feel' of this placement, please
read our volunteers' feedback - lots of
detailed information about living and teaching in Brazil.
The staff at the hotel are
exceptionally helpful and friendly and are excellent sources of
information about the region and where to go and what to see.
"I'm
also taking Portuguese lessons and Capoeira lessons with the other volunteers -
which Fabio [Travellers Brazil Manager]
organised for us - so I'm keeping very busy. Also
had a lot of use out of the swimming pool!"
.
+44 01903 502595
