Brazil - South/Southeast

[+ Billsboy4]

Please post info about saunas, hotels, transportation, etc. in FLORIANOPOLIS, CURITIBA, PORTO ALEGRE, BELO HORIZONTE, IGUASSU FALLS and other southern/southeastern cities here.

[+ Billsboy4]

Igassu Falls

 

While visiting Sao Paulo, I decided to take a side trip to these incredible 275 waterfalls. It is a short 80 minute flight which can be done as a nonstop from the International Airport or 1 stop from the domestic airport. I chose the Domestic because it's closer to downtown and less of a hassle. Both Varig and TAM fly there. The Falls border Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The South Americans say that they're the largest falls in the world, but I think Victoria Falls in Africa were larger....it makes Niagra look like a faucet! You can either stay on the Brazilian or Argentine side. I chose the Tropical Hotel which is right in the Brazilian National Park and you can see the Falls from the hotel because it is built about 200 ft. from one of the cataracts. The hotel is lovely and I would recommend it. One the Argentine side, there is a Sheraton which I understand is nice, but the better views are on the Brazilian side. In the hotel is a travel agency that arranged all of our touring (caribetur@fnn.net). Since we arrived in the afternoon, our first stop was Macuco Safari. It is 5 minutes from the hotel and they provide a shuttle. It costs about $35 for a tram tour of the jungle and then a thrilling motor boat ride taking you through rapids and as close as you can get to the falls (bring a towel and a raincoat or wear a bathing suit, as you get soaked). It was great fun. As our flight was leaving at 6pm the next day, we started our touring early. For $40 per person, you can have a private car with English speaking driver take you to the rest of the sites and drop you off at the airport. Our first stop was Itaipu Dam. It is the largest dam in the world (3 city blocks long and 68 stories high). It is a joint hydroelectric power project between Brazil and Paraguay. It provides 90% of the power for Paraguay and 25% of the power for Brazil. You see a film about the construction and then tour the plant. Then we went to the Argentine side, to get up close to the falls. In the National Park there is also has an Argentine BBQ which was about $10 for all you can eat. Then you can board a train which takes you to different stops and you can walk and see the falls from different vantage points. You definitely want to go to the last stop (Devils Throat) because you're so close, you can practically reach out and touch the falls (another place that you might want a raincoat). Also on the Argentine side is a Casino for those of you who like gambling. Back on the Brazilian side, we headed to downtown (which is a new city and really not much to see) and close to the airport is a Bird Park with over 900 tropical birds (150 species), butterfly house (with 30 different species), various lizards and crocs and even a few monkeys. The admission is less than $5. The admission to each National Park is about $11 and the dam is free. As you can see there's lots to do and all of it interesting and not touristy. Notice that I did not mention visiting Paraguay...which used to have good duty free shopping, but is not considered dangerous and there are no bargains. Americans do not need a Visa to visit Argentina, only your Passport and Brazilian Visa to get back into Brazil. You can do all as an overnite if you arrive early one day and leave late the next. Obviously, more days would be more leisurely and more opportunities for hiking, white water rafting, swimming, etc. It's also a very romantic spot...lots of honeymooners. It also provides a diversion from the saunas of Rio and Sao Paulo. Definitely worth the trip and not expensive.

[trilingual]

RE: Igassu Falls/Curitiba

 

Thanks for the great info! I've always heard that Iguassu is the largest waterfall in the world (never seen Victoria Falls) but can't say I've actually measured them. Too busy measuring other monumental Brazilian attractions! :9

 

Your information seems to be right on. Nobody seems to recommend visiting Ciudad del Este (Paraguay); it's supposedly dirty, crowded and there are no bargains for Europeans/North Americans. Many of the merchants in Ciudad del Este actually live on the Brazilian side, I understand. However, if anyone decides to venture over there, a first-hand report would be welcome! There may be some handicrafts there that could be interesting (Paraguay is known for a kind of lace) and I do like the typical music, played on harps and really charming!

 

Foz do Iguaçu, the main town (in Brazil) isn't known for its gay nightlife, but the online gay guide, http://www.guiagaybrasil.com.br reports at least one bar:

 

Gilles Bar Nigth

Rua Benjamim Cosntant, 108 - Centro

qua-dom / wed-sun / mie-dom

 

There are probably 500,000 people in the triple frontier area, so some of them must be gay and interested in meeting other people!

 

For the same airfare from Rio or SP to Iguassu you can usually get a free stopover in Curitiba. Visiting German friends did this, buying a hotel and citytour package for Curitiba along with their package to the falls. (BTW, Iguassu is the kind of place where you'll probably do better buying a package tour than making arrangements yourself. That's especially true if you want to stay in the national park at the Tropical, which is almost entirely booked up by tour agents.) For less than US$100 each my visiting German friends did this, staying a night in one of Curitiba's nicest hotels (the Mabu). They caught the afternoon flight from the falls back to Curitiba, hit one of the saunas, where they had a good time, and then toured the city the next day before catching their late afternoon flight back to Rio. You could also spend an extra day or two in Curitiba, especially if it's a weekend. The city is modern and very attractive, and gives you a good sense of what life is like in a non-touristy Brazilian city. There is decent gay life (although being a working city it's liveliest on the weekends), a number of worthwhile sites, including the Opera de Arame theater (magically suspended over an old rock quarry) and the new Botanical Gardens. If you have time, a ride on the Litorina train from Curitiba (which like São Paulo is up in the mountains) down to the coastal port of Paranaguá is a spectacular ride. Tours can be arranged, which will pick you up at your hotel in the a.m. to catch the train, then meet you in Paranaguá for a tour of the town, which is old and historic, lunch, and return by car to your hotel in Curitiba. If the weather is good, it's worth doing for the gorgeous scenery and views, not to mention admiring the engineering feat of building a railroad through such terrain. Curitiba isn't at all "exotic," being relatively new and having been settled mainly by European immigrants, so there are quite a few blond and blue-eyed descendants of German and Polish settlers. There was also a lot of Italian immigration to the area. This being Brazil, there's been a lot of intermingling, and whatever it is that's in the water in Brazil, it's resulted in lots of gorgeous men!

[Guest miguelmiche1]

RE: Igassu Falls/Curitiba

 

agree, litorina train from curitiba is spectacular, feat of engineering over a century ago. note does not run every day; check schedule with travel agent. but preferible option to get off in morretes since paranagua port now inoperative and best scenery before morretes. morretes small charming town where local curitibanos themselves head for the weekend so take yr curitibano friend with you.

[Guest BJohn4567]

RE: Igassu Falls/Curitiba

 

Would like to add my two cents worth. Went to Iguazzu 4 years ago. Flew into the Argentine airport and stayed at the Sheraton for three nights before crossing over border via taxi and continuing onto SP and then RIO. The Sheraton is either in the Argentine National Park or just adjacent. It's only a short walk to the myriad of cat-walks and trails among the falls. Interesting that they now have a train? It was truly unforgettable standing at the devils throat, practically within the torrent. Such awesomeness is hard to describe. I will be returning to Brazil in about two weeks and am returning to Igauzzu, this time staying at the Tropical Cataratas Hotel on the Brazilian side again for three nights. Intend to see the Bird park this time and maybe pass over into Paraguay just for the experience. Would recommend at least two nights to do this area justice.

[Guest BJohn4567]

Returned from Brazil last week. Igauzzu was second stop on itinerary after 5 days in RIO (stayed at the Atlantico Copacabana in the Atlantico Suite, 14th floor. Amount of space was amazing, but will probably opt for an executive suite next time, they being more in-line with my needs). Anyway,I was utilizing a Varig Brazil airpass, destination to destination costing about $100 including connection if necessary. Stayed at the Tropical Cataratas Hotel, way within the National Park in the Brazilian side, right at the Falls. Family oriented, accomodations started around $145/night. Good restaurants, Bar with live performances in evening. Great pool. Hotel's isolation made excursions into town (large city) not practical. Bird park (recommended) was at the park entrance, around 4-5 miles distance from the hotel. Sauna scene c boys non existent at hotel.