parana tours reviews

Ilocos, Vigan and Pagudpud At Php 1950 (3D/2N)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 1850/PAX

Tour Availability: Contact us for availability

If you want to give yourself a break then try to explore the North where Ilocos is located. Ilocos has been known for its own tourist attractions. It provides you history and unique places to go. We will definitely take you to the places that you’ve never been into. Consider it “the joyride of your life”. It will take for about 11 hours for you to reach Ilocos Norte thus everything will be worth it. It talks about History since we will not just take you to Ilocos Norte you will get the chance to experience the very popular Vigan City known as the Heritage City. People in Vigan clearly shows how they value the place they we’re able to maintain the place and until now you can see old establishments and you can go for a Kalesa Ride to explore the place. It is also where you can buy souvenirs at a very low cost. Having a trip to Ilocos will give you a one stop vacation. You will not just get there to go to the beach. There are list of things to do when you get there.  You can get your skin tanned in Pagudpod White Beach, […]

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Banaue Sagada Tour Starting At Php 2499 (3D/2N)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 2499/PAX

Sagada is known as the place to be if you’re looking for a place that will make you forget the city where you are. Sagada is very sacred; It offers a whole different package compared to other places more of loving the nature and enjoying every fresh air that you can breathe in. Sagada is cold compared to Baguio because of its location. Breathe taking mountain views, sunset or sunrise view, fresh air, fresh foods and cheap price for veggies name it they have it. It has always been a lifetime experience for every single person who has gone in Sagada. There are a lot of things that you can do in Sagada with our Sagada Tour. Caving is one of the best things to do in Sagada or they call it cave connecting you got to challenge yourself to survive 4 caves. The guides in the cave are absolutely amazing that they can even guide you even if they’re blind folded. Echo valley is also a good place to go; If you can’t shout here in the City then , in Echo Valley you can shout as much as you want It is a breathe taking place; rock formations […]

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Caramoan Islands with Camsur Watersports Complex Starting at Php 3650 (3D/2N)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 3650/PAX

Need a one stop escapade? Explore Caramoan as it can give you one of the best lifetime experiences that you can have. Give yourself a break. All water adventures that you can think of are here. Caramoan is still not that main stream compared to other tourist spots here in the Philippines. It offers peaceful and organized place to stay. There are still islands within Caramoan that do not have electricity which makes it more exciting that it will let you experience being away from the city. In terms of food? Of course the choice is yours. There is a variety of delicacies that you can give a. The very popular “Bicol Express” since the people in Bicol loves spicy foods. Visiting Caramoan is basically a one stop water adventure to conquer your fears with water and do the stuff that you have never done before. It is getting very popular as it known as “the secret paradise”, white sand, skin tanned, star gazing these stuffs is just few of what you can do. Island hopping is of course one of the main thing that you shouldn’t miss; snorkeling and scuba diving which will let you deep dive into the […]

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Banaue – Batad Tour Starting At Php 2250 (2D/1N)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 2250/PAX

Batad is one of the most treasured as it is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Batad is located as well in Banaue well we all Filipino know that it is really a precious place to be taken care of until the end of time. Knowing that it is where the Rice Terraces are; it is considered as a symbol how early Filipinos showed their “BAYANIHAN”(Filipino term for helping each other). Every single person who we’re able to go here is definitely amazed of how the natives made this. The walls are made upd of mud and rocks considering the fact that more or less it was built roughly 2,000 ago. These are all hand made; made of hands that are full of creativeness and full of hope. The view is really breathe taking. The clear sunrise when you’re on top of it gives you a sign of hope and beauty and the sunset that you will see gives you the sign that no matter what happen there will be another tomorrow. Traveling in is way different in any other places. It will not be a fancy trip for you. Most people enjoys going here with their slippers on; or […]

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Cagayan Valley Tour Starting at Php 3750 (3D/2N)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 3500/PAX

Cagayan Valley is located in the Northeast of Luzon. It is known as home of the Old Spanish Churches. It shows the old sophisticated churches that was built way back ancient times by the Spaniards. Most of the time you can see it in post cards. It is also known for it’s very own “Callao Cave”. People who have been in Cagayan Valley never missed the chance of exploring the seven chambers of the Callao Cave. It is very popular since there is one chamber that was made into a cathedral which has natural holes that allows the sun rays to pass through inside the cave. As soon as you get in you will feel the cold breeze and the peaceful environment which makes it solemn. Each chamebrs is composed of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites particularly in the deeper chambers of it. Stunning rock formations that you need to figure out yourself and be amazed. There are walls that looks like made of crystals. This has been preserve and well taken care of by the natives. There are also some parts of the caves that you can see remains from the past. Another pride of the North will be the Anguib Beach […]

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Bolinao with Hundred Islands Tour Starting at Php 2350 (2D/1N)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 2350/PAX

Hundred Islands National Park located in Pangasinan. Though there are only three main islands that serves as the main attraction for the tourists namely: Quezon, Governor and Children. Tho some islands are privately owned there are some resorts that can accommodate tourists and island activities – name it they have. Island hopping is one of the best thing that you can do in Hundred Islands while you’re there so as snorkeling. Beautiful coral reefs that lies below the sea and numerous fishes taht ahs differnet colors. In general is a belief that these islands are already 2,000 years old. Governor Island – It is considered as on eof the largest island amongst the rest of the island. Considering the fact that the island offers white sand beach and probably the entry point for the island hopping to start of. Note : there are some convinience stores that youc an find. Quezon Island – This is one of the main three islands where giant clams cand be found also, tourist can enjoy kayak, snorkeling and enjoy the water whole day. Children Island – locals call it that way for the fact that eventhough it is already high tide the water would only go up until […]

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Mt Pinatubo Day Tour Starting At Php 2300 (Daytour)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 2300/PAX

Max Attendees: 10

It was way back year 1991 when Mt. Pinatubo erupted It almost covered the land of Luzon with the ashes; it became a history on it’s own. A lot of people lose their home and a billions worth of crops we’re damaged. But this time Mt. Pinatubo takes the title as one of the best getaway place that you can be of if you want a day tour. It’s colored blue green lake water holds the bauty of it’s own. Ironically, before it was a disaster but now It’s a treasure. Yes it holds the past but it’s own beauty covers the scars of the past. It’s quite adventurous to go up in the crater because you need to do trekking which is exciting. View from the top will let you witness the breathe taking scenery of the crater and the lake. Take a chance to pass by the lahar river, sands and rocks. It can really be challenging during the trek to reach the crater but It is guaranteed that It’s worth it. But don’t worry because there will be a 4 x 4 jeep ride to Mt Pinatubo via skyway that can give you a ride to Mt. Pinatube via […]

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Zoobic Safari and Treetop Adventure Starting At Php 1500 (Day Tour)

Tour Price Starts At: PHP 1500/PAX

Subic used to be a naval port for the Spaniards way back which was conquered by the Americans way back 1899. Although until now Subic is where the Americans and Filipino soldiers conduct their military activities. There are a lot of reasons to love Subic itself; duty free shopping stores, the nightlife, the restaurants but above all these do not miss to experience It’s very own Safari and the Treetop Adventure. It’s only Subic where you can find a close to real Safari experience. Zoobic Safari is where you can find numerous kind of animals from the most tame animals and the most exotic ones. It is a 25 hectare land which can give a lifetime experience with your family or friends. Get closer to the animals; experience feeding them and interacting with them. Zoobic Safari is well equiped to handle these kind of activities and full of precautions for the tourists. Being in Zoobic will let you feel like you are in a real Sfafari Adventure. Experience getting a close encounter ith the tiger while inside the Safari jeep (definitely safe for the activity). Take pictures of you interacting with the animals. Think of yourself feeding the tiger with […]

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Group Tour Packages

If you want to give yourself a break then try to explore […]

Starts at PHP 1850/PAX

Sagada is known as the place to be if you’re looking for […]

Starts at PHP 2499/PAX

Need a one stop escapade? Explore Caramoan as it can give you […]

Starts at PHP 3650/PAX

THE 10 BEST State of Parana Tours & Excursions

Tours in state of parana.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Full Day Iguassu Falls Both Sides - Brazil and Argentina

2. Private Tour: 2Day to Both Sides of Iguazu Falls

3. Private tour of both sides in a day (Brasil and Argentina Falls)

4. Panoramic Helicopter Flight over Iguassu Falls

5. Private Day trip: Both sides of Iguazu Falls

6. Day Tour Iguassu Falls Both Sides -Argentina and Brazil

7. Private Day Tour both Brazilian & Argentinean sides of the iguassu falls 8 h

8. Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour Brazil and Argentina

9. Private tour on both sides of Iguazu waterfalls

10. Touristic Train ride to the historical Morretes city with lunch

11. Foz Ferris Wheel with Triple Border View

12. Vila Velha City Tour

13. Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu

14. Iguassu Falls Brazilian Side: Macuco Safari, Helicopter Flight and Bird Park

15. Brazilian Falls With Macuco Safari Boat

16. Private Tour Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls

17. Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour

18. 2-Days Private Brasil & Argentina Iguassu Falls Experience

19. Tour to Iguassu Falls Argentinean Side

20. Paraguay Experience

21. Full-Day Trip to Iguazú National Park with Small-Group

22. 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour

23. Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls Brazil and Argentina

24. Iguassu Falls Panoramic Helicopter Flight

25. Guided Expedition with Canoeing and Waterfalls in Iguaçu

26. Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls - Optional Boat Ride

27. Day Trip to the Argentinian Side of Iguassu Falls from Foz do Iguaçu

28. Private City Tour - Top Postcards from Curitiba by Pinheiro Turismo

29. Full-day tour in Curitiba

30. Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included

What travellers are saying.

Parana Private Tours & Local Tour Guides

Discover things to do and plan a trip to parana, brazil with a local guide, popular parana tour guides.

Mohamed amine E.

Hi i'm mohamed-amine please call me amine. i was born in morocco but have worked and living in brazil for nearly 20 years. i'm very familiar with the many sightseeing spots and attractions of the country thanks to my long-term life experience in this city. brazil is a fascinating and picturesque country visited by more then 10 millions tourists every year. i have guided many foreign tourists as an english & french-speaking tour guide for the past lasts years. so after serval years i decide to open my own travel agency to make people discovering this wonderful country through tailor made guided tours. i like to make people happy. moreover, i am interested in brazilian history, culture, and geography, and i also like intercultural exchanges i can show you the best of brazil not only popular historical sites and relics but also hidden spots which only locals know. i always enjoy guiding every tourist with my best hospitality. when you have a chance to visit brazil, please contact me anytime and join one of my tours                                                                                                                                  , parana private tour guide, brazil must read articles.

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THE 10 BEST State of Parana Tours & Excursions

State of parana tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Full Day Iguassu Falls Both Sides - Brazil and Argentina

2. Private Tour: 2Day to Both Sides of Iguazu Falls

3. Private tour of both sides in a day (Brasil and Argentina Falls)

4. Panoramic Helicopter Flight over Iguassu Falls

5. Private Day trip: Both sides of Iguazu Falls

6. Day Tour Iguassu Falls Both Sides -Argentina and Brazil

7. Private Day Tour both Brazilian & Argentinean sides of the iguassu falls 8 h

8. Excursion to both sides of Iguaçu Falls on the same day.

9. Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour Brazil and Argentina

10. Private tour on both sides of Iguazu waterfalls

11. Touristic Train ride to the historical Morretes city with lunch

12. Vila Velha City Tour

13. Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu

14. Iguassu Falls Brazilian Side: Macuco Safari, Helicopter Flight and Bird Park

15. Brazilian Falls With Macuco Safari Boat

16. Private Tour Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls

17. Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour

18. 2-Days Private Brasil & Argentina Iguassu Falls Experience

19. Tour to Iguassu Falls Argentinean Side

20. Paraguay Experience

21. Complete Tour to Ilha do Mel

22. Full-Day Trip to Iguazú National Park with Small-Group

23. 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour

24. Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls Brazil and Argentina

25. Iguassu Falls Panoramic Helicopter Flight

26. Guided Expedition with Canoeing and Waterfalls in Iguaçu

27. Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls - Optional Boat Ride

28. Day Trip to the Argentinian Side of Iguassu Falls from Foz do Iguaçu

29. Private City Tour - Top Postcards from Curitiba by Pinheiro Turismo

30. Full-day tour in Curitiba

What travelers are saying.

Iguazu Falls Tour

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Private day tour to Iguazu Falls Brazil, Bird Park and Itaipu Dam

Full-Day Private Tour to Iguazu Falls Argentina

Half-Day Private Tour to Iguazu Falls in Brazil

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Iguazu Falls Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Paraná, immediately to the south of São Paulo, has become one of Brazil’s wealthiest and most dynamic states. Its agricultural economy is based on a mix of efficient family farms and highly capitalized, larger land holdings, while its modern industries, unlike those of so many other parts of the country, have been subject to at least limited planning and environmental controls. The state’s population is ethnically extremely diverse, and largely comprised of the descendants of immigrants. All of this combines to give Paraná something of the feel of an American Midwestern state transplanted to the subtropics.

Linha Turismo

Getting to parana, parana travel infomation, getting around parana, accommodation in parana, eating in parana, parana drinking and nightlife, poles in paraná, paranaguá bay, south-central paraná, the iguaçu falls and around.

For several decades after breaking away from São Paulo in 1853, Paraná’s economy remained based on pig-raising, timber extraction and erva maté (a bush whose leaves are used to make a tea-like beverage), and in its early years the province was only linked to the rest of Brazil by a network of trails along which cattle and mules passed between Rio Grande do Sul’s grasslands and the mines and plantations of the northern provinces. Paraná was sparsely populated by Indians, Portuguese and mixed-race caboclos, who worked on the latifúndios, scratched a living as semi-nomadic subsistence farmers or, on the coast, fished.

Then, the provincial government turned to immigration as a means to expand Paraná’s economy and open up land for settlement. The first immigrant colonies of British, French, Swiss and Icelanders were utter failures, but from the 1880s onwards, others did rather better. As mixed farmers, coffee or soya producers, Germans moved northwards from Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina; Poles and Italians settled near the capital, Curitiba; Ukrainians centred themselves in the south, especially around Prudentópolis; Japanese spread south from São Paulo, settling around Londrina and Maringá; and a host of smaller groups, including Dutch, Mennonites, Koreans, Russian “Old Believers” and Danube-Swabians established colonies elsewhere with varying success rates. Thanks to their isolation, the immigrants’ descendants have retained many of their cultural traditions, traditions that are only gradually being eroded by the influences of television and radio, the education system and economic pressures that force migration to the cities or to new land in distant parts of Brazil. Nevertheless, this multi-ethnic blend still lends Paraná its distinct character and a special fascination.

Unless you’re heading straight for the Iguaçu waterfalls, Curitiba makes a good base from which to start exploring the region. Transport services fan out in all directions from the state capital and there’s plenty to keep you occupied in the city between excursions. Paranaguá Bay can be visited as a day-trip from Curitiba, but its islands and colonial towns could also easily take up a week or more of your time. Inland, the strange geological formations of Vila Velha are usually visited from Curitiba – by changing buses in Ponta Grossa, you can stop off here before heading west to the Ukrainian-dominated region around the towns of Prudentópolis and Irati, and from there head yet further west to Foz do Iguaçu.

Travel ideas for Brazil, created by local experts

9 days  / from 2042 USD

Brazilian Beaches: Copacabana, Botafogo and more

Begin at Foz do Iguaçu, where you will stand in awe of the huge Iguaçu Falls. Next up, we'll head to the lively city of Rio de Janeiro, home of the legendary Copacabana, Botafogo and Flamengo beaches, and of course, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

10 days  / from 1700 USD

Blissful Brazil

Welcome to a lavish journey that marries adventure with style, featuring stays in carefully chosen four-star hotels. This reinvigorating trip will have you sightseeing in São Paulo, gazing at the spectacular Foz do Iguaçu falls and relaxing on Rio's finest beaches before you know it.

10 days  / from 2683 USD

Breathtaking Brazil: Rio, Beaches and Waterfalls

Explore the lively city of Rio de Janeiro, home to Ipanema and Copacabana beaches; experience the stunning Foz do Iguaçu National Park and see the world’s largest waterfalls system; immerse yourself in cultural Salvador, the magnificent former capital of Portugal’s New World colony.

If you have limited time in Curitiba, an excellent way to view the city’s main attractions is to take a bus tour. Buses of the Linha Turismo depart from Praça Tiradentes every half-hour year-round (Tues–Sun; first bus leaves here at 9am, last bus 5.30pm; R$16) and stop at 25 attractions around the city centre and suburbs. The bus takes just over two hours to complete the itinerary, but tickets allow passengers to get off at five of the stops and rejoin the tour on a later bus.

Curitiba is easy to reach from all parts of Brazil and, once here, you’ll find yourself in a Brazilian city at its most efficient. Flights from most major Brazilian cities as well as Argentina and Paraguay arrive at the modern airport (t 41/3381-1515), about 45 minutes southeast of the city centre. The airport features a good range of shops (including several excellent local handicraft shops), car rental desks, a post office, banks and ATMs. Taxis from the airport to the centre charge R$60, or take a minibus (R$8; every half-hour) marked “Aeroporto” (in the centre, minibuses stop at Shopping Estação, Rua 24 Horas, the Teatro Guaíra and outside the rodoferroviária – the combined name for the adjacent bus and train stations).

The rodoferroviária (t 41/3320-3000) is about ten blocks southeast of the city centre. The only remaining passenger trains to Curitiba run along the line from Morretes and Paranaguá, which has become a major tourist attraction. From the rodoferroviária, it takes about twenty minutes to walk to the centre, or there’s a minibus from almost in front of the station: catch it at the intersection of Avenida Presidente Afonso Camargo and Avenida Sete de Setembro, to the left of the entrance to the station’s drive.

SETUR, the state tourist information organization, has its headquarters near the Palácio Iguaçu at Rua Deputado Mário de Barros 1290, on the third floor of Edifício Caetano Munhoz da Rocha (Mon–Fri 9am–6pm; t 41/3254-6933). They keep up-to-date information on changes to rail and boat schedules and provide useful maps of trails in state parks; many of the employees speak English. For information specifically on Curitiba, go to the well-organized municipal tourist office in the historic centre on Rua da Glória 362 (Mon–Fri 8am–midnight, Sat & Sun 8am–10pm; t 41/3352-8000); there are other branches in the rodoferroviária (Mon–Fri 8am–noon & 2–6pm, Sat 8am–2pm) and in Rua 24 Horas (daily 8am–midnight), though they can keep rather erratic hours.

Curitiba is small enough to be able to walk to most places within the city centre. For exploring outlying areas, there’s an extremely efficient municipal bus network that’s considered the envy of all other Brazilian cities. In the city centre, the two main bus terminals are at Praça Tiradentes and Praça Rui Barbosa, from where buses (R$1.80) head out into the suburbs as well as to neighbouring municípios. Taxis are easy to come by and, as distances are generally small, they’re not too expensive.

If your sole reason for being in Curitiba is to catch the dawn train to the coast, you’re best off staying at the youth hostel or at one of the numerous cheap and mid-range hotels within a few minutes’ walk of the rodoferroviária. Otherwise, places in the centre are widely scattered but within walking distance of most downtown attractions and generally remarkable value.

Given Curitiba’s prosperity and its inhabitants’ diverse ethnic origins, it’s not surprising that there’s a huge range of restaurants here, with the historic centre and Batel, an upscale inner-city suburb, being particular areas of concentration. There’s an excellent selection of produce available at the Mercado Municipal at Av. Sete de Setembro 1865. For superb cakes, it’s well worth the trek out to the Bosque João Paulo II where there’s an excellent Polish tearoom, the Kawiarnia Krakowiak. For superb Italian-style ice cream as well as delicious sandwiches, cakes and coffee, try Marcolini, Alameda Dr Carlos de Carvalho 1181, near Praça Espanha in Batel or, a few doors away at no. 1175, Freddo Gelateria has equally good ice cream; both are open Sunday and Monday until 9pm and Tuesday to Saturday until 11pm.

During the late afternoon and early evening locals congregate in the pavement cafés at the Praça Osório end of Rua das Flores, but as the evening progresses the historic centre comes to life, its bars, restaurants and theatres attracting a mainly young and well-heeled crowd. On Praça Garibaldi, and the streets extending off it, there are numerous bars, many with live music – typically Brazilian rock music, jazz and what seem to be parodies of country and western. Also in the historic centre, several small bars popular with students dot Rua Mateus, just off the Largo da Ordem.

The wealthy inner-city suburb of Batel also has a considerable number of bars, with a particular concentration on Alameda Presidente Taunay at the intersection of Alameda Dr Carlos de Carvalho. Especially worth checking out are Bar Curityba with live jazz most evenings, Slánte Irish Pub for live rock and the Kaffee Bar for more mellow piano and guitar sounds.

During the winter, the Teatro Guaíra at Praça Santos Andrade, across from the Federal University, has a varied schedule of theatre, ballet and classical music. With three excellent auditoriums, the Guaíra is justified in its claim to be one of the finest theatres in Latin America and is often host to companies from the rest of Brazil, and even international tours.

The ethnic group most often associated with Paraná is the Poles, who settled in tightly knit farming communities around Curitiba in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Poles migrated to Brazil in three main waves: the smallest number between 1869 and 1889, the largest during the period of so-called “Brazil fever” that swept Poland and the Ukraine between about 1890 and 1898, and the next-largest contribution in the years just before World War I. Most of the Poles settling in the vicinity of Curitiba arrived in the 1880s with subsequent immigrants settling further afield in south-central Paraná.

Well into the twentieth century, the Polish community was culturally isolated, but as Curitiba expanded, absorbing many of the old farming settlements, assimilation accelerated. Today the lives of most of the approximately one million paranaenses of Polish origin are indistinguishable from those of their non-Polish neighbours. In recent years, however, there has been a revival of interest in people’s Polish heritage, and, wherever there are large concentrations of Poles, Polish language classes, folk dance and music groups are being established to preserve or revive folk traditions.

Sweeping down from the plateau upon which Curitiba lies, the dramatic mountain range known as the Serra do Mar has long been a formidable barrier separating the coast of Paraná from the interior. Until 1885 only a narrow cobblestone road connected Curitiba to the coast and Paranaguá Bay, and it took two days for mules and carts to cover the 75km from what was, at the time, the main port, Antonina. In 1880, work began on the construction of a rail line between Curitiba and Paranaguá, a port capable of taking much larger vessels than Antonina could. Completed in 1885, this remains a marvel of late nineteenth-century engineering and the source of much local pride, as it is one of the country’s few significant rail lines developed with Brazilian finance and technology. Sufferers of vertigo be warned: the line grips narrow mountain ridges, traverses 67 bridges and viaducts and passes through fourteen tunnels as the trains gradually wind their way down to sea level (see Paranaguá Bay). Passing through the Parque Estadual de Marumbi on a clear day the views are absolutely spectacular, and the towering Paraná pines at the higher altitudes and the subtropical foliage at lower levels are unforgettable. The charming colonial town of Morretes, near the foot of the mountain range, is a good base for exploring the surrounding area.

In Paraná’s coastal towns (in particular Morretes, Antonina and Paranaguá), Barreado, the region’s equivalent of feijoada, appears on most restaurants’ menus. This speciality, a convenience dish that can provide food for several days and requires little attention while cooking, used only to be eaten by the poor during Carnaval, but is now enjoyed throughout the year. Traditionally, barreado is made of beef, bacon, tomatoes, onion, cumin and other spices, placed in successive layers in a large clay urn, covered and then barreada (sealed) with a paste of ash and farinha (manioc flour), and then slowly cooked in a wood-fired oven for twelve to fifteen hours. Today pressure cookers are sometimes used (though not by the better restaurants), and gas or electric ovens almost always substitute for wood-fired ones. Barreado is served with farinha, which you spread on a plate; place some meat and gravy on top and eat with banana and orange slices. Though tasty enough, barreado is very heavy and a rather more appropriate dish for a chilly winter evening than for summer and Carnaval, as originally intended.

Propelled since the 1980s into the position of Brazil’s third most important port for exports, PARANAGUÁ has now lost most of its former character. Founded in 1585, it is one of Brazil’s oldest cities, but only recently have measures been undertaken to preserve its colonial buildings. While both Antonina and Morretes boast less of interest than Paranaguá, they have at least remained largely intact and retain instantly accessible charm. Paranaguá doesn’t, though the parts worth seeing are conveniently concentrated in quite a small area, which means you can spend a few diverting hours here between boats, trains or buses.

Colégio dos Jesuítas

Just beyond the market, Paranaguá’s most imposing building, the fortress-like Colégio dos Jesuítas, overlooks the waterfront. Construction of the college began in 1698, sixteen years after the Jesuits were invited by Paranaguá’s citizens to establish a school for their sons. Because it lacked a royal permit, however, the authorities promptly halted work on the college until 1738, when one was at last granted and building recommenced. In 1755 the college finally opened, only to close four years later with the Jesuits’ expulsion from Brazil. The building was then used as the headquarters of the local militia, then as a customs house, and today is home to the Museu de Arqueologia e Etnología. The stone-built college has three floors and is divided into 28 rooms and a yard where the chapel stood, until it was destroyed by a fire in 1896. None of the museum’s exhibits relate to the Jesuits, concentrating instead on prehistoric archeology, Indian culture and popular art. The displays of local artefacts are of greatest interest, and there are some fine examples of early agricultural implements and of the basketry, lace-making and fishing skills of the Tupi-Guaraní Indians, early settlers and caboclos.

The Ilha do Mel and the southeast coast

To the east of Paranaguá are Paraná’s main beach resorts, principally attracting visitors from Curitiba seeking open sea and all the familiar comforts of home. The surrounding countryside is relentlessly flat and the beaches can’t really compare with those of Santa Catarina or, for that matter, most other parts of Brazil. There is, however, one notable exception, the Ilha do Mel, which, despite being Paraná’s most beautiful island, has been protected from tourism’s worst effects by being classified as an ecological protection zone – the number of visitors to the island is limited to five thousand per day, building is strictly regulated and the sale of land to outsiders is carefully controlled.

The hilly – and in places almost mountainous – region of south-central Paraná makes a good stopover between Curitiba and the Iguaçu Falls for anyone interested in European, especially Ukrainian, immigration. As none of the towns in the region are especially distinctive, it’s better to use them more as bases from which to visit nearby villages and hamlets where the pioneering spirit of the inhabitants’ immigrant forebears remains. The houses, made of wood and sometimes featuring intricately carved details, are typically painted in bright colours and are usually surrounded by flower-filled gardens. Because of the ethnic mix, even small villages contain churches of several denominations; most hamlets have at least a chapel with someone on hand to open it up to the rare visitor.

Ukrainians in Paraná

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, European and North American companies were contracted to construct a rail line linking the state of São Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul. As part payment, large tracts of land were given to the companies and, as in the United States and the Canadian West, they subdivided their new properties for sale to land-hungry immigrants who, it was hoped, would generate traffic for the rail line. Some of the largest land grants were in south-central Paraná, which the companies quickly cleared of the valuable Paraná pine trees that dominated the territory. Settlers came from many parts of Europe, but the companies were especially successful in recruiting Ukrainians, and between 1895 and 1898, and 1908 and 1914, over 35,000 immigrants arrived in the Ukraine’s “other America”. Today, there are some 300,000 Brazilians of Ukrainian extraction, of whom eighty percent live in Paraná, largely concentrated in the southern centre of the state.

As most of the immigrants came from the western Ukraine, it’s the Ukrainian Catholic rather than the Orthodox Church that dominates; throughout the areas where Ukrainians and their descendants are gathered, onion-domed churches and chapels abound. While the Roman Catholic hierarchy, in general, is gradually becoming sensitive to the need to concentrate resources on social projects rather than in the building of more churches, new Ukrainian Catholic churches are proliferating in ever more lavish proportions, sometimes even replacing beautiful wooden churches built by the early immigrants. In Brazil, the Ukrainian Catholic Church is extremely wealthy, and its massive landholdings contrast greatly with the tiny properties from which the vast majority of the poverty-stricken local population eke out a living. Priests are often accused of attempting to block measures that will improve conditions: they are said to fear that educational attainment, modernization and increased prosperity will lessen the populace’s dependence on the Church for material and spiritual comfort, so reducing their own influence.

The Ukrainians’ neighbours (caboclos, Poles, Germans, and a few Italians and Dutch) frequently accuse them and their priests of maintaining a cultural exclusiveness. While intercommunal tensions certainly exist, the few non-Brazilian visitors to this part of Paraná are treated with the utmost civility, and if your Portuguese (or Ukrainian – the language is still universally spoken, in rural areas at least, by people of all ages) is up to it, you should have no problem finding people in the region’s towns and hamlets who will be happy to talk about their traditions and way of life.

Serra do Tigre

Without any doubt, the most interesting and most eye-catching Ukrainian church in Paraná is in SERRA DO TIGRE, a small settlement south of Mallet that still retains much of its Ukrainian character. Built in 1904, Igreja de São Miguel Arcanjo, spectacularly positioned high upon a mountain top near the heart of the village, is the oldest Ukrainian Catholic church in Paraná. In traditional fashion, the church was constructed totally of wood – including, even, the roof tiles – and both the exterior and the elaborately painted interior frescoes are carefully maintained as a state monument.

The Iguaçu Falls are, unquestionably, one of the world’s great natural phenomena. To describe their beauty and power is a tall order, but for starters cast out any ideas that Iguaçu is some kind of Niagara Falls transplanted south of the equator – compared to Iguaçu, with its total of 275 falls that cascade over a precipice 3km wide, Niagara is a ripple. But it’s not the falls alone that make Iguaçu so special: the vast surrounding subtropical nature reserve – in Brazil the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (w www.cataratasdoiguacu.com.br), in Argentina the Parque Nacional Iguazú (w www.iguazuargentina.com) – is a timeless haunt that even the hordes of tourists fail to destroy.

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1. Full Day Iguassu Falls Both Sides - Brazil and Argentina

2. Private Tour: 2Day to Both Sides of Iguazu Falls

3. Private tour of both sides in a day (Brasil and Argentina Falls)

4. Panoramic Helicopter Flight over Iguassu Falls

5. Private Day trip: Both sides of Iguazu Falls

6. Day Tour Iguassu Falls Both Sides -Argentina and Brazil

7. Private Day Tour both Brazilian & Argentinean sides of the iguassu falls 8 h

8. Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour Brazil and Argentina

9. Private tour on both sides of Iguazu waterfalls

10. Touristic Train ride to the historical Morretes city with lunch

11. Piece of Holland Full-Day Tour in the Interior of Paraná

12. Vila Velha City Tour

13. Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu

14. Iguassu Falls Brazilian Side: Macuco Safari, Helicopter Flight and Bird Park

15. Brazilian Falls With Macuco Safari Boat

16. Foz Ferris Wheel with Triple Border View

17. Private Tour Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls

18. Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour

19. 2-Days Private Brasil & Argentina Iguassu Falls Experience

20. Tour to Iguassu Falls Argentinean Side

21. Paraguay Experience

22. Full-Day Trip to Iguazú National Park with Small-Group

23. 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour

24. Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls Brazil and Argentina

25. Iguassu Falls Panoramic Helicopter Flight

26. Guided Expedition with Canoeing and Waterfalls in Iguaçu

27. Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls - Optional Boat Ride

28. Day Trip to the Argentinian Side of Iguassu Falls from Foz do Iguaçu

29. Private City Tour - Top Postcards from Curitiba by Pinheiro Turismo

30. Full-day tour in Curitiba

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