Anyone who thinks that going to the Iguaçu National Park, in Foz do Iguaçu (PR), is a program that is limited to enjoying the impressive mass of water of the falls that attract around 1.9 million visitors annually may start to change their mind. . On October 31st, the Ytepopo Trail was inaugurated, a 5-kilometer route along the Iguaçu River that is the first project to emerge from the ambitious plan to implement 77 kilometers of trails in the park area.
“The great difference of this trail is that it borders the Iguaçu River from Porto Canoas to Caminho das Bananeiras, from which the visitor can connect with the falls”, says Marcelo Skaff, technical director of Urbia, who has been working for a year and nine months ago, through a consortium with Cataratas SA, it won the concession for the park for 30 years.
“The park has been completely revitalized in its structures, signage, etc. and now we have started the actual works, mainly focused on the trails, many of which already exist but were closed, and the cycle path of just over 10 kilometers that will have more accessible terrain to every public profile than the current Poço Preto, which is more rustic, with more climbs”, continues Skaff.
The Poço Preto trail is nine kilometers one way and another nine kilometers back. “You go out on a dirt road, the cycle path has another purpose, it’s more fun, for everyone, while Poço Preto is more challenging for those who are not used to cycling”, explains the executive. “We are encouraging active mobility.”
The name Ytepopo comes from Tupi-Guarani, the traditional language of the original people who inhabited the Iguaçu National Park region, and was how the natives named the site of the Iguaçu Falls. Etymology says that “Y” is “river” or “water”, “te” is a connecting syllable and “po” is “jump”. Repetition has a superlative meaning, representing intensity or quantity, that is, “river that jumps and jumps”, “river that jumps”, “river that jumps a lot” or “river with many jumps”. As we know, there is no shortage of water splashing everywhere — and a lot of it — there.
The Ytepopo Trail can be used every day, from 9am to 2:30pm. Entrance is included in regular park admission. And it’s worth remembering that, as for all trails and nature areas, it is recommended to wear appropriate clothing for physical activities, light and comfortable, as well as closed-toe shoes. It is also recommended to apply sunscreen and repellent, along with items such as a hat and glasses.
In addition to Ytepopo, Skaff explains that the next trails will have different profiles, classified by difficulty levels according to the ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) table. “This classification varies depending not only on the difficulty of the trail, but on the level of interventions, such as a bridge that we don’t exactly put in place to offer the challenge of crossing a river, for example.” Thus, they will be offered from the current Caminho das Bananeiras and Caminho das Cataratas, which are around 1.2 kilometers, to more challenging routes of up to 16 kilometers.
However, for those who still prefer to limit their visit to the landscape of the falls, the park also offers some different options, such as visits at dawn, sunset and at night, which include, respectively, breakfast, cocktails and dinner.
Service
Park access fees:
- Visitors from Brazil and Mercosur: R$91
- (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela).
- Integral: R$ 100.
- (Foreigners)
- Community Pass: R$19.
- (For residents of Foz do Iguaçu, Santa Terezinha de Itaipu, São Miguel, Medianeira, Serranópolis do Iguaçu, Matelândia, Ramilândia, Céu Azul, Vera Cruz do Oeste, Santa Tereza do Oeste, Lindoeste, Santa Lúcia, Capitão Leônidas Marques and Capanema)
Experiences
- Sunrise: from R$210, on scheduled days (see calendar)
- Sunset: from R$180 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
- Night at the falls: from R$265 on Saturdays
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