Parque das Aves — Attraction in Região Geográfica Imediata de Foz do Iguaçu

What a wonderful place(they accept cards)! Time simply ceases to exist the minute you step on the trail. The trail itself is well-organized so that you just follow it where it takes you without worrying about missing something or someone. And the number of species at the park is....well, I've never seen so many different birds. In my opinion, it's a terrific park, offering much with a prominent mission behind it. However, in my review, I cannot avoid the elephant in the room - a "zoo" part.

From my experience, regardless of the initial form of the park, today it has nothing in common with any zoo. I still remember those terrible zoos where animals were doomed to bear a miserable existence in a tiny cage. Luckily, these types of zoos are gone for good. So, this park has every right to call itself a sanctuary, imho. And those who insist that the birds should be set free, please remember that in their own all of them ended up on the verge of extinction in the world of humans; some species count only five individuals in the world, and all are kept safe exactly in this park.

Another concern I noticed in the comments is that birds are used for entertainment. Well, I don't share the same feeling. Yes, people can get really close to animals and annoy them with never-ending photoshoots, but these are birds and they are not forced to entertain; they can just flap their wings and get as far from people as possible, which some actually exercise successfully. Additionally, at every zone, there are a couple of staff who pay attention to all misbehavers. I saw when a man was asked to step back from a toucan that was not in a mood for paparazzi. I mean, they care.

Would I want people to be further from animals? Yes! Do I think it is possible? Not really. Let's face it: visitors=money, and more visitors=more money for park maintenance and saving more species.

Overall, I loved the place. And from the flora and fauna's appearance, I can tell the park does a good job to preserve and take good care of...

BE AWARE: It’s a zoo and a tourist trap wrapped in an utopian advertisement and the absurdity of calling it a sanctuary. Way too many beings are stuffed into utterly small cages. From what I heard I was expecting a national park where you might spot some birds living in their native environment or getting to know more stories behind species getting saved, rehabilitated and set free into their original homes after being caged/used for entertainment- well- ironically, they got caged again, doomed to live there their whole lives. When I asked someone why the butterflies have to be trapped in that tiny house he just answered "because there’s fruits inside". Suddenly I’ve seen 4 different crocodiles cramped into one little pond and a huge Anaconda in a not-so-big terrarium. A nearly distinct eagle with a wingspan bigger than my height had a small cage and not much to stay entertained with as well. (So didn’t have the other animals). In this whole park I’ve seen one story where they set the bird free again so I’ve asked someone from the staff when the others are going to be set free she answered "in this "sanctuary" every animal will be living there their whole lives". They‘re probably going to answer this comment trying to gaslight me into not understanding their mission like they did with the other 1-star-comments. Well yeah, if your mission is to continue to normalize zoos which should be canceled overall, I definitely do not support it. The original idea sounds nice in theory but made me feel sick with how the animals are ending up. Hope they are going to focus more on setting them free again which gives the individuals who are way too weak to be set free again more space to exist in and not let the commercialized tourist attraction aspect overshadow it‘s original vision like it‘s happening everywhere else...

The place is 'unreal'. I don't have anything bad to say about the exhibits, birds, their care, facilities for visitors - including the restaurant!

Park itself: Being from the US and having seen many parks, zoos and safaris around the world, I was sceptical about the infrastructure and condition of birds here. Ticketing process is very streamlined and easy. Once you enter - you travel into a different world.

Birds: It is a refuge/sanctuary for rescued and traficked birds. They are free to roam around within very tall/huge/spacious cages. Some birds could come within a few inches of you - walking or flying!! Visitors are not allowed to touch them though! There are many areas of the park, we are not allowed to walk through. A few exhibits, there are 'park employees' giving instructions and educational talks to increase awareness. Parrots, Macaws and Toucan exhibits are the highlight. If you are a kid or a kid at heart, you leave with a sense of calm, appreciation for nature and more compassionate!

Restaurant: By far, the best food of any park/zoo I've visited! Menu is very different! It's not the usual chicken tenders, fries or cold sandwiches! There are so many options.

Parking: Now, this could've been better! For being one of the 2 or 3 top attactions of the city, there are very limited spots outside. Looks like there is some 'offsite' parking - from where we'll have to walk back to the ticket counter. We went before the tour buses rolled in, even then there was chaos - loading/unloading, reversing, waiting cars, jay-walking crowd etc. Add to that, all the street sellers...