6 Tourist Scams in Foz do Iguaçu

Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (Aeroporto Cataratas, IATA IGU) sits 13 km SE of the city.

Centre and 10 km from the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu entrance, and hosts a predictable 'Special Taxi' overcharge pattern plus a late-night transfer gap. r/Brazil 'Late night transport from IGU airport' (comments/15ni4sj, 2023) is the classic anchor. r/Brazil 'Taxi availability for early morning flight Foz do Iguacu' (comments/1p4p5wz, 2025) is the 2025 community anchor. r/Brazil 'Foz do Iguaçu Trip Questions' (comments/yp2q4n, 2023) is a longstanding trip-planning thread still referenced by moderators. r/viagens 'Questions about Foz do Iguaçu' (comments/1sd6xfq, 2026) is the 2026 Portuguese-speaking community anchor. r/viagens 'Foz do Iguaçu — I accept suggestions' (comments/1o6n6ep, 2025) is a 2025 first-person trip-planning anchor.

Legitimate 2026 cost: Uber / 99 / Cabify from IGU to Centro Foz R$ 45–R$ 75 (15 min); to hotels near the Cataratas entrance (Rafain Palace, Wyndham Golden Foz, Mabu Thermas Grand Resort, Iguassu Resort) R$ 30–R$ 55 (10 min); to the Argentinian side border (Ponte Tancredo Neves) R$ 80–R$ 120. Budget public option: the Transbalan Ônibus 120 'Aeroporto-Terminal' links IGU to Centro at R$ 4.50 per person (45 min), runs 5 AM–11 PM. The 2025 scam patterns: (a) 'Special Taxi' / 'Taxi Cataratas' kiosks INSIDE the IGU terminal quoting R$ 150–R$ 300 flat to Centro — real Uber R$ 45–R$ 75; (b) curbside touts offering 'meter broken — R$ 180 to hotel' with no receipt; (c) late-night arrivals (Foz has international Paraguay/Argentina connections, many flights land after midnight) — Uber wait times spike to 20–40 min and unlicensed remis / mototaxis fill the gap at 3x rates; (d) 'private transfer Foz + Argentine side + Paraguay side R$ 1,200 per day' airport tout offers (real: Uber R$ 80–R$ 120 per leg); (e) some Foz drivers demand cash top-up R$ 50–R$ 100 mid-trip 'because the border-area is dangerous' — refuse + rebook; (f) fake 'airport tour-desk' inside terminal selling 'sunset + falls + dam combo' packages with hidden commission stops; (g) Uber CAN legally operate in Foz and across the Tancredo Neves bridge into Argentina (per r/Brazil 'Can Uber cross the Brazil-Argentina border' comments/151zy99, 2023) — but some drivers refuse border-crossings; confirm BEFORE booking.

For travelers: (1) book Uber / 99 / Cabify on airport Wi-Fi AFTER luggage — confirm driver name + plate + photo match app BEFORE getting in; meet driver at the official 'Aplicativos' pickup zone on Terminal 1 ground level (signposted at exit); (2) for late-night arrivals (after 11 PM) or early-morning departures (before 6 AM), pre-book a transfer via your hotel or Foz Transfer / Iguassu Transfers at R$ 80–R$ 150 fixed — worth avoiding Uber-wait frustration; (3) IGNORE every 'Special Taxi' / 'Taxi Cataratas' kiosk inside the terminal quoting R$ 150+ — those are the overcharge operation; (4) NEVER hand a credit card to any taxi driver; (5) for CROSS-BORDER Uber rides (Brazilian side IGU to Puerto Iguazú Argentina), confirm with driver BEFORE trip starts — some Brazilian Uber drivers refuse the border crossing, and for the return leg from Argentina, you need an Argentine-registered Uber (not all Brazilian drivers are); (6) if your Uber driver demands cash top-up, refuse politely + cancel in-app + use in-app safety button; (7) for return to IGU, pre-book Uber the night before — saves 20+ min of hotel pickup friction; (8) DEATUR Foz do Iguaçu +55 45 3523 3322 (Polícia Turística, some English); Polícia Militar 190, SAMU 192.

The Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls, UNESCO World Heritage Site) is Foz's flagship attraction.

And 2025 hotel-concierge + airport-tour-desk touts host a parallel commission-markup ecosystem. r/travel 'Brazilian Side of Iguazú Falls as a U.S. Citizen' (comments/1rxatww, 2026) is the CANONICAL 2026 first-person visitor anchor. r/Brazil 'Foz do Iguaçu Trip Questions' (comments/yp2q4n, 2023) remains the go-to trip-planning thread. r/viagens 'Foz do Iguaçu — I accept suggestions' (comments/1o6n6ep, 2025) is a 2025 Portuguese-speaking planning thread. r/viagens 'Viaje a Foz do Iguaçu + Ciudad Del Este' (comments/1o0myrt, 2025) covers the regional day-trip landscape. Tripadvisor 'BEWARE! Credit card frauded at park entrance — Iguazu' (ShowTopic g312804 i6882 k11384681) is a parallel independent-review anchor on card-skimming at the falls entrance.

Legitimate 2026 cost: Parque Nacional do Iguaçu entry R$ 110 for foreigners / R$ 87 for Brazilians (includes internal Cataratas shuttle bus + walking circuit to Garganta do Diabo viewpoint + Passeio das Cataratas boardwalk). Buy tickets ONLINE at cataratasdoiguacu.com.br (official ICMBio concession) — prints QR code + avoids ticket-counter queue. Macuco Safari boat ride (under the falls) R$ 420 per person (2 hours). Helicopter tour Helisul R$ 880–R$ 1,200 per person (12 min). Parque das Aves (bird park, separate adjacent site) R$ 85 entry. The 2025 scam patterns: (a) hotel concierge selling 'VIP private Cataratas day-trip with skip-the-line R$ 550 per person' — the ONLY legitimate 'skip-the-line' is buying the R$ 110 ticket ONLINE 1 day ahead (saves 30 min); the rest is pure commission markup; (b) 'guided tour + transport + lunch + Macuco R$ 1,200' packaged sale — real DIY: Uber R$ 30 each way + R$ 110 entry + R$ 420 Macuco + R$ 60 lunch = R$ 650; (c) fake 'skip-the-line' vendor at park entrance selling photocopied QR tickets — do NOT buy tickets from anyone outside the official counter; (d) credit-card skimming at some unauthorized 'park entrance' kiosks — use the OFFICIAL ticket counter ONLY (large signposted 'Bilheteria Oficial Cataratas' window); (e) airport tour-desk 'both sides Brazilian + Argentine + helicopter R$ 3,500' — real DIY: Brazilian side R$ 110 + Uber; cross to Argentine side Puerto Iguazú with Uber R$ 80 + Parque Nacional Iguazú AR$ 35,000 entry + Uber back = ~R$ 650 total; (f) 'sunset private photo tour R$ 800' at the Garganta viewpoint — the park closes at 5:30 PM, no legitimate 'sunset-exclusive' exists; (g) bus-company fare confusion at the Terminal Transporte Urbano — the 120 bus to the falls is R$ 4.50 only; some touts sell 'R$ 40 express' fake tickets.

For travelers: (1) BUY Cataratas tickets ONLINE at cataratasdoiguacu.com.br (the official ICMBio concessionaire site) 1–3 days ahead — R$ 110 for foreigners, the QR code arrives by email and you scan it at the park entrance to bypass the counter queue; (2) take Uber R$ 30 each way from Foz Centro to the park — much cheaper than hotel-concierge 'VIP private' packages; (3) USE the official 'Bilheteria Oficial Cataratas' large signposted ticket counter ONLY at the entrance — REFUSE every unauthorized kiosk or street vendor selling 'skip-the-line' tickets (photocopied QR codes fail at the turnstile); (4) for Macuco Safari (boat ride under the falls), buy DIRECT at the park entrance counter R$ 420 per person (2 hours) — skip hotel-concierge 'combined' packages; (5) for Parque das Aves (bird park, a separate adjacent site and highly worth the visit — it has Brazil's best captive-species collection), R$ 85 direct at entrance; (6) for both sides of the falls, DIY is the correct answer — Brazilian side R$ 110 + Uber + AR side entry AR$ 35,000 (~R$ 200) + cross-border transport = ~R$ 650 total; (7) park tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE — book your date carefully (weather can affect the visit but won't refund); (8) REFUSE every 'sunset private photo tour R$ 800' — the park closes at 5:30 PM, no legitimate sunset-exclusive exists; (9) for bus option, the Linha 120 Foz-Cataratas is R$ 4.50 per person from the Terminal Transporte Urbano (departs every 22 min 6 AM–7 PM) — legitimate; REFUSE every 'R$ 40 express' fake ticket at the terminal; (10) DEATUR Foz do Iguaçu +55 45 3523 3322; DPF (Federal Police) +55 45 3576 5200 for any fraud on park grounds.

Ciudad del Este (Paraguay, across the Ponte da Amizade / Friendship Bridge from Foz) is a legendary duty-free shopping destination.

And 2025 border-zone pickpocket + counterfeit-goods + fake-transfer scams are a significant tourist risk. r/viagens 'Viaje a Foz do Iguaçu + Ciudad Del Este' (comments/1o0myrt, 2025) is the 2025 bilingual anchor. r/travel 'Foz Do Iguaçu a Ciudad Del Este' (comments/1mf7r9k, 2025) is a 2025 English-language first-person anchor. r/viagens 'Ciudad del Este — consejos' (comments/1rdymcc, 2026) is the 2026 planning anchor. r/Brazil 'Foz do Iguaçu Trip Questions' (comments/yp2q4n, 2023) is the classic trip-planning thread with Ciudad advice. r/Brazil 'Can Uber cross the Brazil-Argentina border in Foz do Iguaçu' (comments/151zy99, 2023) covers the cross-border rideshare dynamics (Uber DOES cross to Paraguay but with caveats).

Legitimate 2026 cost: Uber / 99 from Foz Centro across the Ponte da Amizade to Ciudad del Este shopping zone R$ 50–R$ 80 one way (most Brazilian drivers do this route); alternatively, 'Linha Internacional' ônibus R$ 6 per person each way (crowded, 30 min, pickpocket-dense). The duty-free zone (Shopping del Este, Shopping Mariscal López, along Av. Monseñor Rodríguez) is legitimately cheap for electronics, perfume, alcohol, but 70%+ of 'brand name' goods on Av. Monseñor are counterfeit. The 2025 scam patterns: (a) Ponte da Amizade pedestrian-crossing pickpocket — the bridge is 550 m walk, extremely crowded with motoboys + street vendors, team-lift operation; (b) 'guide' / 'fixer' approaches on the Paraguay side offering 'best shops with discount' — leads to counterfeit-goods stalls with no refund possible after the bridge crossing; (c) fake electronics — 'iPhone 16 Pro R$ 2,500' (genuine R$ 8,000+ retail in Brazil) — is a counterfeit or stolen device with no warranty; (d) 'certified duty-free receipt for Brazilian customs' sold as a side upsell — Brazil's personal import limit is USD 500 in goods (including the Paraguay-side purchase), exceeding triggers 60% import tax + possible seizure; (e) 'currency exchange better here than Foz' street offers — exchange happens via sleight-of-hand counterfeit guaraní / USD; (f) 'safe parking R$ 100 per hour' Paraguay-side offers — the car gets stolen, the 'attendant' has disappeared; (g) 'mandatory Paraguay tourist tax R$ 50 at border' — Brazilian citizens pay NO tourist tax to enter Paraguay as day-trippers; (h) armed-robbery risk on Av. San Blas + side streets after 5 PM — the shopping strip is safe 9 AM–4 PM during peak business hours ONLY.

For travelers: (1) if you MUST visit Ciudad del Este, go AS A DAY-TRIP 9 AM–3 PM ONLY — be back on the Brazilian side before 4 PM; avoid overnight entirely; (2) cross via UBER (R$ 50–R$ 80 one way) NOT by walking the Ponte da Amizade — pedestrian crossing has documented pickpocket + motoboy snatch-and-grab; (3) carry ONLY the cash + a single credit card you plan to spend; leave passport copy (not original — Brazilian citizens need original for re-entry) + extra cards + valuables in your Foz hotel safe; (4) shop ONLY at official-mall retailers: Shopping del Este, Shopping China, Shopping Mariscal López — REFUSE every street-stall 'discount electronics'; check warranty paperwork + serial numbers BEFORE paying; (5) the Brazilian personal import limit is USD 500 — stay well under it to avoid customs issues at the bridge return (keep receipts); (6) REFUSE every 'guide' / 'fixer' approach on the Paraguay side — leads to counterfeit goods; (7) REFUSE every 'Paraguay tourist tax R$ 50' demand — Brazilian citizens pay none for day-trips; (8) for travelers SKEPTICAL of the trip, consider skipping Ciudad entirely — the genuine savings on legitimate electronics (Apple, Samsung) are typically 5–15%, not the 70% promised, and the risk-to-reward is low; the Argentine side of the falls is a far better day-trip alternative; (9) DEATUR Foz +55 45 3523 3322; Polícia Federal (border) +55 45 3576 5200.

Itaipu Binacional (the world's second-largest hydroelectric dam, a 2-hour educational tour on the.

Brazilian-Paraguay border 15 km north of Foz Centro) is Foz's second-flagship attraction — and 2025 hotel-concierge + tour-desk touts host a systematic commission-markup ecosystem around what is actually a directly bookable, cheap, regulated government attraction. r/Brazil 'Foz do Iguaçu Trip Questions' (comments/yp2q4n, 2023) is the classic anchor. r/travel 'Brazilian Side of Iguazú Falls as a U.S. Citizen' (comments/1rxatww, 2026) covers the 2026 visitor perspective on combined Itaipu + Falls. r/viagens 'Foz do Iguaçu — I accept suggestions' (comments/1o6n6ep, 2025) is a 2025 Portuguese-speaking planning thread. r/viagens 'Questions about Foz do Iguaçu' (comments/1sd6xfq, 2026) is the 2026 planning anchor. r/viagens 'Viaje a Foz do Iguaçu + Ciudad Del Este' (comments/1o0myrt, 2025) covers the regional itinerary.

Legitimate 2026 cost: Itaipu Binacional 'Panorâmica' tour (2 hours, externally + dam deck) R$ 108 foreigners / R$ 54 Brazilians; 'Especial' tour (deeper access including the internal turbines + control room) R$ 246 foreigners / R$ 165 Brazilians. Both tours are bookable DIRECT at turismoitaipu.com.br 1–7 days ahead (requires passport number + booking confirmation email). Itaipu visitor center is at Av. Tancredo Neves 6001; Uber from Foz Centro R$ 35–R$ 55. The 2025 scam patterns: (a) hotel concierge selling 'Itaipu private VIP tour R$ 450 per person' (real Panorâmica R$ 108 direct); (b) airport tour-desk bundling 'Itaipu + Cataratas + Ciudad del Este 3-day package R$ 2,500' with undisclosed commission markup 2–3x DIY; (c) 'Itaipu exclusive after-hours dam illumination tour R$ 600' — Itaipu does not offer after-hours access; (d) fake 'mandatory environmental impact fee R$ 80' demanded at visitor-centre approach (real: included in the R$ 108 ticket); (e) 'official Itaipu guide R$ 150 private' offered in the parking area (real: guide included in R$ 108 ticket, no separate purchase needed); (f) ride-share driver offering 'wait + return combined R$ 180' — use Uber's in-app 'Hora por hora' at R$ 40–R$ 60 per hour instead.

For travelers: (1) BOOK Itaipu DIRECT at turismoitaipu.com.br 1–3 days ahead — R$ 108 foreigners for the Panorâmica tour (recommended for first-timers); R$ 246 Especial tour if you want internal-turbines access (more physical — involves stairs and warmth); (2) arrive 30 min early with passport (required for Brazil-Paraguay border check at the dam deck); (3) Uber R$ 35–R$ 55 each way from Foz Centro — for wait-return, use Uber's 'Hora por hora' R$ 40–R$ 60 per hour; (4) REFUSE every hotel-concierge 'VIP private Itaipu R$ 450' upsell — the concierge is taking 2–3x markup; the same tour is R$ 108 direct; (5) REFUSE every 'mandatory environmental fee' / 'private guide' upsell at the visitor center approach — the R$ 108 ticket includes everything; (6) REFUSE every 'exclusive after-hours' offer — Itaipu has no after-hours public access; the illumination show (free from the external viewpoint) is visible from the Marco das 3 Fronteiras landmark; (7) for travelers with mobility concerns, the Panorâmica tour is accessible (bus + flat deck); the Especial involves stair-climbing — prefer Panorâmica; (8) for travelers, the best one-day Foz itinerary is: morning Cataratas (9 AM–1 PM) + afternoon Itaipu Panorâmica (2:30 PM–4:30 PM) + evening Marco das 3 Fronteiras sunset (free viewpoint at the Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay tripoint); (9) turismoitaipu.com.br customer service +55 45 3520 5252; DEATUR Foz +55 45 3523 3322.

Foz do Iguaçu has a mid-tier tourist-restaurant scene clustered around Centro + Av.

Jorge Schimmelpfeng + the hotel zone near the Cataratas entrance — dominated by 'churrascaria rodízio' (all-you-can-eat Brazilian barbecue) and tourist-facing Argentine-Paraguayan-Brazilian fusion places. The 2025 overcharge patterns are the standard Brazilian couvert + serviço padding plus a rodízio-specific version. r/viagens 'Foz do Iguaçu — I accept suggestions' (comments/1o6n6ep, 2025) is the 2025 Portuguese-speaking planning anchor. r/viagens 'Questions about Foz do Iguaçu' (comments/1sd6xfq, 2026) is the 2026 planning anchor. r/Brazil 'Foz do Iguaçu Trip Questions' (comments/yp2q4n, 2023) is the classic trip-advice thread. r/travel 'Brazilian Side of Iguazú Falls as a U.S. Citizen' (comments/1rxatww, 2026) covers 2026 visitor dining perspective. r/viagens 'Viaje a Foz do Iguaçu + Ciudad Del Este' (comments/1o0myrt, 2025) covers regional food landscape.

Brazilian restaurant law (Lei 13.419/2017) makes the 10% serviço charge OPTIONAL — you can refuse it, particularly for poor service. The 2025 scam patterns: (a) couvert artístico R$ 40–R$ 100 per person at Centro + Av. Jorge Schimmelpfeng restaurants (legitimate R$ 15–R$ 30 for a genuine sertanejo or fronteiriço musician); (b) churrascaria rodízio 'preço adulto' R$ 120–R$ 180 legitimate (Chama Gaúcha, Rafain Churrascaria, Cabeça de Boi, Bufalo Branco) BUT some tourist-zone churrascarias charge 'gringo preço' R$ 250–R$ 320 for the same menu — check posted pricing + online Google reviews BEFORE sitting; (c) 'buffet de frios incluso' (cold buffet included) then you're charged R$ 30 extra at bill-time; (d) 'caipirinha special' R$ 45 at rodízio (legitimate R$ 15–R$ 25); (e) 'serviço 10%' added silently + menu shows 'serviço opcional' fine print; (f) credit-card surcharge 5–10% only at bill-time ('we prefer PIX'); (g) 'wine pairing R$ 120' upsell at rodízio (legitimate house wine R$ 50–R$ 80); (h) hotel restaurant 'lunch buffet R$ 150 mandatory if dinner is included' — hotel meal plans are ADD-ONs not mandatory.

For travelers: (1) BEFORE sitting, ask for menu + confirm in writing: (a) couvert artístico R$ amount per person, (b) serviço 10% policy — photograph menu page showing 'serviço opcional' (OPTIONAL under Lei 13.419/2017), (c) credit-card surcharge; (2) for CHURRASCARIA RODÍZIO, the reputable options are Rafain Churrascaria (landmark, Google 4.4+, R$ 140–R$ 180 adult), Cabeça de Boi (Av. das Cataratas, R$ 120–R$ 160), Bufalo Branco (central, R$ 120–R$ 150), Chama Gaúcha (upmarket, R$ 170–R$ 220); CONFIRM posted 'preço adulto' in R$ BEFORE sitting; (3) AVOID English-only menus posted outside — walk 1–2 blocks inland for authentic local prices; for non-rodízio reputable options: Bier Haus (Centro, German-fusion, R$ 70–R$ 140), Vó Bertila (Italian, R$ 60–R$ 130), Barranco Bar & Restaurante (Lago Paranoá-side); (4) REFUSE 'caipirinha special R$ 45' upsell — standard caipirinha R$ 15–R$ 25; (5) if serviço is added against your wishes for poor service, politely REFUSE and cite Lei 13.419/2017 — the manager knows this; (6) hotel meal-plans are ADD-ONS — decline at check-in if you prefer to dine out; (7) for travelers, the iconic Foz experience is a churrascaria dinner at Rafain (with Brazilian music show 8 PM, set menu R$ 200–R$ 250 all-inclusive — the show is genuinely good); (8) PROCON Paraná 151 for billing disputes; DEATUR Foz +55 45 3523 3322.

The Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls (Parque Nacional Iguazú in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina) offers.

The iconic Garganta del Diablo viewpoint and 80% of the trails — and crossing from Foz to Puerto Iguazú is a non-trivial logistics puzzle that 2025 tourist-desk touts exploit. r/Brazil 'Can Uber cross the Brazil-Argentina border in Foz do Iguaçu' (comments/151zy99, 2023) remains the classic cross-border rideshare anchor. r/travel 'Brazilian Side of Iguazú Falls as a U.S. Citizen' (comments/1rxatww, 2026) is the 2026 visitor anchor covering both-sides logistics. r/viagens 'Foz do Iguaçu — I accept suggestions' (comments/1o6n6ep, 2025) covers the 2025 Portuguese-speaking planning. r/viagens 'Questions about Foz do Iguaçu' (comments/1sd6xfq, 2026) is the 2026 planning thread. r/Brazil 'Foz do Iguaçu Trip Questions' (comments/yp2q4n, 2023) is the classic trip-advice anchor.

Legitimate 2026 cost: Uber / 99 from Foz Centro across the Ponte Tancredo Neves to Puerto Iguazú R$ 80–R$ 120 one way (30 min; Brazilian driver must be willing to cross — most are, but confirm BEFORE trip). 'Crucero del Norte' ônibus 'Foz-Puerto Iguazú' R$ 18 per person each way (runs every 30 min from Terminal Transporte Urbano Foz, 45 min). From Puerto Iguazú bus terminal, local Uber or the '400' bus to Parque Nacional Iguazú AR$ 2,500 / R$ 12. Parque Nacional Iguazú (Argentina) entry AR$ 35,000 for foreigners (~R$ 200) + AR$ 8,000 for Brazilians (~R$ 45). The 2025 scam patterns: (a) Foz hotel concierge selling 'private Argentina-side day-trip R$ 800' (real DIY: R$ 80–R$ 120 Uber + R$ 200 Argentina park entry + R$ 80–R$ 120 Uber back = ~R$ 450); (b) 'mandatory Argentine reciprocity fee R$ 350 per US citizen' demanded at border — there is NO reciprocity fee for US / EU / Canadian citizens since 2016; (c) fake 'duty-free border shop' at Brazilian checkpoint selling 'bonded goods' that aren't duty-free; (d) private transfer touts at Terminal Foz offering 'same-day Puerto Iguazú R$ 400' (real bus R$ 18); (e) 'mandatory border paperwork fee R$ 100' demanded by some taxi drivers at the bridge (there is none — only the passport stamp, which is free); (f) 'exclusive Garganta del Diablo helicopter tour R$ 2,000' (unlicensed Argentine-side operators) — reputable helicopter Helisul operates only from Brazilian side; (g) Argentine-side 'private guide + transport R$ 600' upsell in Puerto Iguazú bus terminal — the Argentine park has internal train + walking trails, no guide required; (h) currency-exchange scam at border — some touts offer 'ARS at better rate than bank' with counterfeit pesos.

For travelers: (1) the cheapest + easiest route is the Crucero del Norte ônibus (R$ 18 each way, 45 min from Terminal Foz) — book at the kiosk 30 min ahead; it runs every 30 min 8 AM–8 PM; carry passport + have Argentine pesos for park entry OR use credit card at the park ticket office (Visa/Mastercard accepted); (2) for Uber cross-border (R$ 80–R$ 120), CONFIRM with driver BEFORE trip that they will cross into Argentina — some refuse; for the return leg, book a fresh Uber on the Argentine side (may take 10–15 min wait); (3) the Argentina-side park (Parque Nacional Iguazú) takes a FULL DAY — plan to arrive 9 AM, spend 6–7 hours, return via ônibus by 6 PM; the Garganta del Diablo viewpoint is a 2-km boardwalk + return; (4) REFUSE every 'Argentine reciprocity fee' demand — US / EU / Canadian citizens pay NONE; (5) REFUSE every 'mandatory border paperwork fee' from taxi / tour drivers — the passport stamp is free; (6) REFUSE every Foz-hotel 'private Argentina-side day-trip R$ 800+' offer — DIY is R$ 450; (7) for currency at the park, the ticket office accepts credit card + Argentine pesos + sometimes USD — avoid street 'better rate' exchanges (counterfeit risk); (8) for travelers, the gold-standard 2-day Foz itinerary is: Day 1 Brazilian side + Itaipu; Day 2 Argentine side + Marco das 3 Fronteiras sunset; skip Ciudad del Este unless duty-free shopping is a priority; (9) Polícia Federal (border) +55 45 3576 5200; DEATUR Foz +55 45 3523 3322; Argentine side emergency 911.