Is Foz do Iguaçu Safe in May 2026?

Street money changers operate near Ponte da Amizade on the Paraguayan side, offering to exchange Brazilian reais, Paraguayan guarani, and US dollars. Common tactics include sleight of hand substituting lower-denomination notes, fast counting errors, and outright theft when cash is handed over in a loose fan.

How to avoid: Use official casas de cambio with posted rates and a visible counter. Never exchange money with someone who approaches you on the street or bridge approach road. Count every note yourself before handing over any currency.

Taxi drivers at Foz hotels offer "round-trip to Argentine falls" for 400-600 BRL, claiming it includes border fees and park entry. In reality, the Argentine park charges separately (in ARS or USD) and the "fixed rate" is 2-3x the Uber equivalent.

How to avoid: Use Uber or 99 within Brazil, then walk across or take the public bus at the border. Argentine park entry is paid in pesos or USD at the park gate, separately from transport.

The entrance turnstiles to Cataratas do Iguacu on the Brazilian side create a predictable bottleneck where organised pickpocket teams work the queue. One person stalls at the turnstile while a partner removes phones or wallets from open bags. The crowd and noise make the theft almost undetectable.

How to avoid: Zip all bag compartments and move your phone to a front pocket before joining the entrance queue. Be especially alert when the line surges forward or someone fumbles at the turnstile ahead of you.

Unofficial "shuttle" drivers at the bus terminal offer cheap rides to Puerto Iguazú (Argentina side) or Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), then stop mid-route for "border fees" or in isolated spots where accomplices rob passengers.

How to avoid: Use only official bus lines (Río Uruguay, Crucero del Norte) from the rodoviária. Or use Uber for day trips — it crosses the border legally.

Near Ponte da Amizade and along the Avenida Juscelino Kubitschek strip, individuals in plain clothes claiming to be Federal Police stop tourists returning from Ciudad del Este, demanding to inspect bags and threatening fines for undeclared goods. Real customs controls occur at the bridge checkpoint itself, not on city streets.

How to avoid: If stopped away from the bridge checkpoint, ask for the badge number and offer to walk to the nearest delegacia federal. Legitimate officers will comply; scammers will not. Real customs checks happen at the bridge, not on the street.