Parque das Aves in Foz do Iguaçu: My Visit to the Bird Park by Iguazu Falls
About Parque das Aves Bird Sanctuary
Parque das Aves is located about 10 kilometers from the Brazilian town of Foz do Iguaçu and is an easy stop on the way to Iguazu Falls (Brazilian side). In December 2019, I visited both the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls and the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. On the day I visited the Brazilian side, I crossed the border from Argentina in the morning and made Parque das Aves my first stop before spending the rest of the day at the falls. I was extremely satisfied with my visit to the bird park and enjoyed the chance to see the birds of the region up close.
Visiting Parque das Aves Bird Sanctuary - Table of Contents
- About Parque das Aves
- History of Parque das Aves
- Hours, Tickets, and Optional Experiences
- Inside Parque das Aves
- The Birds I Photographed at Parque das Aves
- Plants I Noticed Along the Trail
- The Toucan Habitat Photo Moment
- The Highlight of Visiting the Park: The Macaws
- My Visit in Context: How Parque das Aves Fit Into My Iguazu Day
- Is Parque das Aves Worth Visiting?
- Tours that Stop at Parque das Aves
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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The History of Parque das Aves
Parque das Aves was founded by Anna and Dennis Croukamp in 1994. Their story began in the country of Namibia, where the couple received a Gray Parrot. The Gray Parrot sparked their love of birds, and by the early 1990s, the couple decided to open a bird park. Unfortunately, two years after the park opened, Dennis Croukamp became very ill and passed away. Anna continues to be active in the park and says that there is “always work left to do.” Anna and her staff work hard to care for the birds that call Parque das Aves home. To learn more about the history of Parque das Aves, visit the park’s official history page.
Hours, Tickets, and Optional Experiences
The park is open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily, and admission costs R$110 per person. Children under the age of 8 receive free admission to the park.
There are additional packages that can be purchased. One of the most popular is a backstage-style experience that allows guests a closer look at the work happening behind the scenes. I did not do this experience during my visit, but you can find current details and pricing on the park’s official website.
Inside Parque das Aves Bird Sanctuary
The Walking Route and Facilities
Visitors to Parque das Aves follow a circular path that leads to many different bird habitats. There are multiple restrooms and places to purchase beverages along the path. Just past the owls, the path ends near a restaurant and gift shop.
Walk-Through Aviaries and Photography
One of the things I enjoyed most about Parque das Aves is that I was able to enter many of the bird habitats. Being inside the walk-through aviaries made it much easier to take photos and feel close to the birds. I was extremely thankful that I brought my zoom lens.
Signage and Languages
During my visit, signage throughout the park was posted in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, which made it easy to follow along.
How Long It Took Me
It took about 90 minutes for me to walk through the 16 hectares of restored Atlantic Forest. Even though the trail had plenty of shade, it still felt tropical.
The Birds I Photographed at Parque das Aves
Instead of feeling like one long enclosure after another, Parque das Aves felt like a series of distinct habitats, and my photos below follow the same order as the walk. I started with colorful wading birds like Scarlet Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills, plus a large group of African Flamingos. Along the way, I also photographed birds I don’t usually see up close, like the Plush-crested Jay, and parrots like a Red-fan Parrot and a Blue-headed Parrot.
Macaws, Toucans, and Close-Up Moments
The walk-through areas were where the visit really came alive for me. I photographed multiple species of macaws, including the deep-blue Hyacinth Macaw, the bright Scarlet Macaw, and the Blue-and-yellow Macaw. I also spent time in the toucan habitat, where I caught one of my favorite action shots.
Owls and a Surprise Sighting
Near the end of the route, the owl habitats were a great final section, and I photographed both a Burrowing Owl and a Spectacled Owl. One surprise I didn’t expect was spotting a King Vulture, which was an awesome photo opportunity.
The Butterfly House
Parque das Aves also has a butterfly house, and I saw several Owl Butterflies, which look like they have an owl’s eye pattern on their wings.
Plants I Noticed Along the Trail
There were many interesting plants inside Parque das Aves as well. My favorite plant was the Lobster Claws (Heliconia). I’d never been in an Atlantic Forest environment before at the time of this trip, which meant the plants were as fascinating to me as the birds. I also noticed bright tropical bromeliads along the path, including Guzmania and an Aechmea-style flower spike.
The Toucan Habitat Photo Moment
When I entered the toucan habitat, I turned my camera to “sport mode.” This mode allowed me to take multiple pictures per second in a burst. I was shocked when I was uploading my photos to see the action shot I captured of the toucan eating his pellets. It appears that the toucan grabs the pellet in his beak, and then throws it into the air to swallow it. The picture can be seen below.
The Highlight of Visiting the Park: The Macaws
The highlight of visiting the park was definitely the macaws. The macaws are located inside a walk-in habitat, and there were hundreds of them. My favorites were the Hyacinth Macaws and the Blue-and-yellow Macaws.
A few photos below, you can see where one macaw almost flew directly into my camera. It was an amazing experience being so close to these magical birds.
My Visit in Context: How Parque das Aves Fit Into My Iguazu Day
I visited Parque das Aves in the morning (around 9:30 AM) as my first stop after crossing the border from Argentina into Brazil. There were people in the park, but it wasn’t overly crowded. After the bird park, we went straight to Iguazu Falls (Brazilian side) and spent the rest of the day there. On the way back, we stopped for a boat ride and then returned to Argentina.
Is Parque das Aves Worth Visiting?
I truly enjoyed my time at Parque das Aves. Throughout my visit, I was able to take some amazing photos and learn about some fascinating birds. I highly recommend a visit to Parque das Aves for anyone visiting the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls, especially if you like wildlife photography and want a stop that’s easy to pair with a full day at the falls.
Tours that Stop at Parque Das Aves
It is not necessary to go on a tour to enjoy Parque das Aves. A self-guided walk through Parque das Aves can be throughly enjoyable. If you are prefer to take a tour I have linked a few below. I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.
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