Bela Vista Ecological Refuge
Bela Vista Ecological Refuge
Bela Vista Ecological Refuge
4.5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
The walk through the protection unit, created to preserve the fauna and flora during the formation of the reservoir of the Plant, goes around the Piracema Canal until reaching the buildings of the refuge. At the two kilometers trail in the middle of the native forest, the experience is magnified with learning about the environment.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.5
833 reviews
Excellent
488
Very good
249
Average
67
Poor
21
Terrible
8
LeoGM
Sao Paulo, SP1,018 contributions
Jan 2013 • Family
The refuge takes care of illegaly trafficked animals, mainly birds, recovered by the police and usually in bad conditions. The tour consists in a ride in a sympathetic "trolley", a video and a trail in the middle of the forest (reforested), passing through some animals, like in a zoo. The highlights of the tour are the jaguars. If they are in good mood, they will come close to the glass, allowing people to take pictures as if they were touching them and also to observe them much closer than in common zoos.
Written 3 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanessa
Geneve61 contributions
Feb 2020
As others have said, this Refúgio is no zoo, but a recovery center for animals and a botanical center for the entire complex. So, the amount of animals one sees is not enormous, but this is not the purpose of this visit. I enjoyed a lot, and although I know this is also a PR for Itaipu, I don't think it diminishes the value of the initiative. They take care of animals, they rehabilitate, they breed, they are involved in plant conservation and distribution. And this is what the guides convey during the visit.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BVD725
East Flanders Province, Belgium115 contributions
We had an amazing time with our very good English guide "Diego". He made the tour very interesting and had a lot of stories to tell. He spoke excellent English and had a great sense of humor! Everytging was very well organised and there was always someone there to help.
Written 8 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AgulhasNegras
Sao Paulo, SP9 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
It is a very interesting attraction, with plenty of animals that were rescued from traffickers.
Just be aware of the weather because the tour can be cut short or canceled if it is raining or the wind is too strong.
Just be aware of the weather because the tour can be cut short or canceled if it is raining or the wind is too strong.
Written 10 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie H
3 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
We got to go on a tour of the Ecological Refuge while we were staying in Foz do Iguazu and it's definitely worth the stop! We had a great tour guide who was very informative and told us about the refuge's work they have done and the interesting biology behind it all. I would definitely suggest making time to see the refuge!
Written 20 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Silvia A
Sao Paulo, SP185 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
This was a guided tour in the Bela Vista Ecological Refuge, you pay for it but it values the price. To built the dam, the jungle on the side of the river was extinguished and now, more than 30 years after it, they reforested the place with native species and animals. There, many animals are from endangered species or were recovered from the traffic and are there to be cared for and protected.
Written 7 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harriet A
47 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
I found the refuge nice to walk around. Unfortunately the tour I took from the Itaipu Dam was only in Portuguese - even though I booked online in English! Obviously that’s not the end of the world and I can’t complain too much given I take English for granted most of the time. However, the tour lost a lot of meaning given I was hoping to find out more about the conservation of the habitat during the dams construction and the rehabilitation work... it ended up being like walking round a small zoo which I wouldn’t normally choose to do!
Written 30 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Filipe F
113 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
One of the greatest tours ever. Honestly it was only the five of us so it was a VIP tour with the managers of the guides!!!! Arthur has been working for 11 years as a guide at the refuge and he is the manager now. He was very good with his English and personal with the kids!
I'm very impressed and respect a lot the caliber of Brazilian tourism. The price paid for the 3:30hr tour was more than Worth it.
I'm very impressed and respect a lot the caliber of Brazilian tourism. The price paid for the 3:30hr tour was more than Worth it.
Written 1 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ToniV1
Chelsea, AL170 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
I don't like zoos. This is not a zoo. It is run by the Binational project that operated Itaipu. Animals who are injured, often by poachers, orphaned, or ill are brought here to recover and if possible be released back to the wild. If they cannot be rehabilitated they remain at the Reserve. There are many projects for the preservation of the area's flora and fauna. Our English speaking guide, Juan was outstanding.
Written 24 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark M
Curitiba, PR25 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
This is is must. A great tour for kids to learn about the importance of nature and how we can protect wildlife while altering the terrain. Great project
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nosotros andamos en auto y queremos ir a bela vista ecológicas refuge , cuánto sale la entrada y si se compra en la puerta??
Written 13 February 2020
Qual seria o melhor horário para visitar, pensando em a possibilidade de ver os bichos melhor?
Written 18 January 2019
Lá no refúgio eles têm grupos de visita, sendo 6 ou 7 na alta estação. Fomos na hora que tinha vaga, o grupo é pequeno. Então não tem hora melhor, tem que ver a disponibilidade.
Written 18 January 2019
o Refúgio é bom em qualquer dia porque vc conhece as ações socioambientais realizadas naquele local.
Claro que um dia ensolarado lhe renderá um prazer maior com boas fotos e filmagens, com clima mais agradável tudo fica melhor.
Written 26 October 2018
Só para entender.... o refúgio fica dentro da usina? para comprar o ingresso é no mesmo local? quem já foi pode me ajudar? obrigada
Written 11 January 2018
Sim, o refúgio fica dentro do complexo Itaipu. Você compra o ingresso ali na entrada, na bilheteria, e espera dar o horário para entrar no ônibus, que te leva até o refúgio, junto com o guia. O guia explica tudo e acompanha o grupo o tempo todo.
Written 12 January 2018
alguien sabr como llegar en transporte público?
Written 1 August 2017
Hola Erica!
Puedes tomar en el TTU el 101 o el 102 hasta la entrada de Itaipu, alli dentro compras los tickets para el refugio (te llevan y te traen desde allí mismo) lo mismo que para el resto de las atracciones.
Espero haber sido de ayuda.
Saludos
Written 2 August 2017
De qué manera me puedo trasladar a esta excursión desde el hotel Belmond el día sábado 6? En que horario se hace el recorrido?
Desde ya muchas gracias.
Written 2 May 2017
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