Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

We were very fortunate to be upgraded to a room with a private pool. If we had know how lovely it was we would have booked it. A beautifully restored more traditional hotel with very comfortable beds. If you are visiting The waterfalls at Fos Iguazú then this is the only hotel you should consider. Being situated in the National Park you have private access to the waterfall walk before and after it is open to the public which is very special. Service on the hotel is exceptional and whilst it is expensive it is absolutely worth the cost. We will definitely revisit a look to stay longer than the 2 days we stay last time.

Best part: getting to visit Iguacu National Park outside of normal visiting hours! Considering the park can receive up to 12,000 visitors daily during peak season (December - February), the value of this exclusive ‘after-hours’ access for hotel guests is immeasurable. One early morning I walked the 100 steps from the hotel front door to the first Falls viewing platform, and was the only one there! Room Tips: The hotel has a sprawling layout. Communicate preferences and any special needs when initially making your reservation to improve your experience. For example, those with limited mobility may want to request a room closer to the central areas, if kids want to be close to the pool request the Garden Wing, rooms facing inward toward the hotel courtyards can often be quieter than those facing the road (where buses drive by frequently during park hours), and if you want a bathtub make sure it’s specified in your booking as not all rooms have one. The Superior Rooms are just barely large enough for bed and two nightstands, whereas Deluxe Rooms have a bit more space and are in my opinion more comfortable for two people. An upgrade to a Deluxe Falls View room is certainly nice, however you can also save a bit on budget here knowing that the same views of the Falls are available to you from the bar patio and front lawn of the hotel, without the additional cost. The Suites are not overly spacious by modern-built luxury hotel standards, except the bathrooms are expansive and excellently updated. For something really special they also have two new Pool Suites which have their own private plunge pools! Each Suite is unique in layout and level of privacy, so for bookings I’d call their reservationists rather than booking based on the few website photos. The hotel has many connecting rooms as well, excellent for families. Dining: At the 3 convenient on-site restaurants - fine-dining, a more casual poolside grill, and a bar with light fare - food was pricier here relative to other hotels in the region. The Ipe Grill had great food that felt like most international visitors would be able to find something to their tastes. For the bar patio looking towards the falls, arrive early in order to claim a coveted spot for sunset. The fine-dining restaurant Itaipu can also fill up far in advance, especially during the peak season months of December - February, so make a reservation prior to your stay. Hotel: The Das Cataratas grounds are beautiful, many gorgeous orchids and birds. The expansive pool (a must in the subtropical and humid Atlantic rainforest) had sufficient loungers and although many hotels in the region have pools, this was a level all its own! The decor has a historic element unique when compared to other properties in the area, being lavishly decorated as a throwback to the 1950s - and it does not feel old and stuffy as I feared from photos but rather elegant and airy. The massages and spa treatment menus seemed normal to offerings for a 5-star property, but the spa and steam room were not open in the morning only after noon. There is an impressive amount of staff (not overbearing, but very present), and all who I interacted with were the epitome of service and friendliness. From the hotel it is easy to shuttle to activities like the Macuco Safari boat rides, the Das Aves Bird Park, and an option for Helicopter tours. I’d recommend a minimum of two night stay, while three nights allows a more relaxed pace to experience more of the region and enjoy the hotel amenities. Definitely give yourself time to visit both sides of the Falls, the Brazilian side and the Argentine side, for two very different and stunning experiences!

We treated ourselves to staying here so we could have the closest and easiest access to the park and a little rest & relaxation on our few days of vacation here. We were blown away but the incredible service, the gorgeous ground, the all hours access to the falls, the free nature walk in the morning, the breadth of food options, the amazing pool with its attentive servers, the wine bar with excellent recommendations and the amazing breakfast buffet! We took advantage of as much as we could and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I would absolutely stay again and recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable and special trip to Iguazu falls, It really was an incredible hotel and made our visit really enjoyable! Really cannot recommend the property, staff, location or service highly enough, worth every penny!

This is the best hotel that we have ever stayed at! It was a perfect way to end our 31 day trip to Antarctica and South America. We just loved the Belmond and the falls! The staff knew you and addressed you by name and couldn't do enough for you. We booked a Superior Garden View Room 1130 for two nights. Beautiful facility throughout. The queen bed was very comfy. High quality furniture throughout the room and high quality individual toiletries-shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and bar soap. There was a marble bathroom with shower over the bathtub. There were flip-flops and bathrobes in the room. Could access the Brazilian side of the park before and after hours which was just perfect as there were so few people. Brazilian park fee was added onto our room bill which was about $17 per person. All stays included daily buffet breakfast, daily bottled water (1 per person), a few sodas, wifi, daily turndown service, access to fitness center and sauna, and use of tennis court. Breakfast buffet was wonderful with many hot and cold items which were all labelled. We ate dinner at both the Itaipu Restaurant and the Taroba Bar. Both had delicious food but would definitely recommend the Itaipu. Refrig in room. Would recommend to walk up the few flights of stairs to the Mirante Tower which gives a nice view of the area. The tower is inside the Belmond and free of charge. We arrived about 4 pm on the first day. After settling in, we walked the Brazilian side of the park and then ate at Itapui Restaurant. On the second day, a driver picked us up from the Belmond gate at 9AM and we went to the Argentinian side of the falls. It takes approximately an hour to get there and an hour back. We stayed there about 6 hours and then ate at the Bar Taroba at the Belmond when we returned. On the day, that we left, we walked on the Brazilian side of the Falls, did Macuco Safari Boat ride on our own (which was less expensive than booking through the Belmond-about $55 each), did a helicopter tour on the Brazilian side through Helisur and saw the Bird Park (Parque das Aves) near the entrance of the Brazilian falls gate. We checked out in the morning and were able to leave our luggage in a storage area. Our flight didn't leave until the evening. The staff offered us the opportunity to use the spa facilities and shower in late afternoon before we left. That was great as we had been to Macuco Safari Boat ride and needed to freshen up. Instead of using the hotel transportation from the Argentina airport to the hotel and a roundtrip private transfer to the Argentina side of the falls, we used I South America instead at about half the cost. Since the Belmond is inside of the park and no private cars are allowed, you will need to stop at the Belmond gate where they will shuttle you another 10-15 minutes to the Belmond Hotel, free of charge. We flew out of the Brazilian airport at Foz do Iguacu. After we took the hotel shuttle to the Belmond gate, we got an uber to take us to the airport which cost about $3, less expensive than the hotel charges.

My husband and I visited this hotel during the current world wide health crisis. We were concerned that we would not be able to visit the falls however we ended up having the most special of experiences, as we were had the falls all to ourselves😲 All of the staff at the hotel made our stay memorable during this difficult time. We cannot fault this hotel at all and would highly recommend.