A private party with a wonder of the world

What’s better than a hotel stay with a view of one of the wonders of the natural world? How about a check-in that also gains you access to that wonder, after hours, when only a select handful of people remain? In the case of Hotel das Cataratas, the only hotel within the Brazilian side of the national park surrounding the Iguazu Falls (the world’s largest waterfall system), this is exactly what a night here secures you.

This is an otherworldly place, where lush green rainforest surrounds the hotel and teems with life. Oversized tropical plants and flowers grow in abundance, armadillos and frogs to tapirs and monkeys roam the undergrowth, and more than 400 species of bird fill the skies. And at the heart of it is the Falls, around 275 vertical drops of up to 269 feet (82 meters) marking the border between Argentina and Brazil.

The closest part of Iguazu is less than a minute’s walk from the hotel, and once the visiting tourists leave after 6 p.m., an audience with the cascading water feels strangely private and personal (early birds can also get up for the sunrise and be there before the crowds arrive at 9 a.m.).

Even without the Iguazu Falls as its front garden, this would be a hotel worth visiting. As a Belmond property, it’s got a discreet, old-world charm: the Azulejo tiles, oil paintings, marble and dark wood throughout make it feel much more historic than its 66 years. The exterior is finished in a photogenic pink that glows in the sunlight (and matches the extremely cute hotel minivan parked out front). The 187 bedrooms and suites, meanwhile, come with views of either the Falls or the gardens. Four of the ground floor rooms are modified for disabled access.

Throughout, touches of the surrounding landscape intrude: oversize palms and tropical flowers sit in stone tubs, while sprays of local flowers peep from cut-glass vases. Passing an open window is likely to give you a glimpse of the mist floating from Iguazu, or the sound of the roaring waters. Traditional hammocks are slung between the garden trees; orchids line the central pool. 

This is a hotel where you post up for a few days. Food options are good enough that you don’t feel like your choices are limited: Ipe is a classy take on the hotel buffet, while Restaurant Y is more formal. Secure a table with a view over the Falls as you explore chef Luiz Filipe Souza’s contemporary Brazilian creations (try the prawn moqueca). But ultimately, as the sun sets over the water and the rainforest, you’ll be reminded that at this hotel the location—and the view—really is the star of the show

The bigger picture

What guests say

“Great hotel—private access to the park is priceless. Lovely facilities, reasonably priced meals at restaurants and lovely staff.” 
Katherine, one-night trip



“We have traveled a lot, and this is possibly our favourite hotel ever. Unbelievable location, views and the Falls… wow. The hotel is amazing: food, bar, pool and service impeccable.” 
Matthew, one-night trip



“The hotel and its staff are fantastic! Being the only hotel in the park allowed us to have a lot of time without the crowds that came in during the day. The staff did everything and anything they could to make our stay a lifelong memory of great times.” 
Derek, three-night friends’ trip