Some hotels, as soon as you arrive you know you’ve made the right choice. It’s look, it’s ambiance, it’s style. it’s location. Hotel das Cataratas is one of those hotels.
You can’t get closer to the falls than this. Literally. Hotel das Cataratas is the only hotel located inside the Brazilian side of Iguassu National Park. That means guests get exclusive access to the park at dawn and dusk, long after the crowds have gone – an experience that’s worth the premium price tag. We only stayed one night but during that time we had sunset and sunrise pretty much to ourselves, when during the day the park was packed.
Run by luxury brand Belmond, this historic pink-hued property dates back to the 1950s and oozes colonial charm. Expect polished wooden floors, traditional Portuguese tiles, and tropical gardens dotted with orchids and palms. It feels old-school in the best way, like stepping back to a more glamorous era of travel — but with Wi-Fi, a full-service spa, and an impressive swimming pool.
Rooms are elegant and comfortable, if not huge. Standard rooms face the gardens, while deluxe options offer partial views of the falls. All come with marble bathrooms, free minibar soft drinks, and the kind of crisp linen you’d expect at this level. If you want to splurge, book one of the Cataratas Suites for the best views. If you cannot afford one of these (we couldn’t) climb the stair and small tower. From the top you get great views over the falls for free.
Facilities tick all the five-star boxes: a tennis court, fitness centre, and an excellent spa offering Amazon-inspired treatments. There are two restaurants onsite — the Itaipu Restaurant is the fancy option, serving Brazilian fusion dishes on a candlelit terrace; the Ipê Grill is more casual, with a solid buffet breakfast and barbecue dinners. We ate in the Grill an the food was fine, tasty and local. Breakfast we ate outside, resisting the sparking wine sitting beside the orange juice.
The bar was run by some very knowledgably and friendly staff – we even got a talk from their cachaça sommelier, on the things to look out for with this distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented sugarcane juice. Who know.
The real star here is the location. You can walk straight from your room to the main viewing platform in twenty minutes. There’s no better way to experience Iguassu than strolling the trails in the early morning, without tour groups and selfie sticks, listening to the roar of the water and spotting toucans in the trees.
We left the hotel just as the last coaches and visitors were heading for the gates. Most of our fellow guests were busy in the spa or bar so we had the path that runs along the edge of the falls to ourselves. When we reached the walkway leading out to the viewing platforms, spectacularly positioned on the lip of the falls, there was no one there. No one. We walked out and for 10 glorious (and very wet) minutes had the whole of Iguassu to ourselves. It was a unique and special experience. This is why you pay extra for a hotel – something unique. A spa or bar can be done anywhere.
Hotel staff can also arrange boat rides, helicopter flights, and rainforest walks.
The downside? It’s not cheap, and there’s a minimum two-night stay at certain times. But if you’re making the effort to get here, it’s worth stretching the budget.
Verdict:
A splurge-worthy stay in a genuinely unique location. If you want to wake up to the sound of one of the world’s greatest waterfalls, and have the opportunity to have it to yourselves, this is the place to do it.
We stayed in June, a family of 4. We’ll go again.
