The Best Hotels in Iguazu Falls for Luxury Travelers

There are plenty of hotels in Iguazu Falls to choose from on both sides of the border. This is a very popular tourist destination, after all, the biggest set of waterfalls in the Americas. But for luxury travelers who want better facilities and service, the list of where to stay near Iguazu Falls turns into a very short list of which properties to consider.

They actually spell it a little differently on the Brazil side, as Iguassu Falls or Iguaçu Falls. No matter how you spell it or say it, this is one of the most memorable places you’ll ever visit and if the weather cooperates, you’ll come away with some terrific photos from either country. Ideally you do both sides, however, since the panorama varies a lot depending on where you’re standing. The shot above is from Argentina, the next one down from Brazil.

The list of potential places to stay gets even shorter if you want to see the falls from your hotel — or want to be able to hear them from a balcony. Some of the other options further away are worth considering for different reasons though, so here’s the full rundown of the four properties we recommend.

Follow our links below to see detailed reviews and original photos, or just see them all on one booking page here for Argentina or here for Brazil if you’re ready to commit. Sort by highest price and you should get these if they’re not sold out.

Hotel Das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel (Brazil)

Sometimes it’s great to be first and the company behind Belmond Hotels, once Orient-Express, has long had a knack for snagging prime properties and locations before the destination blows up. They’ve got the longest-reigning property near Iguassu Falls in Brazil, in a prime spot where you can walk two minutes to this lookout point.:

This luxury hotel has something that nobody else can claim, no matter how much they’re willing to invest. This is the only hotel actually in the national park on this side of the falls. After a few starts and stops that perhaps made it seem cursed, the original hotel on this site opened in 1958. It now has 176 rooms in three wings. To really do this right, there are just 17 of those to focus on because they’re the only ones with a clear view of the falls, including the Cataratas Suite.

If those are booked up though, you still get something no regular visitors can: 24/7 access to the waterfalls. So after the throngs of tourists have gone home and all the check-ins have ended, go take a stroll of your own. Then do it again in the morning before anyone arrives. Stay longer than a night and you’ll already experience more than most, especially if you can go explore. Plus you’ll have more time in this 3-Michelin-star hotel with an award-winning chef.

See property picks and our full review of Hotel Das Cataratas, a Belmond Hotel.

Gran Melia Iguazu (Argentina)

Melia hotels are generally too big and commercial for Luxury Latin America, but Hotel Gran Meliá Iguazú is worth making an exception for. Like the one above, it got in and got grandfathered before building regulations keeping everyone else out went into effect. From this property you can see and hear the falls in the distance, like this photo from our correspondent who stayed there:

This is a true resort, starting with the huge swimming pool complex, which our well-traveled reviewer said “just might be the best outdoor hotel pool in Argentina.” Props to Melia for insisting on upgrades when they took over from former manager Sheraton. They tripled the size of the spa, substantially upgraded the gym, built a roof bar where one should have been all along with this view, and added suites to appeal to more upscale travelers.

You do want to upgrade to one of the 11 suites or the 22 “Red Level” rooms here if possible. While the standards do have a balcony, some with falls views, they are quite standard otherwise. Plus you have to watch out for monkeys.

This is not a joke. The capuchins have learned how to open unlocked doors and they will enter your room to ransack the place and eat (and drink) everything in sight. It seems obvious that no one wants drunk monkeys in their hotel room.

The Royal Suite is 3,700 square feet, with its own gardens, and has jaw-dropping views of the Devil’s Throat Falls. If you can afford it, this is the best suite in the whole region. Stay for more than a night here to sample all the different dining and bar options and to wander the path to the falls before the crowds arrive.

See our full review of Hotel Gran Melia Iguazu in Argentina.

Awasi Iguazu (Argentina)

Awasi hotels are known for a limited number of rooms, super-personalized service, and a sense of adventure with an upscale all-inclusive arrangement. The location near the waterfalls in Argentina is less than a decade in now, meant to provide more than a one-night stand for tourists in a hurry.

This is the only Relais & Chateaux group property in the area, which makes it a magnet for gourmands, even better since whatever you order is included in the rates. The three-course lunches and dinners offer several options and you can pair with one of the included wines or dive into their extensive cellar.

The excursions include the famous waterfalls, of course, but go beyond that to other offerings in the area to explore deeper, all customized to what gets you excited. Then when it’s time to relax, you’ll enjoy some of nicest rooms in the region.

Huge windows look out on the rainforest. Inside, the décor is long on wood and muted natural colors with a sunken living room, great bed and bedding, ceiling fans and air conditioning, and a JBL speaker. A furnished patio comes with a private plunge pool that’s just the right size and temperature to do the trick on hot and humid days.

Read our full review of Awasi Iguazu to see how elevated the cuisine here is and get more insight into the suites and facilities.

Iguazu Grand Hotel (Argentina)

This is the least luxurious place to stay in Iguazu Falls on our short recommended list, but it’s worth considering if you’re coming to this area on a family vacation. It’s the best upscale place to stay if you’re traveling with kids. It’s easy to reach in Puerto Iguazu if you fly in.

The rooms here are not skimpy, with the smallest ones being junior suites of 430 square feet. It goes up from there to Garden Suites of 750 square feet and three splash-out ones that are much larger. Once you move up the scale, there’s a pull-out sofa bed for the kid(s).

There’s plenty of garden space with giant palm trees and the three pools feature cascading decorative waterfalls, plenty of lounge chairs, and a pool bar. There’s also a heated indoor pool at the spa, along with a sauna, steam room, and gym. Tennis courts and a casino are also on site.

Our food-focused correspondent was pleasantly surprised by the restaurant offerings, making this one a good value for families wanting to maximize their budget while still enjoying an upscale stay. See our detailed review of Iguazu Grand by Grand Hotels Lux.

If any new and notable luxury hotels in Iguazu Falls open up, we’ll be there to check them out and add them to our reviews. Meanwhile, we hope your stay goes well in this spectacular location!