Look up ‘exclusivity’ in the dictionary and there's probably a photo of Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. Surrounded by 700,000 acres of pristine national park, this uber-swish hotel is literally as close as you can get to one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders, Iguazu Falls. It's the only hotel on the Brazilian side of the park and your only neighbour for miles (and miles) is pristine emerald forest, bursting at the seams with tropical flora and fauna including wild dog and armadillos. The soundtrack of the crashing falls accompanies activities from dawn to dusk and back at the hotel, there's a pool to float in, caipirinhas to sip, and two delicious restaurants to make use of. Oh, and did we mention you'll be the first into the park in the morning?
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If there’s a hotel that can pull off a pastel-pink façade, it’s Belmond. Emanating 19th-century Portuguese palace vibes, the grandiose (pink!) building sits pretty amidst the jungle greenery. Inside, the décor is classy and cosy: picture wooden floors, pops of colourful rugs and cushions, chic chandeliers, and juicy plants all around. With a menu for all moments, Ipê Grill has some of the most delicious meat cuts you'll encounter, while fancier Itaipu is all about Brazilian fusion - an experience best enjoyed on the veranda. To wind down after a day exploring, choose between the tennis courts, the Amazonian-inspired spa, the outdoor pool or the bar, where the passion fruit caipirinhas are a always a highlight.
Housing close to 200 rooms and suites, there are plenty of options. Flawlessly decorated in a Portuguese style, the rooms all feature artisanal fabrics and local artwork in exquisite combination with the dark wooden floors and headboards. Minibars are personalised on request and the spacious bathrooms have tubs with showers and an array of luxury toiletries, and are dressed in wonderful azulejo tiles designed exclusively for the hotel. Our top tip? Secure a room with views of the Falls, some of which even come with a private plunge pool, or splurge on a Cataratas Suite and take in the views of the Falls from a choice of four balconies.
The hotel offers an assortment of unique activities around the park, including a privately-guided tour before the official opening hours and the unmissable Macuco Safari, which starts with a jungle jeep ride before hitting the water to get up close to the waterfalls. If you’re hungry for adventure, hike hidden trails teeming with wildlife (eyes peeled for wild dog) or even charter a helicopter for a bird’s eye views of the Falls and surrounding landscapes. For a spot of down time, there’s plenty on offer at the hotel: join a night photography workshop, settle down for sunset cocktails on the lawn, or enjoy a cachaça experience and learn all about the caipirinha's star ingredient. And of course, there’s always the spa.
If the hotel was any closer to the Falls, you’d probably be sprayed! Simply stroll 30 seconds from the door and you're there. This unrivalled access also means enjoying the park outside the strict 9-5 opening hours.
Don’t miss out on the Macuco Safari. A thrilling speedboat ride downriver, you'll get the best views of the Devil’s Throat. Be prepared to get wet, however....!
Food at the hotel restaurants is outstanding, but can be pricey, and the hotel’s idyllic yet isolated location means there aren’t any alternatives in the vicinity, so consider this in your budget.
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A Natural Wonder of the World and completely magic, these majestic falls have to be seen to be believed
