Where to Stay in Iguazu Falls: The Best Iguazu Hotels

When you’re deciding on where to stay in Iguazu Falls you first have to make three decisions. Choose your own adventure, if you will.

First, do you want to stay in Argentina or Brazil?

Second, will you stay inside the park or outside the park? (Spoiler alert, this will come down to your budget).

Finally, after you choose Argentina (my bias is showing) and if your budget doesn’t allow for a hotel in the park, you must choose if you want to stay downtown or in a jungle lodge.

Convenience or ambiance?

And of course, there are options in all categories for all budgets.

Iguazu is arguably the largest tourist destination in all of Argentina and there is no shortage of hotels here.

Which is why when booking my third trip there this year I fell into a bit of decision paralysis… I wanted to stay at at least 5-7 of the hotels I looked at. I found it hard to pick one jungle tree house lodge out of the many tempting options.

Hopefully, my dive down the rabbit hole of Iguazu hotels benefits you, the reader. Because I did, in fact, do quite a bit of research. And when I was there last week, I kept my eyes open, checking every hotel’s location and reputation.

So, let’s get going, here’s my guide on where to stay in Iguazu Falls.

Quick List: The Best Iguazu Hotels

Short on time and just want a quick recommendation?

Here’s a quick list of my favorite places for each category/budget for those who don’t have the time or interest to read the whole article.

• Best Overall | Gran Melia Iguazu | Luxury hotel inside the national park
• My Favorite Jungle Lodge | La Aldea de la Selva
• Best Luxury Jungle Lodge | Loi Suites (big) or Overo Lodge (boutique)
• Best City Hotel IN Puerto Iguazu | Hotel Saint George
• Best hostel | The Host

Want more information? Keep reading the whole article for greater detail!

Step 1: Where to stay in Iguazu: Brazil or Argentina?

The first question to tackle is a big one, which country should you base yourself on? Which side of the park?

Since the falls straddle the border between the two countries you need to pick Puerto Iguazu in Argentina or Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil to use as your base.

I’ll cut to the chase, stay in Argentina except for a couple reasons: you want to stay at the Belmond inside Brazil’s national park or you have a God awful early flight out of Foz do Iguaçu for some reason.

Puerto Iguazu is smaller and nicer. Foz do Iguaçu is bigger and more urban/concrete. It is a sprawling city.

Aren’t we here to get into nature?

And while Puerto Iguazu is smaller, there is more than enough in the way of hotels, activities, and dining. The Argentina side is generally also more economical overall.

Flight/Itinerary Tip: I said flight out of Foz, and that is because if your trip continues onwards into Brazil instead of Argentina, you’ll likely get a better flight out of Foz (or vice versa if you’re arriving from Rio).

Hotels inside Iguazu Falls National Park

You’re picking where to stay in Iguazu and your budget is free as a bird, where do you choose?

Stay inside the national park, don’t second guess it, book it.

There is only one hotel inside Iguazu Falls National Park in Argentina – The Gran Melia, and in Brazil you have the Belmond’s Hotel das Cataratas.

To be honest, the main attraction here is the falls. You are missing nothing if you go nowhere but one of these two hotels and the falls and skip seeing the cities.

This is a rare destination where I say, treat yourself and do less.

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The Argentina Side: The Meliá Iguazú

I stayed here in 2015 when it was still a Sheraton and while the hotel was a bit shabby then it was still absolutely spectacular having that level of access to the park.

Now, after millions of dollars in renovations, the Gran Melia is impeccable.

Check availability and pricing here.

During our stay there in 2015, we rolled out of bed and were on the catwalks alone, without a single other tourist, for a solid hour.

During the heat of midday we would return to the hotel for lunch and a rest, then we returned to see the falls at golden hour and closing time (again, fewer tourists). You can’t go back to your hotel for a quick lunch/rest anywhere else.

Now that the property is run by Meliá, they have leveled it into a dignified five star luxury stay.

The infinity pool (with views of the falls), club access, rooms and dining are all at the level that they should be for this price point.

There are three restaurants with views of the falls, a spa and hammam, and even tennis courts if you’re ambitious.

Check prices for your stay.

The Brazilian Side: Hotel das Cataratas by Belmond

Brazil’s side of the falls also has a hotel right inside Iguassu Falls National Park, the Hotel das Cataratas by Belmond.

Where the Melia is a modern design, Hotel das Cataratas is old world luxury.

While Argentina’s side of the falls has a lot more to do as far as paths and hikes, you may prefer the Belmond if you want to treat yourself to more exclusive experiences or spend more of your time relaxing.

Brazil’s side of the falls can be seen in just a couple of hours but with the after hours access you get from Hotel das Cataratas you can see the park without any other tourists around via their sunset or moonlight tours.

The entrance to the hotel leads straight to the paths to view the falls.

The pool, spa, and dining will all combine to an unforgettable experience if what you’re looking for is to see one of the world’s natural wonders and also treat yourself, leaving more relaxed than you cam.

Check rates & availability here.

The Best Accommodation in Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Don’t have the budget for the hotels in the parks?

No worries.

Here are all the best places to stay in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina – jungle or city.

Iguazu Jungle Lodges

Once you look into where to stay in Iguazu, you’ll quickly notice a lot of treehouse style lodges in the jungle.

Almost all of them are in the exact same place – in the Iryapú Reserve, a 600 hectare nature reserve that has become a haven for luxury hotels.

Whichever you pick here, you can be assured you’ll have the same view/nature experience.

So base your choice on the amenities and price point that suits you best (I highlighted where we chose to stay):

• Loi Suites | $$$$ | Five star luxury hotel with a gorgeous pool for the muggy summer days, restaurant with tables overlooking the pool and jungle view rooms and a high rated spa (treat yourself!). It is a reader favorite.
• Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru | $$$ | Another 5 star property but at a lower price point than Loi Suites.
• La Reserva Virgin Lodge | $$$ | This is a fan favorite, guests rave about the Virgin Lodge and its treehouse vibe. Wooden paths weave through the jungle to the rooms, it’s incredibly charming (I stayed at their Mocona property and loved it). Ask for a room in their newly renovated wing.
• La Aldea de la Selva Lodge | $$ | This is where we stayed on our most recent trip. It was as the Argentines say – Bueno, Bonito, y Barato (Cheap, Beautiful & Nice). The rooms were very spacious and were all spread out through the jungle with wooden paths connecting the separate cabins/buildings. The pool was large and beautifully surrounded by the trees. The breakfast buffet (included) and lunch/dinner menus (affordable) were excellent. I can’t recommend this hotel enough! For the price, it was pretty unbeatable.
• Tierra Guarani Lodge | $$ | Another budget friendly option to compare with La Aldea de la Selva.
• Overo Lodge | $$$$ | This four star lodge isn’t in the Iryapú Reserve but it’s less than a 5 minute drive away. It’s luxurious cozy cabins are hidden in the jungle, this is an excellent option for couples looking for a charming & romantic luxury option.

IGUAZU LUXURY ALTERNATIVE: Another luxury property opened in recent years, the Pristine Luxury Camp Iguazu. This property (they have another location on the Salinas Grandes) is a place to spoil yourself. Instead of using this as your Iguazu hotel, I’d use it as an addition to the trip.

It’s a long drive from the falls – 1.5 hours – so not ideal for a transit to the park. Instead, come here after the falls to spoil yourself in nature.

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City Hotels in Puerto Iguazu

If you want to stay IN the city to be walking distance to the restaurants and shops, there are fewer options I love but the ones below recommend are great!

• Hotel Saint George | Hotel, $$$ | The 4 star Saint George is the best hotel within the city and the price is competitive. From the concrete exterior you’d never know that such a green oasis awaits you inside. The pool (note: pool is closed/under renovation until October 2024) is a must for hot summer afternoons after the falls, the family rooms make it a great hotel for kids, and you’re steps from the best restaurants and bus station.
• Secret Garden Iguazu | Bed & Breakfast, $$$ | Charming bed & breakfast just a short walk from downtown in a quieter residential neighborhood. It has a beautiful garden (no pool), breakfast included, and attentive staff.
• The Host | Hostel, $ | The highest rated hostel in Iguazu – guests rave about the friendly staff, the organized outings to clubs and attractions, and the space itself. It’s an excellent option for solo travelers.

Accommodation in Iguazu Falls, Brazil

I honestly would 10 times out of 10 recommend you stay in Puerto Iguazu (Argentina’s side).

But everyone is different and maybe Foz do Iguaçu is right up your alley. A friend of my husband stays there every year. It’s their spot. They like the city’s infrastructure, the child friendly museums (like a wax museum) and spending days at their hotel’s water park.

For example, the new Double Tree has a great pool for families with a water park.

If you want a full resort more geared to adults and an upscale experience, the Sanma Resort is beautiful.

But for your typical Iguazu holiday, I still recommend the Argentina side recommendations mentioned everywhere else in the article.

Read More about Iguazu Falls

• Practical Guide to Iguazu Falls, Argentina
• How to get from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls
• Misiones Road Trip – We went on a 5 day Misiones road trip (everywhere but Iguazu), if you have time to explore combine it with Iguazu for the perfect jungle road trip
• Things to know about Misiones
• Esteros del Ibera Wetlands – Just a few hours away are Argentina’s wetlands!