Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Brazil / Foz do Iguaçu / Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls
Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil · Belmond · Apex Luxury
Hotel das Cataratas began construction in the 1940s with the intention of housing a casino, but when gambling was banned in Brazil the project was repurposed as a hotel, finally opening in 1958 under President Kubitschek in a pale-pink Portuguese colonial style. Two additional wings followed in 1971 and 1982. It remains the only hotel located within Brazil's Iguassu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving guests access to the falls pathways before 9am and after 5pm, with the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls just steps from the entrance. Belmond, then Orient-Express Hotels, acquired the property in 2007 and invested US$42 million in a restoration led by French designer Michel Jouannet, completed in 2010. The hotel also became the first in Latin America to receive ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification, reflecting its dual identity as both a historic building and an environmentally recognized property inside a protected natural landscape.
- 176 rooms
- Opened 1958
- Rooms from 194 sq ft (18 m²)
- Architect: Michel Jouannet
- Interiors: Michel Jouannet
About Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls
- The Itaipu Dam treaty between Brazil and Paraguay was signed inside the hotel's own restaurant, which still carries the dam's name.
- MICHELIN gave the hotel Three Keys in 2025, the same year it landed on the World's 50 Best Hotels list.
- Entry-level rooms start at 194 sq ft (18 m²).
History
Construction began in the 1940s with the original intention of housing a casino, but when gambling was banned in Brazil the project was repurposed as a hotel. Hotel das Cataratas finally opened in 1958 under President Kubitschek, built in a distinctive pale-pink Portuguese colonial hacienda style. Two additional wings were added in 1971 and 1982. Belmond (then Orient-Express Hotels) acquired it in 2007 and invested US$42 million in a comprehensive restoration by French designer Michel Jouannet that was completed in 2010. The hotel became the first in Latin America to receive ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification.
The setting
The only hotel within Brazil's Iguassu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving guests exclusive access to the Iguazu Falls pathways before 9am and after 5pm. The Brazilian side of the falls is just steps from the hotel entrance. 14 km from Foz do Iguaçu International Airport.
Restaurants and bars
- Restaurante Y — Restaurant · Creative Brazilian cuisine
- Bistrô Ipê — Poolside
- Bar Tarobá — Bar
Experiences
- Exclusive falls access — Guests have exclusive access to the falls before or after public visiting hours, as the hotel is inside the park.
- Exploring the Falls before public opening — The only hotel inside Iguaçu National Park in Brazil, giving access to the falls without the crowds.
- Kids Club — Kids Club for ages 4 to 10, daily 12–8pm, with treasure hunts, campfires, storytelling, puppet shows and painting.
- Supporting Projeto Onças do Iguaçu — Guests can get involved with the hotel's support for an NGO dedicated to wild jaguars.
- Curated rainforest activities — Rainforest activities curated by the hotel.
- Bird Park, Macuco Safari and guided Falls tours — Off-property local attractions for family adventure, reached from the hotel.
Amenities
- Exclusive early/late access to Iguazu Falls (before 9am and after 5pm)
- Pool
- Spa
- Fitness center
- Colonial gardens
- On-site helipad
- UNESCO access advantage (only hotel inside the national park)
- Sauna
- Tennis
- Kids club
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- La Liste World's Best Hotels (2026)
- MICHELIN Three Keys (2026)
- World's 50 Best Hotels 51-100 (2025)
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification (first in Latin America)
Open Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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