Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas

The Belmond chain has well-located upscale and luxury outposts around the world, but for many reasons this may be one of their best. This two-story hotel sets an immediately elegant tropical tone, with its pink exterior and grand arched entrance. The 1958-built main building reflects Portuguese colonial design and features a traditional tile roof and cupola with palm trees lining the front. The grounds are lush and green, with trees and shrubs all around. Benches are positioned along the walkways so guests can pause and enjoy the scenery. 

Inside, columns and ornate molding add sophistication to the huge lobby. Charming Portuguese tilework appears here and there throughout the hotel, while ornate hardwood furniture adds a refined polish to the overall aesthetic. Several seating areas provide places for guests to hang out, and there's a living room area with sofas in front of a stone fireplace. The hotel's restaurants and bars bring a lively element to the property, and that's a good thing because there's nothing in the way of entertainment for miles around the hotel (aside from the jungle and falls, of course). This is the only hotel within Iguacu National Park, and as such, there's an exclusive air about the property. Still, it's a cozy, homey setting that appeals to all sorts of travelers who want to be near the falls. 

This hotel has an enviable location right beside Iguacu Falls, the main tourist attraction here, and the reason most people arrive in this part of Brazil. The hotel is in the protected national park and is surrounded by rain forest -- you can see and hear the falls from the hotel. Foz do Iguacu International Airport is about a 20-minute drive northwest of the hotel. The hotel offers transportation to and from the airport and to and from the park entrance. Only cars provided by the hotel or the park's visitors center are allowed within the park. Most guests will have little reason to go into the gritty border town of Foz do Iguacu, but for those that need to it's about a 35-minute drive away. The Argentine border will take about 25 minutes to reach by car. Sao Paulo is about an hour and a half away by plane, and Rio de Janeiro is just under two hours by plane. 

Rooms are bright and airy, and decorated in an appealing Portuguese colonial style, with solid hardwood furniture plus classical accents like two-poster beds. There's a tropical aesthetic about them -- though it's tasteful -- with colorful drapery, hardwood floors, and walls in hues such as melon and yellow. Traditional paintings of local flora and fauna by Brazilian artist Ludmilla de Montes hang on the walls, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs are dressed up with ornate palm-inspired molding. 

All rooms include minibars, air-conditioning, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Even entry-level Superior Rooms are spacious, with 30-square-meter floorplans (323 square feet). Suites have two bedrooms and bathrooms in addition to the living area. Bathrooms feature blue and white traditional azulejos, or painted tiles, that are exclusive to the hotel. Hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, and premium toiletries are provided. The most prized rooms here have views of the falls (as well as being able to pick up on the soft roar of the water), while others look out into the rain forest. Families appreciate the children's bathrobes and slippers plus PlayStation systems, DVDs, and toys. Turndown service is included in room rates.

The hotel's fine-dining restaurant, Itaipu, serves international and Brazilian fusion cuisine for dinner. The traditional setting is elegant and sophisticated, with inlaid wood floors, yellow walls, and white tablecloths. In nice weather, guests can dine on the terrace. Ipe is a more casual venue by the pool serving a buffet breakfast and a buffet and traditional Brazilian barbecue for dinner. It's a bright and airy space, with windows all around and ferns hanging from the ceiling. Breakfast gets rave reviews from guests and includes a wide selection of pastries, breads, fruits, and hot options. Bar Taroba is the place for cocktails and live music each evening. While various packages are available, meals are generally not included in room rates.

The outdoor pool is heated in the winter so it can be used year-round, and there's a small, shallow pool for the little ones. Cushioned lounge chairs and umbrellas line the pool deck, and staff is on hand to provide chilled fruit and free sunscreen. Cataratas Spa offers a variety of treatments using ingredients from the rain forest -- it's a sharp space with lots of elegant hardwood details throughout. A small fitness center has modern treadmills, stationary bikes, an elliptical machine, and weight-training equipment -- windows provide natural light, keeping things thankfully bright. There's also a tennis court on-site. A business center provides computers and a printer for guests to use, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.