Accommodations in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
If your plans for the future include a visit to Iguazú Falls (if you are a traveler – it should) we would recommend staying for a night or two in the area. The falls are truly one of the natural wonders of the world. Learn more from our article on visiting Iguazú National Park in Argentina.
If you are inclined toward deluxe accommodations you can’t do any better than the Gran Melia Iguazu, a five star resort located right at the park with spectacular views of the falls and it’s only a short drive from the airport. All the remaining accommodations are about twelve to fifteen miles away in the town of Puerto Iguazú which boasts almost a dozen four star* rated hotels.
We booked our stay at the Hotel Saint George and were pleased with its location. Overall the staff was very friendly and helpful, the rooms were large, clean and well appointed. The pool patio area was attractive with a nice restaurant, snack bar.
The Saint George is located right in the middle of town and right across the street was the Restaurant Parrilla where we enjoyed pizza and beers in the evening with a tango dance show that was a surprise bonus.
After a day at the falls we went back to the Saint George to clean up and pick up our bags before our flight. Again the staff was most accommodating, providing us with a place to clean up with plenty of towels.
When you start planning your trip and begin reading reviews keep in mind that you are going to be visiting an isolated area and even four star ratings will most likely not rise to the level you’ve come to expect in the U.S. or Europe. After all it is an outpost of civilization a couple of hundred miles up into the South American rain forest. For that reason you should discount many of the negative reviews you read. We did and were generally pleased with our choices for this part of our trip.
Iguazú Falls is a popular tourist attraction and still growing in popularity with Porto Iguazú being a major tourist town with a selection of good restaurants and nice hotels. The town features a number of hotels in the three and four star category that are generally well appointed, clean and with friendly staffs. January is peak season and there are more than a few of these hotels priced at under US$100.
- Gran Melia Iguazú • 5 Stars $425
- Falls Iguazú Hotel & Spa • 4 Stars $150
- El Pueblito Iguazú • 3.5 Stars $85
- La Aldea de la Selva Lodge • 4 Stars $95
- Selva de Laurel • 3.5 Stars $75
South of town away from the falls, overlooking the river are some additional accommodations.
- Tupo Lodge • 4 Stars under $100
If you are exploring on a budget the roads going into town are lined with economy hotels, cabins and a few camp grounds and when we were there in January there were a number of vacancies. Some economy accommodations include:
- Hostel Haus $20
- Hostel Bambú Puerto Iguazú $35
- Jasy Hotel $55
Argentina FYIs
Literally everywhere you go in Argentina you’ll find people drinking using an odd mug and a metal straw. It’s Mata and it’s a national obsession. Mate (pr. MAH-tay), is a traditional South American herbal drink made from steeping the leaves of the yerba mate plant (Ilex paraguariensis) in hot water, commonly enjoyed with friends using a metal straw.
Like French Fries? In Argents they love fries but the common dip isn’t ketchup, it’s mayonnaise and the universally call it Hellmans.
If you’re a wine lover, the local varietal is Melbec and originally native to Cahors in South West France. With its introduction to the vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina in particular, in just a few short decades Malbec has shot from relative obscurity to international fame and is now better known as the iconic deep red wine grape of Argentina. With incredible pricing don’t pass this one up.
The Intentional Travelers 