Where to stay near Iguazu Falls: complete guide

Do you want to know where to stay near Iguazu Falls? These amazing waterfalls are located between Foz do Iguaçu, in Brazil, and Puerto Iguazú, in Argentina. To help you make the most of your tours of the falls and other attractions nearby, I will share the best locations and recommendations of places to stay, ranging from resorts to budget inns and hostels.

But before I go on, I should warn you that this is a very popular destination on Brazilian public holidays and school vacations (December, January, and July). If you are traveling on high season, I recommend booking accommodation in advance to make sure you get good value for money.

If you’re plan on renting a car (which makes your life much easier around there), it is also worth booking it in advance. I went there between Christmas and New Year and the rental stores had almost nothing available.

Overview of the best locations to stay near Iguazu Falls

Before I talk about specific accommodation recommendations, let’s understand the best locations to stay near Iguazu Falls. For starters, there is no better location than inside the National Park itself, with special access to the falls, whether that is on the Brazilian or the Argentinian side.

If your budget doesn’t allow for such an exclusive experience, of if you’re also interested in enjoying city life beyond the falls, no worries: there are great hotels in Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) and Puerto Iguazú (Argentina).

I’ll explain it below, but in most cases, I advise you to stay in Foz do Iguaçu. It’s a bigger city with many other interesting attractions, and from there you can easily cross to the Argentinian side for the day.

And if you do choose to stay in Foz do Iguaçu (also known simply as Foz), the most convenient locations are the city center orthe city’s main avenue, Avenida das Cataratas.

Downton Foz you will find hotels with good value for money and easy access to public transportation, shops, bars, and restaurants. On Avenida das Cataratas, most hotels have a very complete infrastructure, including all-inclusive resorts, and access to the main attractions is very easy if you rent a car.

Below, I will give more details about each of the most popular regions to stay near Iguazu Falls, share some suggestions of accommodations for different budgets and talk about where I stayed when I went there.

Where to stay near Iguazu Falls

Where to stay in Foz do Iguaçu city center

If you don’t rent a car and want to get around by public transport, or if you want to enjoy the nightlife without worries, the best area to stay near Iguazu Falls is in Foz do Iguaçu city center. There you will be close to many restaurants, shops, pharmacies, ATMs, etc.

From the urban bus terminal (TTU), which is located in this area, you can reach the main tourist attractions in Foz and surrounding areas, including those in Paraguay and Argentina. Therefore, choosing accommodation close to the terminal will make your life easier.

Many hotels in downtown Foz are concentrated around an avenue called Jorge Schimmelpfeng (yeah, I can’t pronounce it either!). There are several bars and restaurants in the area, what makes it a good location for those who value nightlife. You can also take a bus from there to TTU and to Iguazu National Park.

Among the best places to stay in downtown Foz do Iguaçu are the Ibis Foz do Iguaçu, which offers good value for money, the excellent Bogari Hotel and the highly praised Nadai Confort Hotel and Spa. Another good choice is Tarobá Hotel, which is 5 minutes away from the bus terminal.

It’s also worth considering the great JL Hotel By Bourbon, which many people recommended to me, and the Del Rey Quality Hotel.

In case you are looking for a hostel in Foz do Iguaçu, whether to save money or to meet people, I recommend Tetris Container Hostel: as its name implies, it is made up of containers. They offer both shared and private rooms.

There is also CLH Suítes, which used to be a hostel from the international Che Lagarto chain and now offers private rooms with great value for money.

Want more? See all accommodation options in Foz do Iguaçu city center.

You might also like to read:

Where to stay in Manaus, Brazil: complete guide
Where to stay in Rio de Janeiro: best accommodation tips by a local

Where to stay on Avenida das Cataratas

As I said above, another great location to stay near Iguazu Falls is Avenida das Cataratas, which gives you very easy access to the Brazilian side of Iguazu National Park, the airport of Foz do Iguaçu and Parque das Aves (Birds Park), among other attractions.

This is the ideal choice for those who are going there by car or intend to rent one, and for anyone who wants to stay in a hotel with a more complete structure, as most of the accommodation there has a big leisure area.

For those without a car, it’s good to know that there aren’t as many options for stores and services on the Avenida das Cataratas as there are in the city center. On the other hand, as many accommodations in this area have good restaurants, and some of them are even all-inclusive, you may not even want to leave the hotel.

I traveled to Foz do Iguaçu with family, and we thought this location was ideal for us. We stayed at Vivaz Cataratas, which has a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and entertainment service, making it great for those traveling with children. Guests also have access to the Aquamania water park, which is right next door. We were quite happy with it.

Another good hotel recommendation in the area is the Mabu Thermas Grand Resort, which is more expensive, but has an all-inclusive system and heated pools.

I also heard great things about Wish Foz do Iguaçu, which is surrounded by a lot of green and has an excellent structure. Other highly praised hotels around there are Bourbon Cataratas do Iguaçu Thermas Eco Resort, Eco Cataratas Resort and Recanto Cataratas.

If you are looking for a holiday home in Foz do Iguaçu that will accommodate a big family or group of friends, it is worth checking out the San Martin Family House.

Accommodation within the Iguazu National Park

If your budget allows it, the best place to stay near the Iguazu Falls is right by the falls themselves, within the Cataratas National Park. That’s right: you can spend the night inside the park, either in the Brazilian or the Argentinian side.

On the Brazilian side of the Falls, there is a single hotel: the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. It is a 5 stars hotel, and in addition to the great facilities and highly praised service, anyone who stays there has the privilege of visiting the falls at times when the park is closed to the public. Not to mention that you can see some of the falls from the hotel itself and from one of its restaurants. What an experience it must be!

On the Argentine side of Iguazu Park it is also possible to have this type of experience: the Gran Meliá Iguazú is also located inside the park. I heard that it’s not as amazing as the Brazilian one, but it’s still a top-notch hotel and offers an unbeatable dose of convenience for those who want to fully enjoy the park.

Where to stay in Puerto Iguazú

Is it worth it staying in Puerto Iguazú, the city on the Argentine side of the border? It depends. The city is small and does not have many attractions, shops, and restaurants than its Brazilian sister.

But it could be a good idea if you like to visit places less explored by mass tourism, if you want to have more contact with Argentinian culture or if you intend to visit the Argentinian side of the Falls in two consecutive days – which is worth it, if you have the time (I’m Brazilian, but I confess I preferred their side!).

If you stay in Puerto Iguazú, you can arrive at the Argentine park earlier and enjoy it more calmly, as you don’t have to travel there and go through immigration at the border.

However, this option works better for those who rent a car, at least if you want to visit more than just the falls. You can go by bus from there to the Falls, both on the Argentine and Brazilian side, but it is more complicated to go from there to the Itaipu Plant or to Paraguay, for example.

FYI, Puerto Iguazú’s city center is about 17 km from Foz do Iguaçu airport, 17 km from the Iguazú National Park, and 14 km from the center of Foz do Iguaçu.

Some highly recommended hotels there are the Saint George, which has a pleasant atmosphere and is close to the bus station; Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru, which is in the middle of the forest; and the Iguazu Jungle Lodge, which looks beautiful and is located in a quiet location, but still close to the city center.

You will also find some simpler, but well-rated inns and hotels there, such as Arapy Bed and Dream, and others of an intermediate level, such as El Descanso Iguazú by DOT Cabana and Rincón Escondido B&B.

If you want to save money and make friends, hostel options in Puerto Iguazú with a good reputation are the Iguazu Falls and the Cataratas Jazz Hostel, both with private and shared rooms.

Also see all the accommodation options in Puerto Iguazú.

Where to stay near the Iguazu Falls for free

Did you know it’s possible to stay in Foz do Iguaçu for free? It’s quite simple: you just need to apply to be a volunteer through Worldpackers, a work exchange platform. You help the host with a few hours of work each week, and in return you’ll receive accommodation and other perks, such as meals and tours.

In Foz do Iguaçu there are some cool volunteering opportunities: you can be a kitchen assistant at an artisanal bakery or make cocktails and welcome guests at a hostel, for instance. You can see all available positions in Foz do Iguaçu on their website.

Besides saving a lot of money, traveling like this allows for a deeper cultural immersion. I’ve done it a few times and I think it’s great for those who want to make friends and get to know the destination much beyond the tourist attractions.

Anyone can see the opportunities available at Worldpackers for free. If you want to sign up for one of them and have access to the platform’s insurance, you must pay an annual fee of 49 USD. But if you click here or use the JANELASABERTAS discount coupon you only pay 39 USD. Registration gives you the right to use the platform as many times as you want throughout over 140 countries for a year.

If you want more information, read my full article on how to do a work exchange.

Photos by Luísa Ferreira (Janelas Abertas), Unsplash and Pixabay/Creative Commons.

Disclaimer: if you book your stay through the links in this article, I earn a small commission that allows me to bring more and more content (and you don’t pay anything extra). Transparency is a core value here.