Gran Melia Iguazu Review: The Best Hotel Near Iguazu Falls

If you’re traveling across the world to see Iguazu Falls, you’ll want to spend as much time there as possible—which means staying at a hotel near Iguazu Falls. The closest hotel near Iguazu Falls on the Argentina side is the Gran Melia Iguazu. The Gran Melia Iguazu is the only hotel located inside Iguazu National Park, and the location alone makes it worth the price.

We stayed here on a very romantic milestone anniversary trip, and it was the perfect choice. I debated whether or not it was worth the money to stay at this hotel (instead of much cheaper ones just outside the park), and I’m so glad we splurged.

Staying at the Gran Melia Iguazu allowed us to have an unforgettable experience. Since the hotel is inside the park, we were able to walk into the park before the train to the falls started running and be completely alone at Devil’s Throat, the famous waterfall, which is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel. The stillness and beauty of the moment were incredible, and we had it entirely to ourselves until the train started running and tourists flooded the viewing platform.

Aside from the location, is this luxury hotel the best hotel in Iguazu Falls? Read on for our honest review.

The Unforgettable Moment: Sipping Champagne while admiring the falls from the rooftop terrace.

Pros

The unbeatable location inside the park allows you to access the falls before the crowds do
Luxury accommodations
Views of Devil’s Throat from some of the rooms and common areas
Large infinity pool
Four onsite restaurants
Full-service spa
Recently renovated

Cons

Due to the location, you’ll see lots of tourists wandering around the grounds
Lines to check in can be long
Jungle view rooms don’t have views of the falls and can be disappointing
Food at the restaurants can feel repetitive after a few nights and there are no dining options nearby

Rooms

There are 14 room types to choose from, all of which are clean, airy, and modern, following Gran Melia’s recent renovation and conversion from a Sheraton property. Book early to snag a falls view room. Jungle view rooms do not overlook Iguazu Falls. All of the falls view rooms have balconies from which to admire the waterfalls, and the larger suites have bigger terraces which are great for lounging.

Book a suite on the Red Level to receive extra attention from the staff and access to a private lounge with incredible falls views and the water feature in the spa.

Luxury Check In’s Choice: The Junior Suite Falls View is the ultimate choice for a romantic vacation to Iguazu Falls. The spacious suite has an indulgent rain shower and soaking tub, as well as a large terrace that’s perfect for watching the sunset over the falls.

Restaurants

With such a remote location, you’ll be limited to the restaurants within the Gran Melia. There are three restaurants and four bars, and you can opt for half-board (dinner) or full-board (lunch and dinner) packages.

The restaurants at the Gran Melia Iguazu are:

Merkado

The main dining room which overlooks Iguazu Falls. Merkado has an indoor and outdoor dining area, and live music and shows are played at night.

Alter Rooftop Bar

A panoramic rooftop terrace with incredible views of Iguazu Falls. We loved coming up here for a sunset drink. Most nights, there will be live music or a live DJ at the rooftop bar.

Amaro Restaurant, Bar, and Lounge

A more relaxed dining option with tapas-style cuisine. We enjoyed Amaro as a quick dinner option that had more variety than Merkado.

Bar Merkado

A lounge serving appetizers, snacks, and cocktails with a beautiful view of the falls. The outdoor space is nice during the day.

Gala Pool Bar

A place to get a snack or light meal next to the pool. Lots of healthy options like fruits and salads are available.

Location + How to Get There

Luxury Check In Tip: You’ll need to have an entrance ticket to access the hotel, which is within the national park. You can buy tickets online in advance here.

Gran Melia Iguazu: FAQ

Which side of Iguazu Falls is better to stay on?

We chose to stay on the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls because you can get much closer to the waterfalls than you can on the Brazilian side. However, if you have time, the Brazilian side is great for a day trip (just be warned, you’ll have to get a visa for Brazil) because the Brazilian side has a different viewpoint of the falls.

If you’re looking for the best hotel on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls, we recommend Hotel des Catarates, a luxury hotel closest to the falls on the Brazilian side.

How many rooms does Gran Melia Iguazu have?

The hotel has 183 rooms and suites.

How to get from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls?

The quickest and easiest way to get from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls is to fly. Aerolineas Airlines runs flights between Buenos Aires and Cataratas of Iguazu International Airport (IGR) multiple times a day. The flight takes approximately two hours, and round-trip tickets cost around $250.

The Gran Melia Iguazu is about a 20-minute drive from Iguazu International Airport. The hotel runs a shuttle for a fee, however, there is currently a promotion that gives all guests a free transfer to and from the airport.

Otherwise, taxis are plentiful at the airport and cost around $12 to get to the Gran Melia Iguazu.