Gran Meliá Iguazú Review: The Hotel Inside the Falls | OffTheGrid Travel
Gran Meliá Iguazú, inside Argentina's Iguazú National Park
Most visitors to Iguazú come for the day and leave by late afternoon. Guests at Gran Meliá Iguazú stay on. As the only hotel inside Argentina's Iguazú National Park, it places you within the 67,000-hectare reserve itself, with the trails, the rainforest and the falls on the doorstep long after the day visitors have gone.
All refurbished, with jungle or waterfall views.
Set above the rainforest, with a pool bar alongside.
From Argentine barbecue to a rooftop cocktail bar.
Why stay inside Iguazú National Park?
Location is the whole argument. Stay in the town of Puerto Iguazú and each day starts with a drive to the park gates. Stay at Gran Meliá Iguazú and the trails and the park's eco-train start close to the hotel. Early mornings on the walkways are quieter, and there is no need to leave when the park empties. It is a stay built around the falls, rather than a visit squeezed in around them.
The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the hotel sits in Misiones Province, around 25 minutes by car from Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport.
What are the rooms like at Gran Meliá Iguazú?
All 176 rooms have been refurbished, and the choice comes down to the view. Deluxe Rooms, at 25 sqm, face either the jungle or the waterfalls. RedLevel rooms and suites, from 25 to 100 sqm, all look towards the falls and come with a more personal level of service. At the top sits the Royal Suite: 344 sqm over two floors, with its own heated infinity pool. Families have rooms of up to 51 sqm with two en-suite bedrooms.
Our recommendation
Book a waterfall view. The jungle rooms are comfortable, but the falls are the reason to be here. For a milestone trip, RedLevel is the category we recommend.
RedLevel rooms and suites all look towards the falls
Dining and the Yasí Spa
There are six places to eat and drink. Merkado, where breakfast is served, offers pasta, fresh fish and meats with views of the falls. Asador is given over to Argentine barbecue, Amaro to Spanish tapas and live music, and Alter Rooftop to cocktails, wine and live DJs. Beside the 50-metre infinity pool, Gala Pool Bar mixes regional cocktails and cooks from a clay oven.
Yasí Spa takes its cue from the rainforest. Treatments include yerba mate therapies that pair the plant's antioxidants with sound healing, and a 30-minute water circuit with hydromassage jets. There is also a 24-hour gym with views of the falls.
Yasí Spa, where treatments draw on the rainforest around it
At Iguazú, where you sleep decides how you see the falls. Inside the park, you see them on your own terms.
Booking Gran Meliá Iguazú with OffTheGrid Travel
Gran Meliá Iguazú sits in our Roam collection, for travellers who want discovery without giving up comfort. Book through us and daily breakfast at Merkado and access to the Yasí Health Club and Spa are included, with a complimentary drink on arrival exclusive to OffTheGrid Travel guests. We arrange airport transfers on request, and can build Iguazú into a longer journey through Argentina and Brazil. See the full Gran Meliá Iguazú listing, or tell us your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gran Meliá Iguazú inside Iguazú National Park?
Yes. It is the only hotel inside Iguazú National Park on the Argentine side, within the park's 67,000-hectare reserve in Misiones Province.
Do the rooms at Gran Meliá Iguazú have views of the falls?
Many do. Deluxe Rooms come with either a jungle or a waterfall view, and all RedLevel rooms and suites look towards the falls. OffTheGrid Travel recommends booking a waterfall-view category.
How far is Gran Meliá Iguazú from the airport?
Around 25 minutes by car from Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport in Argentina. Foz do Iguaçu International Airport in Brazil is around 30 km away.
Do I need a national park ticket to stay at Gran Meliá Iguazú?
Yes. Meliá states that a national park entry ticket is required for each guest. OffTheGrid Travel will confirm the current arrangements when you book.
What is included when I book Gran Meliá Iguazú through OffTheGrid Travel?
Daily breakfast at Merkado, access to the Yasí Health Club and Spa, and a complimentary drink on arrival exclusive to OffTheGrid Travel guests. Airport transfers can be arranged on request.
OffTheGrid Travel curates bespoke luxury holidays across our Roam, Restore and Renew collections, from the rainforest of Iguazú to the quieter corners of Europe and Asia.
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