Hotel Cataratas really is amazing; like a pink palace perched right next to the Iguassu Falls.

Hotel itself is beautiful; nice rooms, good service and a wonderful pool area. But the main benefit is having the hotel within the National Park. This allows you to go exploring when all of the other tourists have gone home. It's expensive. But if you want to see Iguassu Falls this is the way to do it.

If you need an English speaking driver while you are there, ask for Paulo. He was excellent.

If your budget allows, Hotel das Cataratas is the only place to stay. When you read it is the only hotel inside the park, it means all the other places are at least 13km away from the falls...

Like everybody says, being at this Hotel means you have unlimited access to the falls, before the park opens and after its closure, and it's priceless not only because you avoid the crowds and have the place for you and the other lucky guests, but mostly because the heat is extreme during the summer (believe me, I live in a tropical city with a 28 celsius degrees yearly average) and so you can walk through the pathways at 8am or 6 to 7pm (the sunset, on summer, is 8pm) with cooler temperatures.

It also means you'll be able to see the lunar rainbow during a night walk organized by the hotel, if you stay during the full moon period. It's unbelievable. Be sure you check the moon table before booking...

In fact, those who stay here usually leave when the park is open (to visit attractions outside it, such as the Argentine Park, the Bird Park, the Itaipu Dam, etc.) and come back shortly before its closure.

This Hotel was built in the late 50's by Juscelino Kubischeck, one of the few visionary presidents Brazil had in the 20th century, and was recently restored by Orient-Express.

The room is very confortable, served with top brazilian products (from chocolates to bath amenities) and the fall views from the room are spetacular (well worth the extra price).

We only had a few minor problems (a blackout in our room, due to an eletrical bug and a salad without the prosciutto we ordered), but they were quickly solved by the attentive staff, and it would be unfair to lower the grade only because of that...

My companion and I spent a very enjoyable night (25th Jan) at what must be one of the worlds most fabulous locations, a pink palace plonked in the middle of the jungle and bang opposite the amazing Iguacu Falls. Our room had an uninterrupted view of the falls once the toursit buses moved off at the end of the day. The hotel was not however up to the usual Orient Express standards and although the room and outdoor pool area were nice the other areas such as the lounge, bar and restaurant were decidedly 3 star in decor and need urgent attention. Clarice and I sat on the terrace having dinner and watching the sun set which was lovely except they appear to have forgotten the ceiling fans which made the whole experience very hot and sticky, not to mention the mosquitos who had a feast on my poor legs ! Before check out we enquired if we might get a small snack to take on the airplane for the short flight to Sao Paulo, only to be told that the hotel cannot make packed lunches just in case the food gets contaminated and causes the cleints to get sick. In all our 40 years of travelling that had to be a first ! In the end and with a considerable amount of pushing we did secure a bun, banana and apple for around $25 each. A fabulous place but the hotel could do better. Dotty Fanshawe, Feb 2012 London

I was very excited to come back to this hotel. I stayed in this property several times when it belonged to Tropical Hotel (VARIG Airlines). The Orient Express Midas touch made a huge difference. The retrofit of this hotel made it even more comfortable. Very nice decoration and spacious rooms. The new swimming pool area has a kind of Copacabana Palace style but with a different shape.

The restaurant service is superb and the quality of food during dinner and breakfast is about the chart. In my rooms were available high quality Brazilian amenities, robes and flip-flops. All over the hotel we find free Wi-Fi, however if you forgot to bring your tablet of laptop, 5 computers and a printer are at your disposal at the Business Center for free.

As this hotel is the only one in the National Park, we have the chance to see the racoons close to the property. It is a lovely picture moment. The hotel staff is very friendly and professional. I highly recommend this hotel, you will be amazed by the quality of the services here.