The falls mark the border of three countries, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. My adventure started from the Argentine side at Awasi Iguazu, a suggestive retreat nestled in the tropical forest.

Once I landed at the small airport of Foz de Iguazu, I found my private Ranger, who was my reference for the entire duration of my stay. A precious support who helped me to understand which -among the many experiences offered to the guests by the lodge- could be the most special and suitable to me.

After having fine tuned with him the adventurous program for the following days, I allowed myself a few moments of relaxation in my Villa. The Resort is made up of only 14 independent villas decorated with light colors and natural materials that immediately provide you a relax feeling . Here, thanks to large windows and a terrace with a small swimming pool surrounded by dense and green vegetation, I began to perceive the contact with nature

The area of ​​the Resort that I liked most is the Terrace where you can enjoy meals, have a drink or chat with other guests to share the experiences of the day.

The feeling was that of being in a nest in the middle ot trees: wood, straw, natural materials and a priceless view of the forest!

Undoubtedly worthy of note is the gastronomic offer which I found excellent. The Lodge is part of the Relais & Chateaux group and this is perfectly perceived by the care and refinement of its dishes which I found tasty and really well presented.

And finally the time has come to discover the great attraction of Iguazu: the Falls. Part of their beauty is the Natural Park that surrounds them. Accompanied by my Ranger, I ventured on various paths with different levels of difficulty, along which I met incredibly colored butterflies, toucans and monkeys. I learned to recognize plants that I had never seen before and seen orchids growing in the most wierd places. I breathed the beauty of nature. The water falls, from the famous Garganta del Diablo, with an incredible power and creates amazing rainbows.

I didn’t realize how much I needed to live a similar experience until I found myself in front of that incredible beauty. I realized that it is necessary, from time to time, to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city and everyday life to savor experiences of this kind.

I felt really small in front of so much majesty, but at the same time, I was filled with the energy that only the force of nature can infuse!

I continued my adventure by discovering the Brazilian side of the Falls where I expereinced the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. The atmosphere is very different from the one you breathe at Awasi. The Belmond Hotel is a colonial-style residence with a pastel pink color. Its strenght is certainly the privileged position as the hotel directly overlooks the falls. From my room I could admire the view and hear its constant roar.

Being inside the National Park, you can access the scenic trails and the waterfalls afterhours when this is closed to the public.

I, therefore, had the privilege of having an intimate experience with the Falls. I walked its paths -without the crowds that this magical place attracts every day- surrounded only by the sounds of nature. At the end of the path, just below the Garganta del Diablo, there is a wonderful panoramic point from which I was able to admire an overall view of the falls. It was like entering the heart of the falls.

Back at the Belmond Hotel I was able to savor the excellent cuisine with a local twist, the amazing SPA and enjoy pleasant moments of relaxation as taking a dip in the pool and strolling through its large gardens adorned with orchids. I stayed at many Belmond Hotel all around the world and I was pleased to find the same cosy atmosphere and excellent service.

“you breathe nature”

SARA MILANI, PRIVATE VOYAGE ADVISOR