3 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Buenos Aires, Argentina

The island's five geodesic-domed yurts that comprise this glamping hotel are surrounded by sleepy waterways, verdant trees, and tall grasses. A tranquil place for a romantic getaway or just relaxing. Although activities are a bit slim, with just kayaking and a good-sized but unheated pool, there is a shared Jacuzzi and two of the cabins have private outdoor Jacuzzis. Breakfast is included but lunch and dinner are extra.

That thundering you hear in the distance lets you know how close this hotel is to the falls—the lobby opens right onto the park trails, and half the rooms have big balconies with a fabulous view of the falls. (Be sure to reserve one of these well in advance, as they're the most popular.) The public areas are decorated with attractive local art and jewelry, and the rooms are perfectly serviceable, with sleek furnishings and wall-to-wall windows, and the spa has a gorgeous indoor hot pool and treatment tents on an outdoor deck. You can see the rising mist over the falls from the beautiful swimming pool, which is surrounded by palm trees and jungle.

The falls aren't the only good views in Iguazú: half the rooms at this chic hotel look onto the churning, jungle-framed waters of the Iguazú and Paraná rivers. Even the pool, set on a large terrace, looks over the river. The view gets seriously panoramic from the top floor, which is one of the best sundowner spots in town. The rooms are lovely inside, too. Gorgeous throws and pillow shams offset the clean lines of the contemporary furnishings.