Index
Day 1: Flying
Day 2: Arrival
Day 3: Iguazu Falls
Day 4: Argentina
Day 5: Itaipu Dam
Day 6: Sunrise
Day 7: Return
Brazil
As mediocre as dinner was the night before, the fruit and oatmeal for breakfast was pretty good, although the sad imitation of a croissant needs to go, and I'd seen better for the fruit plate. Got to appreciate just how massive Sao Paolo as the plane landed; 12 million people in Sao Paolo proper and 33 million in the metro area is a lot of people. Had a bit of a layover in the GOL Premium Lounge (Terminal 2), which was basic but did the job with more care than you might have expected, and was more than spacious enough at 9am but quite busy at 11am.
Terminal 2, one of the domestic terminals, was busy but well done despite the crowds-- was glad I had lounge access! LATAM's premium economy on their Airbus A321 fleet is just regular economy seats with the middle blocked off, aka Eurobusiness. For a short flight (less than two hours) it did the job, and was nice to get a few more snacks before arriving in Foz do Iguacu.
Hotel Das Cataratas, a Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls, is as polished and as old school as their reputation suggests and their prices confirm. Check-in was done on the patio, complete with a rather sweet wine-based cocktail and chocolate balls, and as it was shoulder season, a room upgrade to a room with a view of the falls was done without me even thinking about asking for one. As the only hotel within Iguazu National Park, the thing to do is get settled in, then view the falls not just from the hotel but from the viewing areas and trails right outside.
The Brazilian side of the falls is best known for the great views of the rest of the falls, particularly San Martin Falls (right across from the hotel), then just over a kilometer's easy walk to the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo), the biggest and most imposing part of Iguazu Falls. Make sure to go all the way out to the viewing platforms to fully appreciate the power of Iguazu Falls, then go back to the viewing building/viewing areas on the Brazilian side to check out the view from each level.
Did this walk a few times on this trip, and while the first day (and half the second) was overcast, it was still something to take full advantage of.
Lunch and dinner were not included in the room rate, roughly R$200 (Brazilian Reals) worked out to about $40 for the buffet dinner at Restaurant Ipe on the hotel grounds. Wasn't planning to eat Brazilian BBQ every night but, well, when they bring out chicken hearts, it's hard to say no? Although in all honesty, have had better at M Grill or Fogo de Chao-- M Grill's chicken hearts and pineapple in particular are consistently better than the hotel restaurant.