Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort Cataratas is one of the most established names in Foz do Iguaçu hospitality, sitting on Avenida das Cataratas just a short drive from the Iguaçu Falls, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Built on a 245,000 m² native forest reserve and operated by the Brazilian Vezozzo family since the 1970s, the resort blends old school Brazilian hospitality with a genuine commitment to sustainability, family entertainment and modern convention infrastructure. For anyone planning Iguaçu Falls tours or a longer Foz do Iguaçu vacation, this property is consistently ranked among the top choices in the region.
This guide walks through the resort’s history, room categories, exact location and access points, leisure and business facilities, dining venues and an honest look at what guests love and what they don’t, so you can decide if Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort Cataratas is the right base for your trip to the Triple Frontier.
The Story Behind the Name: From Coffee Farms to Foz do Iguaçu
The word “Bourbon” in the resort’s name has nothing to do with whiskey or French royalty. It comes from Bourbon coffee, a prized arabica variety originally from Bourbon Island (today’s Réunion, near Madagascar), known for its intense aroma and natural sweetness. The Vezozzo family grew this exact coffee variety on farms in Paraná state during the 1950s and early 1960s.
In 1962 a severe frost, remembered locally as the “geada negra” (black frost), wiped out coffee plantations across Paraná in a single night. With the family’s main income gone, patriarch Caetano Vezozzo converted a half built residential building in Londrina into a hotel instead, naming it after the coffee variety that had supported the family for years. Hotel Bourbon Londrina opened its doors in October 1963 with 45 rooms, becoming the first property of what would grow into Bourbon Hospitalidade.
The story of the Foz do Iguaçu property is almost accidental. Around 1970, founder Alceu A. Vezozzo was on a flight that had to divert to Foz do Iguaçu because of bad weather. During the unplanned stopover he walked near the falls with a friend and spotted an attractive plot of land close to the forest, right along the road that leads to the national park. With an architectural design by Luiz César da Silva, the property opened in December 1973 with around 68 to 69 apartments, a restaurant, kitchen and bar, becoming the second hotel in the Bourbon network and its very first resort.
The timing turned out to be fortunate for the business: construction of the giant Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant began in 1975, and engineers, technicians and contractors working on the dam used the hotel for lodging and meetings for years, helping the property grow steadily. Decades later, in partnership with Mauricio de Sousa Produções, the resort introduced themed Turma da Mônica (Monica’s Gang) spaces and rooms, cementing its identity as a family resort. In 2021, the property received the Eco Seal and was recognized as the only resort in Brazil with the maximum 5-Leaf classification from the Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa da Natureza (IBDN), formalizing decades of environmental work that includes an organic garden cultivated since the hotel’s founding and an Animal Refuge dedicated to species rescued from trafficking and mistreatment.
Today the property operates under the name Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort Cataratas do Iguaçu, reflecting both its thermal pool complex and its eco-certified status, more than five decades after that first delayed flight.
Resort Overview: Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opened | December 1973, with approximately 68 rooms |
| Current room count | 311 rooms and suites across 7 categories |
| Total estate area | 245,000 m² of preserved native forest reserve |
| Built infrastructure area | Approximately 165,000 m² |
| Classification | 5 stars; 5-Leaf IBDN EcoResponsável seal (2021) |
| Convention area | Around 5,000 to 5,100 m², with 19 versatile event spaces |
| Ballroom capacity | Up to roughly 1,300 guests in the main ballroom; up to several thousand across the full convention complex |
| Gastronomy | 3 restaurants and 3 bars (6 gourmet spaces) |
| Pools | 4 pools: 3 outdoor (including a thermal pool) and 1 indoor heated pool |
| Address | Av. das Cataratas, 2345, Vila Yolanda, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, 85853-000, Brazil |
It’s worth noting that older travel listings sometimes show slightly different room totals (301, 309 or 310 rooms, for example), a normal result of renovations and category reshuffles over five decades. The figure of 311 rooms and suites is the one currently used on the resort’s own website.
Room Categories at Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort Cataratas
Accommodation at the Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort Cataratas is split into seven categories, spread between the main hotel wing and the tower wing. Every room includes air conditioning, central heating, a minibar, free Wi-Fi, a telephone, cable TV, a hair dryer, a digital safe, a magnetic key card and a work desk. Below is a category by category breakdown based on the resort’s own published room descriptions.
Superior Garden View (Superior Vista Jardim)
These rooms measure 25 m² and are located from the ground floor to the third floor of the hotel wing, overlooking the resort’s gardens. Each room comes with two double beds, with an extra bed or crib available on request, and connecting rooms can be arranged for families travelling together.
Good to know
This category does not have a balcony, but it is usually the most budget friendly option for families wanting easy access to the garden-side leisure areas.
Superior Pool View (Superior Vista Piscina)
Also 25 m², these rooms sit on the second and third floors and share the same configuration of two double beds plus the option of an extra bed or crib. Their main advantage is a private balcony overlooking the resort’s pool complex, which makes them popular with guests who want to keep an eye on the water park style leisure area.
Premier
Premier rooms measure 29 m² and are located anywhere from the ground floor to the 10th floor of the tower wing. They are furnished with one or two double beds and, like the Superior categories, connecting Premier rooms are available for larger groups or families with children.
Premier Plus
Premier Plus rooms share the same tower wing location as the standard Premier category (ground floor to the 10th floor) but add a bathroom with a soaking tub for a slightly more relaxed bathing experience. They are equipped with two double beds and the connecting room option as well. The resort has not published a separate square meter figure for this category.
Junior Suite (Suíte Júnior)
The Junior Suite introduces a living room layout, combining a separate sitting area with a bedroom that has one double bed, plus a bathroom with a whirlpool tub. These suites are located on the second and third floors of the hotel wing. An exact published floor area is not available for this category.
Classic Suite (Suíte Classic)
Located on floors 8 to 10 of the tower wing, the Classic Suite is one of the more spacious layouts, with a king size bedroom, a separate living room, a dedicated dining room and a bathroom with a whirlpool tub. It suits longer stays or guests who want extra space for working or entertaining.
Iguazu Suite (Suíte Iguazu)
Positioned on the second floor of the hotel wing, the Iguazu Suite pairs a king size bedroom with a living room, two LCD televisions with DVD and a whirlpool bathtub. This category is specifically marketed toward couples looking for a more intimate, upgraded stay.
Note on transparency: the resort publishes exact floor areas only for the Superior categories (25 m²) and the Premier category (29 m²). For Premier Plus and the three suite categories, only the layout and amenities are officially disclosed, so this guide avoids inventing unverified square meter figures for those rooms.
Pros and Cons of Staying at Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort Cataratas
What guests consistently praise:
- A genuinely convenient location for Iguaçu Falls tours, close to the airport, the national park and the triple border attractions
- An exceptionally strong leisure program for families, with themed kids’ areas, an age based recreation team and a real wildlife rescue component
- High quality, varied gastronomy, especially the breakfast buffet and the themed dinner nights at Tarobá
- Friendly, attentive staff, frequently singled out in reviews for their care with children and event groups
- A genuine sustainability story, backed by the 5-Leaf IBDN certification, the Eco Seal and the on-site organic garden and Animal Refuge
- Serious convention infrastructure for business travelers and event organizers, with 19 flexible spaces and its own power generator
What some guests flag as drawbacks:
- Noise can be an issue at times, a common trade off at large family and convention resorts hosting groups, weddings and corporate events simultaneously
- Some rooms, despite being described as spacious and clean, are occasionally noted as a little dated compared with the property’s newer common areas
- A few international guests mention inconsistent English proficiency among certain staff members
- Pool area maintenance and staffing levels have been described as inconsistent in a portion of recent reviews
- Being set on Avenida das Cataratas rather than downtown, guests without a rental car depend on taxis, transfers or the line 120 bus to reach the city center for independent dining or shopping
Final Verdict
Few properties in Foz do Iguaçu combine history, scale and sustainability the way Bourbon Thermas Eco Resort Cataratas does. Five decades after a delayed flight led to its founding, the resort still leans on the same formula: a prime location on the road to the falls, a wide pool and activity complex for families, serious convention facilities for business and event groups, and a genuine environmental program that goes beyond marketing, from its own organic garden to its Animal Refuge. It is best suited to families planning multi-day Foz do Iguaçu itineraries, couples wanting easy access to the falls and the triple border, and corporate groups or wedding parties needing flexible, large scale event space, while travelers chasing a strictly boutique or minimalist experience may prefer a smaller downtown property instead.
