Unfortunately we were unable to stay at John's property in Iguazu, as you MUST book some time in advance, however John assisted us in every step of the way, from securing a friendly driver to pick us up at 3AM, to dinner reservations, to an invitation for cocktails in the evening. If you are making it to Iguazu, Secret Garden is a must.

What can I say that hasn't been said before by the previous 150 [!] rave reviews the Secret Garden has gotten?

Well having the insider's point of view as I am also in the tourism business myself, I know how hard it is to keep everybody happy [and get so many great reviews] , so we booked a room at Secret Garden [waaay in advance] and got to spend a couple of days there.

John Fernandes' secret? There is none. His hospitality is genuine and warm (perhaps due to the fact that not only he is a well educated and travelled man but also NOT a tourim industry "professional").

You *will* feel at home, you *will* be taken care of in the best possible way.

John will give you his opinion on things to do (if you ask for it) and offer any possible practical help/tips/guidance neccessary to ensure you have a good time.

The rooms? Spacious, bright, sparkling clean and cosy.
The breakfast? Delicious, nutricious, homemade jams to *die* for, and I thought I didn't like to eat jam before my visit to Iguazu :)
The staff? Helpfull and courteous, yet unobtrusive.

The laundry service offered is at an extremely reasonable price, it certainly helped us put an order to our suitcase contents which were ummm not in the best of shape after a couple of weeks of travel.

I hate spilling the secret (yeah right! as if this place needed one more rave to stand out from the rest) yet can not help but give credit to this wonderful little gem that will make the highlight of your trip (oh yeah, the falls? unforgetable!) shie even brighter in your mind and your heart.

Let the bus-loads book in large resort like hotels and enjoy the special treat that staying at the Secret Garden is.

We are already planning our return trip there next year, can't wait!

It is nearly five months since we stayed at The Secret Garden but it is still very memorable. It is one of the nicest places we have ever stayed.

John is the perfect host. Pre-dinner drinks are a great idea, a chance not only to get to know John but to meet the other guests and share your experiences of Iguazu. Plus, the caipirinha's and nibbles are a real treat.

There is no need to worry about anything during your stay at The Secret Garden as John has the answer for everything. Our flight from Rio was delayed by 5 1/2 hours and yet there was still someone to meet us at the airport.

We cannot recommend this place enough, it is, as other people have said, a real gem.

Caroline & Russell
London

There won’t be much I can say about John and Secret Garden that hasn’t already been said. This place is an absolute treasure. John takes extremely good care of all his guests and I understand why everyone raves about this place. The rooms are quite large, clean and comfortable. His ‘happy hour’ every evening is a fantastic way to unwind from the day, and chat with the other guests. The whole group of us went out for dinner one night with John. We had a wonderful stay here and would recommend highly to anyone who is travelling to Iguazu Falls.