34 waterfalls worldwide
Boat cruises at waterfalls
The classic approach: come at the falls from the water, usually at sunset, usually with a drink.
A boat is how many of the world's best waterfalls are best seen: from the water at the base, in the spray, or on a calm cruise on the river above. Trips range from ten-minute shuttles to sunset cruises.
Worth knowing before you book
- Ponchos are usually supplied for boats that go into the spray.
- Boat seasons often close at high water or in winter.
- Sunset cruises above big falls tend to sell out in peak season.
Safety
Keep phones in a waterproof pouch and follow the crew's instructions near the falls.
From our full guides
What it costs, and who runs it
Advertised 2026 prices at the destinations we cover in depth, converted to US dollars. Open a guide for the season, what's included and how to book.
Where it runs
Waterfalls with boat cruises
Every destination in our index where boat cruises genuinely operates at or immediately around the falls. If an operator has closed, we take the entry down rather than leave a dead booking link.
Full guide Victoria Falls
Largest sheet of falling water on Earth
Full guide Iguazú Falls
World's largest waterfall system by combined width
Full guide Angel Falls
World's tallest uninterrupted waterfall
Full guide Niagara Falls
Highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America
Full guide Ban Gioc-Detian Falls
Asia's largest transnational border waterfall
Full guide Plitvice Lakes Waterfalls
A living, still-growing travertine landscape
Full guide Rhine Falls
Europe's largest plain waterfall by volume
Full guide Ouzoud Falls
Among Morocco's tallest and best-known waterfalls
UNESCO Seven Sisters Waterfall
Centerpiece of the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord
UNESCO Bowen Falls
One of only two permanent waterfalls on Milford Sound
UNESCO Stirling Falls
One of only two permanent waterfalls on Milford Sound
UNESCO Twin Falls
A twin-stream falls reachable only by 4WD and boat
UNESCO Devil's Throat
The single most powerful segment of Iguazu Falls
Ramnefjellsfossen
Ramnefjellsfossen is unofficially listed as the third-highest waterfall in the world in several publications.…
Seerenbach Falls
One of the highest total-drop waterfalls in Europe
Crypt Falls
Crypt Falls is a waterfall in southwestern Alberta in Waterton Lakes National Park. It is viewable from the…
Tamul Falls
One of Mexico's tallest and widest waterfalls
Phu Fa waterfall
Phu Fa is a waterfall in the deep jungle of the Luang Prabang Range near the Laos border. It is located in…
Full guide Pagsanjan Falls
Famous Apocalypse Now filming location
Shoshone Falls
Taller than Niagara Falls
Horseshoe Falls
Carries about 90% of the Niagara River's total flow
Skradinski Buk
Croatia's most-visited named waterfall
Murchison Falls
World's most powerful waterfall by force per metre of width
Full guide Blue Nile Falls
One of Ethiopia's most historic natural landmarks
Duden Waterfalls
One of few waterfalls in the world that fall directly into the sea
Lumangwe Falls
Lumangwe Falls on the Kalungwishi River in northern Zambia is the largest waterfall wholly within the…
Chitrakoot Falls
Widely nicknamed the Niagara Falls of India
Full guide Krka Falls
Centerpiece cascade of Krka National Park
Full guide Khone Phapheng Falls
Southeast Asia's largest waterfall by volume
Félou Falls
The Félou Falls are located on the Sénégal River 15 kilometres upstream of Kayes in western Mali. The river…
Salto do Yucumã
One of the world's longest longitudinal waterfalls
Ilya Muromets Waterfall
Ilya Muromets , named after the East Slavic folk hero, is a very steep vertical waterfall on the Bear's…
Pará Falls
The Pará Falls are large waterfalls on the Caura River in Bolívar, Venezuela. The falls are located 210…
Fossen
Fossen is a waterfall along the Sjønstå River in Fauske Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is about…
Questions people ask
Where can you go boat cruises at a waterfall?
Our index lists 34 waterfalls where boat cruises operates at or right beside the falls, including Victoria Falls, Iguazú Falls, Angel Falls, Niagara Falls, Ban Gioc-Detian Falls and Plitvice Lakes Waterfalls.
How much does boat cruises at a waterfall cost?
At the destinations we cover in full, advertised 2026 prices run roughly US$20 to US$450 per person, depending on the operator and what's included. Prices are converted to US dollars from local currencies and change without notice, so check the operator before you book.
When is the best time of year for boat cruises at waterfalls?
Across the waterfalls in our index, the most are at their best June and August to October. But each activity has its own window — rafting often stops at peak flood, and ice climbing needs a hard freeze — so check the season on each destination page.
Is boat cruises at a waterfall safe?
Keep phones in a waterproof pouch and follow the crew's instructions near the falls.
Other ways in
