Waterfalls in Brazil

Brazil's best-known falls sit on its southern border, where the Iguazu River drops over the edge of the Parana Plateau in a system of some 275 individual cascades, including the Devil's Throat, the single most powerful segment, viewed from catwalks on the Brazilian side. Elsewhere, Brazil's falls are scattered and comparatively little visited by international travellers: Cachoeira da Fumaca, in Bahia's Chapada Diamantina, is one of the country's tallest; Caracol Falls, in Rio Grande do Sul, drops through araucaria pine forest; and Itiquira Falls, in Goiás near Brasília, marks the edge of the central Brazilian plateau. Salto do Yucuma, shared with Argentina, runs for nearly two kilometres along a rock ledge instead of a single drop point, among the world's longest longitudinal waterfalls.

When to go

Iguazu's flow is heaviest in the southern hemisphere summer and following autumn, roughly November-May, after the wet season; the driest, clearest views with less spray tend to fall in the cooler months, August-September. Bahia's Cachoeira da Fumaca and Rio Grande do Sul's Caracol Falls follow a similar pattern, running fullest after summer rains.

Getting around

Iguazu Falls is reached by domestic flight to Foz do Iguacu, with walkways and a park shuttle covering the Brazilian side. Chapada Diamantina and Goiás's Itiquira Falls generally require a hired car or guided tour from the nearest regional city, since public transport does not reach most trailheads.

Entry requirements

Since April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need a Brazilian e-Visa (US$80.90, arranged online); UK and EU visitors remain visa-free for up to 90 days.

Entry rules checked September 2026. They change without much notice — confirm with the official government source before you travel.