Waterfalls in ChileChile

Chile's waterfalls trace the country's long, narrow geography. Salto del Laja, in the Bio Bio region, is Chile's widest waterfall, a broad curtain on the Laja River that has long been a roadside stop on the Pan-American Highway. Petrohue Falls, further south in the Lakes District, is less a sheer drop than a set of rapids forced through volcanic rock, framed by the cone of Osorno Volcano. Salto Grande, in Torres del Paine National Park, is a short, low waterfall, but its position beneath the park's granite towers makes it one of the most photographed spots in Chilean Patagonia.

When to go

Salto del Laja and Petrohue run fullest through the southern hemisphere winter and spring, roughly May-October, with snowmelt adding volume into early summer. Salto Grande, in Patagonia, is most reliably visited in the austral summer, November-March, when Torres del Paine's infrastructure and weather are most manageable, though the fall itself runs year-round.

Getting around

Salto del Laja is a short detour off the Pan-American Highway, easy by rental car or bus. Petrohue is reached by road from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt. Salto Grande sits within Torres del Paine National Park, reached by a multi-hour drive or bus from Puerto Natales followed by a short, flat walking trail.

Entry requirements

US, Canadian, UK, and EU citizens currently enter Chile visa-free for up to 90 days, with no reciprocity fee in effect as of 2026.

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