Lonely Planet BrazilTrent Holden et al.
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Brazil
Trent Holden et al. · 2025
Covers Foz do Iguaçu's panoramic side, Chapada Diamantina for Fumaça, and the Serra Gaúcha around Canela for Caracol.
Brazil · Rio Grande do Sul
Caracol Falls
Cascata do Caracol
A single unbroken plunge through the Serra Gaúcha's subtropical forest is viewed from a glass-floored observation tower and a funicular that descends to the base, making it one of southern Brazil's most accessible major falls. Araucaria pines frame the basalt cliff on both sides.
Rio Grande do Sul's tallest waterfall Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Caracol Falls drops 131 metres (430 ft) on the Caracol, inside Caracol State Park. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Canela, with CXJ the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Caracol Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Canela are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Cooler, cloudless winter months (May-Aug) give the clearest views from the tower.
Entry: State park entry ~$10 USD
Getting there
- Base town Canela
- Airport CXJ
- Country Brazil
- Region Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, South America
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Caracol Falls
Brazil
Height131 mWidth—
Most similar
Tequendama Falls
Colombia
Height132 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Colombia
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
108 m
131 m
132 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsCaracol FallsTequendama FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 7.5× taller than Caracol Falls. It drops 1.2× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Caracol Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Caracol Falls
5:43
0:53
0:49
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Guidebook
South American Handbook
Ben Box · 2017
The one-volume continental handbook, useful for multi-country trips that link falls such as Iguazú, Kaieteur and Angel Falls.
On the map
-29.3112, -50.8544
Quick answers
Where is Caracol Falls?
Caracol Falls is in Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), inside Caracol State Park. The nearest base is Canela and the closest airport is CXJ. Its coordinates are -29.3112, -50.8544.
How tall is Caracol Falls?
Caracol Falls drops 131 metres (430 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Caracol.
When is the best time to visit Caracol Falls?
Peak flow is May to August. Cooler, cloudless winter months (May-Aug) give the clearest views from the tower.
What can you do at Caracol Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Caracol Falls?
The usual base is Canela, and the closest airport is CXJ. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. State park entry ~$10 USD.
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