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 · Paraguay · Saltos del Guairá
Guaíra Falls
The Guairá Falls or Guaíra Falls were a series of immense waterfalls on the Paraná River along the border between Paraguay and Brazil. The falls ceased to exist in 1982 when they were inundated by the impoundment of the Itaipu Dam reservoir.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Guaíra Falls drops 40 metres (131 ft) across a face roughly 4,828 metres wide on the Paraná River. It is a cataract-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Guaira, Brazil. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Guaíra Falls is number 2 on our list of the widest waterfalls in the world. As a cataract waterfall, a large, powerful waterfall or series of rapids on a big river.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Guaíra Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Guaira are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
Getting there
- Base town Guaira, Brazil
- Country Brazil, Paraguay
- Region Saltos del Guairá, Brazil, South America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Guaíra Falls
Brazil · Paraguay
Height40 mWidth4,828 m
Most similar
Sunset Falls
United States
Height32 mWidth—
Also a cataract waterfall and of similar height
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
32 m
40 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Sunset FallsGuaíra FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Guaíra Falls
4,828 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 24× taller than Guaíra Falls. Victoria Falls is 2.7× taller, but Guaíra Falls is 2.8× wider. Khone Phapheng Falls is 2.2× wider. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
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
-24.073, -54.284
Quick answers
Where is Guaíra Falls?
Guaíra Falls is in Brazil / Paraguay (Saltos del Guairá). The nearest base is Guaira, Brazil. Its coordinates are -24.0730, -54.2840.
How tall is Guaíra Falls?
Guaíra Falls drops 40 metres (131 feet), across a face about 4,828 metres wide. It is a cataract-type waterfall on the Paraná River.
When is the best time to visit Guaíra Falls?
Peak flow is April to June and October. Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
What can you do at Guaíra Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Guaíra Falls?
The usual base is Guaira, Brazil. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
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World's largest waterfall system by combined width
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