Brazil · Mato Grosso
Itiquira Falls
Salto do Itiquira
A wide sheet of water drops off the Cerrado plateau into a deep swimmable pool, one of the tallest waterfalls in Brazil's central savanna region. Its clear turquoise water in the dry season makes it a popular counterpoint to the muddier Pantanal rivers nearby.
A wide sheet of water drops off the Cerrado plateau into a deep swimmable pool, one of the tallest waterfalls in Brazil's central savanna region. Its clear turquoise water in the dry season makes it a popular counterpoint to the muddier Pantanal rivers nearby.
Itiquira Falls drops 168 metres (551 ft) on the Itiquira. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Formoso, with CGB the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Dry winter months keep the river clear and blue rather than silt-laden.
What you can do here
Swimming
Plunge pools, natural infinity pools and the occasional lip pool you can legally sit in.
Hiking
From ten-minute boardwalks to multi-day approaches through cloud forest.
Photography
Light angles, moonbows, spray management and the hours that actually work.
When to go
Dry winter months keep the river clear and blue rather than silt-laden.
Entry: Local entry fee ~$10 USD
Getting there
- Base townFormoso
- AirportCGB
- CountryBrazil
- RegionMato Grosso, South America
- AccessEasy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
On the map
-17.3167, -54.6833
Quick answers
How tall is Itiquira Falls?
Itiquira Falls drops 168 metres (551 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Itiquira.
When is the best time to visit Itiquira Falls?
Peak flow is May to August. Dry winter months keep the river clear and blue rather than silt-laden.
What can you do at Itiquira Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: swimming, hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Itiquira Falls?
The usual base is Formoso, and the closest airport is CGB. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Local entry fee ~$10 USD.
Nearby & similar
More in South America
Devil's Throat
A U-shaped chasm swallows roughly half of the entire river's flow at once, and a 1,100-metre catwalk on the Argentine side walks yo…
Caracol Falls
A single unbroken plunge through the Serra Gaúcha's subtropical forest is viewed from a glass-floored observation tower and a funic…
Cachoeira da Fumaça
Water free-falls off a sandstone tableland in Chapada Diamantina and, in a strong breeze, never reaches the canyon floor at all, di…
Salto Ventana
A modest but scenic drop in the granite hills of Uruguay's Lavalleja department, reached via a rolling hike through one of the coun…