Uruguay · Lavalleja

Salto del Penitente

Uruguay's best-known waterfall drops more than 60 metres down a rocky hillside in the Sierras de Minas, near the hill village of Villa Serrana. It sits inside a private park that is open every day, with trails, swimming lagoons, a zipline, abseiling, horse riding and camping — an easy weekend escape from Montevideo.

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jikatu · CC BY-SA 2.0

Uruguay's best-known waterfall, more than 60 m high Essentials guide

Checked September 2026 by David Bussell

Salto del Penitente drops 60 metres (197 ft) on the Arroyo del Penitente, inside Parque Salto del Penitente. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Minas, with MVD the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.

Salto del Penitente is number 5 on our list of the most adventurous waterfalls. As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.

What you can do here

AbseilingCheck operators and availability SwimmingCheck operators and availability Zip linesCheck operators and availability

Planning one of these? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities — SafetyWing is one option.

Also good forCamping Hiking Photography

When to go

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Flow depends on rain: spring (September–November) and autumn (March–April) usually give the best water and mild walking weather; after a dry summer spell it can thin to a trickle.

Entry: Private park with an entry fee; zipline and abseiling charged separately

Getting there

Base town Minas
Airport MVD
Country Uruguay
Region Lavalleja, Southern Cone, South America
Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint

Flights to MVD Car hire Route options

How it compares

This waterfall Salto del Penitente Uruguay Height60 mWidth—

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

Height, drawn to scale

45 m

60 m

108 m

330 m

979 m

Saltos del MondaySalto del PenitenteVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls

Width of the crest, drawn to scale

Khone Phapheng Falls 10,783 m

Victoria Falls 1,708 m

Angel Falls is 16× taller than Salto del Penitente. Victoria Falls is 1.8× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Salto del Penitente yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.

Watch and read

Videos from Salto del Penitente

**Salto del Penitente - Lavalleja (Minas) Full HD 60FPS**Xirus Uruguay

**Salto El Penitente, Minas, Lavalleja, Uruguay.**Drone5

**🤯 We explore the mountains of Uruguay 🇺🇾 [Penitente Waterfall and Salamanca Caves🔥] | E12 T4**Caminando el Mundo

Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.

Books worth packing

UruguayTim Burford

Guidebook

Uruguay

Tim Burford · 2022

The standard English Uruguay guide, covering Lavalleja's hill country around Minas where Salto del Penitente lies.

Independent bookshop Amazon

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.

Independent bookshop Amazon

On the map

-34.3725, -55.0528

Quick answers

Where is Salto del Penitente?

Salto del Penitente is in Uruguay (Lavalleja), inside Parque Salto del Penitente. The nearest base is Minas and the closest airport is MVD. Its coordinates are -34.3725, -55.0528.

How tall is Salto del Penitente?

Salto del Penitente drops 60 metres (197 feet). It is a cascade-type waterfall on the Arroyo del Penitente.

When is the best time to visit Salto del Penitente?

Peak flow is March to April and September to November. Flow depends on rain: spring (September–November) and autumn (March–April) usually give the best water and mild walking weather; after a dry summer spell it can thin to a trickle.

What can you do at Salto del Penitente?

Beyond the viewpoints: abseiling, swimming, zip lines, camping, hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.

Can you swim at Salto del Penitente?

Yes — swimming is a normal part of a visit to Salto del Penitente, in the pools away from the falling water. Only swim where it is permitted on the day, stay clear of the base of the falls where currents recirculate, and skip it after heavy rain.

How do you get to Salto del Penitente?

The usual base is Minas, and the closest airport is MVD. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Private park with an entry fee; zipline and abseiling charged separately.