France · French Guiana
Voltaire Falls
The Voltaire Falls are a series of waterfalls in the Voltaire Creek, located near Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni in French Guiana, an Overseas department of France. The Voltaire Falls are the largest waterfalls in French Guiana, with a height of 35 metres.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Voltaire Falls drops 55 metres (180 ft). It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, France. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Voltaire Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni 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 Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, France
- Country France
- Region French Guiana, Western Europe, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Voltaire Falls
France
Height55 mWidth—
Most similar
Gluggafoss
Iceland
Height52 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall, of similar height and in Iceland
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
Angel Falls is 18× taller than Voltaire Falls. Victoria Falls is 2.0× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Voltaire Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
5.03167, -54.08722
Quick answers
Where is Voltaire Falls?
Voltaire Falls is in France (French Guiana). The nearest base is Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, France. Its coordinates are 5.0317, -54.0872.
How tall is Voltaire Falls?
Voltaire Falls drops 55 metres (180 feet). It is a cascade-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Voltaire 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 Voltaire 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 Voltaire Falls?
The usual base is Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, France. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
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