12 Best Hiking Trails with Waterfalls in South America You Can’t Miss in 2025

South America is a paradise for hikers who love the sound of rushing water. Towering cascades hidden in cloud forests, turquoise pools at the foot of glaciers, and thundering falls that drop hundreds of meters—the continent has it all. After spending more than ten years guiding and exploring trails from Tierra del Fuego to the Guiana Highlands, I’ve put together the definitive list of the best waterfall hikes you can actually do right now in 2025. These are trails I’ve walked myself (often multiple times), with up-to-date permit info, transport details, and honest pros and cons.

Why South America’s Waterfall Trails Are Different

Most waterfall hikes around the world are short walks to a viewpoint. In South America you often earn the view after hours or days of real trekking through jungle, high-altitude páramo, or Patagonian beech forests. The reward feels bigger because the effort is bigger—and the crowds are usually smaller than Niagara or Iceland.

Argentina

Los Glaciares National Park – Laguna de los Tres + Chorrillo del Salto

The classic Fitz Roy day hike already delivers, but most people stop at Laguna de los Tres and miss the hidden gem five minutes off the main trail.

Trail Stats

• Distance: 24 km return (main trail) + 800 m detour
• Elevation gain: 1,100 m
• Time: 8–10 hours
• Difficulty: Hard
• Best time: December–March

The Secret Waterfall – Chorrillo del Salto

After you descend from Laguna de los Tres, take the unmarked path behind the campsite toward El Chaltén. In 20 minutes you reach Chorrillo del Salto, a 20-meter ribbon waterfall with almost no tourists. Swim in the pool if the weather cooperates.

Pros: World-class mountain scenery + private waterfall
Cons: Very windy, expensive park transfers from El Calafate

Tip: Start at 5 a.m. to avoid crowds at the mirador and have the waterfall to yourself.

Peru

Machu Picchu Area – La Perla Waterfall via Mandor Gardens

Everyone knows the Inca Trail has small cascades, but the most beautiful waterfall near Machu Picchu is almost unknown.

How to Get There

Take the train to Aguas Calientes, then walk 4 km along the railway tracks (perfectly legal and safe) toward Hidroeléctrica. Halfway, signs point to Jardines de Mandor. Pay the 20 soles entry and follow the flat 15-minute path to La Perla—a 30-meter fall into a natural infinity pool.

Pros: Easy walk, year-round access, incredible swimming
Cons: Train tickets are pricey

Gocta Waterfall – One of the World’s Tallest (771 m)

Located in northern Peru near Chachapoyas, Gocta remained “undiscovered” by the outside world until 2006.

Two Access Points

• Upper trail (San Pablo village): 6 km, 700 m descent – you arrive at the base
• Lower trail (Cocachimba): 12 km round trip, moderate – you see the full two-tier fall

I recommend the upper trail for the mist-on-your-face experience.

Best time: May–October (dry season)

Colombia

Valle de Cocora + Hidden Acaime Waterfalls

The famous wax-palm hike is stunning, but keep going past the hummingbird reserve.

After Reserva Acaime (where you pay 5,000 COP for cheese and hot chocolate), continue 20 minutes uphill on a muddy trail. You’ll reach a series of five waterfalls in cloud forest with zero people.

Tip: Bring rubber boots—ankle-deep mud is normal.

Ecuador

Baños – The Waterfall Capital Route

No list would be complete without Baños de Agua Santa.

The Best Day Hike Combo

1. Pailón del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron) – crawl behind the fall
2. Swing at Casa del Árbol
3. Hike the steep trail to Bellavista mirador above Manto de la Novia
4. Finish at Agoyán (70 m fall)

You can link all these by foot in a very long day (28 km) or use local buses and short walks.

Chile

Patagonia – Ventisquero Colgante + Salto del Río Paine

Torres del Paine Lesser-Known Trail

Everyone does the W or O circuit, but the trail from Administración to Salto Grande then up to Mirador Condor and finally the hanging glacier (Ventisquero Colgante) via a suspended bridge is pure magic. The glacier literally drips like a waterfall into Quebrada de los Tempanos.

Permit: Book refugios or campsites months in advance (December–February fills fastest).

Brazil

Chapada Diamantina – Cachoeira da Fumaça (Smoke Waterfall)

At 340 meters, Fumaça is Brazil’s second tallest waterfall—but the wind is so strong the water never reaches the ground. It turns into mist halfway down.

Two Ways to See It

• From above (easy 2 km walk from the valley rim)
• From below (hard 3-day trek through Vale do Capão and Lençóis)

I did the 3-day version in 2023 and it’s still one of my all-time favorites.

Bolivia (Bonus Near South America Border)

Toro Toro + Cavernas de Umajalanta Waterfalls (Often Combined with Peru/Brazil Trips)

Four hours from Cochabamba, this limestone canyon system has underground rivers that burst out as waterfalls inside caves. You hike and swim through the caves with headlamps—completely unique.

Top Safety and Packing Tips for South American Waterfall Hikes

1. Always register with CONAF (Chile), SERNANP (Peru), or Parques Nacionales (Argentina) when required.
2. Bring microspikes December–April in Patagonia—trails can be icy even in summer.
3. Pack a dry bag and quick-dry towel—getting behind waterfalls is half the fun.
4. Download offline maps (Maps.me or Gaia GPS). Cell service disappears fast.
5. Altitude matters above 3,500 m—acclimatize properly (Huayhuash, Gocta upper trail).

Pros and Cons Summary Table

FAQs – Everything You Wanted to Ask

Q1: Are these waterfall hikes safe to do solo?
Most are perfectly fine solo if you have decent fitness and navigation skills. The exceptions are the 3-day Fumaça trek and Ventisquero Colgante in winter conditions—hire a guide or go with others. Always leave your itinerary with someone.

Q2: When is the absolute best month for waterfall hiking in South America?
May. Patagonia is still open with autumn colors, the Amazon basin is drying out (so fewer bugs), and the Andes have clear skies before the heavy June–August rains in Peru/Bolivia.

Q3: Do I need permits for any of these trails?
Yes—Torres del Paine (book refugios), Huayhuash Circuit (community fee), and Machu Picchu-area trails require advance tickets. Gocta, Cocora, and most Argentine trails are free or pay-at-gate.

Q4: Which trail has the most impressive “wow” moment?
Hands-down Gocta from the upper trail. You walk on a ridge and suddenly the entire 771-meter fall appears in front of you with zero warning. I literally yelled out loud the first time.

Q5: Can I visit these waterfalls with kids?
Yes for Pailón del Diablo (with the cable car option), Chorrillo del Salto, Mandor/La Perla, and Cocora (until Acaime). Anything rated hard or involving glacier travel—no.

Q6: Are drones allowed?
Never inside national parks (Argentina, Chile, Peru). Outside, yes, but respect the 100-meter distance from waterfalls—mist kills drones fast.

Final Thoughts

South America doesn’t just have waterfalls; it has waterfalls that make you feel small in the best possible way. Whether you want a half-day escape behind Devil’s Cauldron or a multi-day mission to stand under Brazil’s Smoke Fall, there’s something here for every fitness level and budget. Pick one, book your flights, and go while these places are still (relatively) quiet.

Safe travels, and may your boots stay dry until you decide to jump in.

About the Author

Martin Wheeler is a mountain guide and travel writer based in Bariloche, Argentina. He has hiked more than 25,000 km across South America since 2012, speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese, and still gets excited every single time he hears running water in the distance.