10 Breathtaking Waterfalls Every Traveler Should Visit at Least Once

Waterfalls always stir a special emotion in travelers. From the most seasoned backpackers to the cosmopolitan city-goers, they never cease to awe and inspire. As a ubiquitous feature in a variety of landscapes, they’re not hard to come by either. But some waterfalls stand apart from the rest, and these ten waterfalls are musts for any traveler. From quintessential bucket list destinations like Niagara, to lesser-known marvels like Maletsunyane, there’s a breathtaking waterfall for every traveler in every corner of the world.

Iguazú Falls

Straddling the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazú Falls is the first of several falls on this list to mark an international border. One of the largest falls in the world, Iguazú stretches about 2.7km end to end, more than double the length of Niagara Falls. Water plunges 269 feet into the Iguaçu River, shrouding the surrounding area in a fine mist. The tourist infrastructure is excellent here, so visitors can explore a variety of different walkways and angles of the falls. That doesn’t mean, however, that Iguazú is overdeveloped. It’s quite the opposite; visitors can explore the surrounding rainforest with river rafting and wildlife watching.

Niagara Falls

One of the most famous waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls attracts over 30 million people annually, and rightly so. Niagara consists of three separate falls: Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil Falls, which all come together to throw over 700,000 gallons of water into the Niagara River every second. Niagara’s appeal is also due to its ease in travel. The waterfall is an easy day trip from Toronto, and can be a weekend vacation from New York City. Niagara Falls has long been a symbol of the force of nature and industry, and is well-deserving of a place on your American bucket list.

Victoria Falls

Moving to another continent, Victoria Falls lies on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. It’s another superlative waterfall, considered one of the world’s biggest, along with Iguazú and Niagara. Flowing across a 1,700 meter ledge, the water drops 108 meters into a narrow gorge, giving travelers a unique viewpoint. Victoria Falls is also well-known for its adventure activities. Thrill-seekers can swim right up to the edge in the Devil’s Pool, bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge, or go rafting down Class V rapids in the Zambezi River. 

Gullfoss

One of many spectacular waterfalls in Iceland, Gullfoss is most notable for its double waterfall. At only 32m high, Gullfoss is not very impressive in height, but it’s the terrain and sheer volume of water that makes it impressive. Gullfoss, or “Golden Falls” in Icelandic, consists of a series of small falls, before descending into a narrow gorge. The falls are extremely accessible (it’s located on the popular Golden Circle), with a number of short walking trails, so you can see viewpoints down the gorge and over the top of the falls.

Ban Gioc-Detian Waterfalls

Ban Gioc-Detian is a unique set of falls. Located between China and Vietnam, it’s one of the best waterfalls in Asia. The falls feature some of Vietnam’s famous karst mountains, which are also found on the more popular southern coast destinations. The falls tumble down several tiers of karst into the turquoise pool below. Another great plus to these falls is the lack of crowds. Since it’s located so far north in Vietnam, most tourists never make it here, but you’re sure to see a whole different side of the country if you do. It is possible to visit both sides of the falls by boat, although visas and border crossings can make this too impractical for some travelers.

Plitvice Lakes

Most travelers head to the Croatian coast for its beautiful scenery, but there’s good reason to extend your vacation inland. Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s largest national park, and features sixteen tiered lakes throughout a rugged karst landscape. The water is turquoise blue, and visitors can get up close and personal along the park’s boardwalks. Visitors should spend at least two days to see everything there is to offer, from of course, numerous sets of waterfalls, to the park’s four hiking trails. There’s something here for all activity levels, and the longer you stay, the more you can explore away from the crowds.

Angel Falls

Venezuela’s Angel Falls are not the easiest to get to, but it’s well worth it. Tucked away in Canaima National Park, travelers must travel five hours, either by boat, plane or hike to reach the falls. Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, plummeting 807m, until the water is just a fine mist at the bottom. Once there, visitors can swim in pools at the bottom of the falls, and some choose to continue their journey through the surrounding Amazon rainforest. 

Yosemite Falls

Another American favorite, Yosemite Falls lies in the eponymous national park, one of the country’s favorites. The falls are in three different tiers, plunging from the edge of the Yosemite Valley. The Yosemite Falls Trail is the way to get here, and backpackers often continue their journey to other sections of the park, and the valley has many other viewpoints for the falls. No matter where you’re viewing from, nothing epitomizes the great American West quite like this tallest waterfall in North America.

Sutherland Falls

New Zealand’s Sutherland Falls is truly one-of-a-kind. The narrow falls descends from the suspended Lake Quill down into Lake Te Anau and out to Milford Sound. Lake Quill itself is only visible via helicopter or plane, but it’s worth it to get this spectacular vantage point. Sutherland Falls can be reached via the Milford Track, which is a 4-day hike across the gorgeous fjords. Besides the falls, be sure to take a boat ride out on the Milford Sound, for even more fjords and falls.

Maletsunyane Falls

Maletsunyane Falls is hidden among the high mountains of Lesotho. It’s one of the highest in Africa, at 192-metres, and is at the center of an almost entirely undeveloped landscape. Staying at nearby Semonkong Lodge, visitors can head out to the falls by pony with a local guide, hearing all the local legends along the way. The rugged yet lush landscape is the perfect complement to this towering waterfall cascading down into the valley. Here, you’ll get to witness nature most travelers never see.

We bet after looking at these gorgeous waterfalls, you are now craving for a visit to these wonderful marvels of nature. And just so you know, we feel the same. Also, do let us know in the comment section below if you feel we missed on any other great one.