Travel
Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls
Slide Nr 1Forget the crowded viewing platforms of Niagara and Iguazu – the world is home to many under-the-radar falls that are just as worthy of a peek. From haunted cascades to plunging falls surrounded by lush rainforests, we round up a number of lesser-known waterfalls that will take your breath away, whether you’re a nature lover, a photographer or just a curious and intrepid traveller. [Photo: Svartifoss, leonid_tit/iStock]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 2Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho, USA – Located on Idaho’s wild Snake River, Shoshone Falls stand higher than the considerably more famous Niagara Falls, but are much less likely to have you elbowing fellow visitors for the best vantage point. When planning your trip, keep in mind that this marvel is best viewed during spring and summer, when water flows are high due to winter snow melt. And make sure to add a couple of activities besides hiking to your itinerary: We personally suggest checking out boating opportunities and picnic areas around the falls. [Photo: Strekoza2/iStock]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 3Palouse Falls in Washington, USA – 700 kilometres to the north in Washington state, the Snake River takes another dramatic dive: Palouse Falls stand as some of the last remaining active waterfalls on the Ice Age floods path. Carved over 13,000 years ago, the falls plummet more than 60 metres into a turbulent pool, a mighty testament to the forces of nature. If you’re a painter, a photographer or just a lover of natural wonders, make sure to add it to your list of must-sees when visiting the region.
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 4Pliva Waterfall in Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Central Bosnia and Herzegovina is blessed with the beauty of Pliva Waterfall. Located by the town of Jajce, where the rivers Pliva and Vrbas meet, the cascade once fell from a height of 30 metres. However, various human and environmental factors, from floods to the construction of a hydroelectric power plant up the river, have reduced the falls to 20 metres. Still, the site maintains its picturesque appeal, drawing visitors who come to take a peek at the pretty falls or to engage in water sports in the lakes there. The location also plays host to a traditional waterfall jumping competition each August. [Photo: Milo van Kovacevic/Flickr]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 5Yumbilla Falls in Cuispes, Peru – A country filled with natural wonders, Peru should already be on your travel bucket list – so make room in your itinerary for the stunning Yumbilla Falls, located near the town of Cuispes in the Amazonian region. Surrounded by virginal high forest blooming with orchids and bromeliads, the world’s fifth tallest waterfall awaits. The falls can only be reached on foot, and hiring a local guide to accompany you in this remote area is highly recommended. Feeling adventurous? Some outfitters offer canyoning tours with the option to rappel down the falls. [Photo: EduardoIbarra/iStock]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 6Múlafossur in Gásadalur, Faroe Islands – Like something out of a fairy tale, Múlafossur drops off right over a cliff and into the sea, with the sleepy village of Gásadalur forming a quaint backdrop. Only a five-minute walk from the village, this natural wonder is a must-see for all visitors to Vágar Island, and though it looks like it would be hard to reach, it’s only a quick drive or bus ride from the island’s airport. Sure, the island itself is in the middle of the North Atlantic, but the panorama itself is worth the trip.
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 7Skradinski Buk Falls in Skradin, Croatia – Yes, Croatia’s Plitvice waterfalls are beautiful, but they’re also very popular the world over. Consider instead a jaunt to the lesser-known but no less idyllic Skradinski Buk Falls. One of the main cascades – and the longest – in Krka National Park, the falls extend through ponds and lush greenery, as well as small islands and even a little village. A UNESCO Heritage site, it’s the perfect place to (re)connect with nature or even take a refreshing dive.
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 8Pearl Shoal Waterfall in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Province, China – We tend to imagine concrete jungles when we think of China, but the country is in fact rife with natural beauty – like the dreamy Pearl Shoal Waterfall in the Jiuzhaigou Valley of central China. The falls are surrounded by local endemic evergreens and, if you manage to have a little luck and catch the cascade on a bright sunny day, the mineral-rich waters will shine almost like pearls – hence the name. The best time to visit? Summer, when the still-cool snow melt flows down from the mountains. [Photo: kaboem/Flickr]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 9Río Celeste Waterfall in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica – We bet you’ve never seen a waterfall with such mesmerisingly blue waters. Unique and alluring, the Río Celeste Waterfall in northern Costa Rica owes its turquoise colour to the meeting of two streams: minerals from Buenavista River mingle with the acidic waters of Sour Creek, and the suspended particles scatter the light. If you’re visiting, beware: It’s quite a long, adventurous hike in Tenorio Volcano National Park, crossing through dense rainforest and over rushing rivers, while encountering all manner of local fauna. [Photo: mihtiander/iStock]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 10Svartifoss in Skaftafell, Iceland – In a country known for its magical landscapes, Iceland’s wealth of waterfalls is no secret – the secret is finding one that isn’t packed with gawkers. Our tip: Drive through the black lava sand plains of Skeiðarársandur glacial outwash to find the stunning waterfalls of Vatnajökull National Park, among them Svartifoss – a 20-metre-tall cascade that’s unique for its backdrop of black basalt formations. Just make sure you’re in shape: you’ll need to hike there, either on a one-way trail that’s 1.5 kilometres uphill, or a 5.5-kilometre loop.
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 12Agrio Falls in Caviahue, Patagonia, Argentina – Red, yellow, green, black: the Salto del Agrio is a riot of colours worthy of any postcard. With the Copahue Volcano looming in the background, this waterfall drops 60 metres into a green pool framed by red and yellow basalt rocks, to other-wordly effect; it’s no wonder that the native Mapuche people valued it as a place of worship. The falls can be easily reached by car, so bring the whole family. [Photo: Mariano Mantel/Flickr]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 13Wallaman Falls in Queensland, Australia – Found in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, a UNESCO-protected site in the Shire of Hinchinbrook, Australia’s highest permanent single-drop falls are simply too gorgeous to miss. Surrounded by rainforest, the cascade plunges for 268 metres through clouds of mist and into a natural pool 20 metres deep. The best part? Not only is it the perfect photo op, it’s also a great spot for picnics and overnight camping. [Photo: autau/iStock]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 14Seven Sisters Waterfall in the Geirangerfjorden, Norway – Not one, not two, but seven waterfalls cascade side by side, plummeting an average of 250 metres, and scenically set next to a deserted farm perched above a spectacular fjord. Seen from afar, they resemble the hair of seven women. If you’d like to reach such a surreal place, the best way to do so is undoubtedly by boat between May and September; make sure to ask your guide about the legend behind the opposite cascade, called The Suitor. [Photo: Smitt/iStock]
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Bucket List: The World’s Most Astounding Waterfalls.
Slide Nr 15Salto del Tequendama Falls, Cundinamarca, Colombia – We end our list on a tragic and spooky note, at the 180-metre Salto del Tequendama. According to local legend, many of the indigenous Muísca people leaped from the edge of the waterfall to escape Spanish conquest, hoping to turn into eagles and fly to freedom. More recently, the falls were known as a common spot for suicides of city dwellers from nearby Bogotá. The waterfall is flanked by the atmospheric Hotel del Salto, built in 1928 as luxury accommodations and now operating as a museum – which some say is haunted. To get here, all it takes is a short road trip from Bogotá. [Photo: Felipe Restrepo Acosta/Wikimedia Commons]
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