A new survey released this year details the visitor infrastructure for 15 stunning waterfalls located in Brazil’s national and state parks. The guide provides information on hiking trail distances and the impressive scale of the falls, which range from 86 to 380 meters (282 to 1,247 feet) in height.
In the state of Bahia, accessing the top of Cachoeira da Fumaça (Smoke Waterfall) in Chapada Diamantina National Park involves a six-kilometer (3.7-mile) hike. At 380 meters (1,247 feet), it is the second-tallest waterfall in the country. Meanwhile, in Minas Gerais, visitor access to the 273-meter (896-foot) Tabuleiro Waterfall is managed by the Municipal Natural Park in Conceição do Mato Dentro.
Infrastructure and Access Control
In the South, park infrastructure adapts to unique local geological formations. Caracol State Park in Canela, Rio Grande do Sul, features a 927-step staircase providing access to the base of its 131-meter (430-foot) drop. Meanwhile, the Yucumã Falls in Turvo State Park present a different marvel: a longitudinal rift stretching 1,800 meters (1.1 miles) along the Uruguay River bed, creating a spectacular horizontal waterfall.
Visitor management is a key aspect in other regions as well. In Cavalcante, Goiás, entry to the stunning Santa Bárbara Waterfall is managed by the local Kalunga community, descendants of escaped slaves who formed their own settlements (quilombos). Access requires a fee and hiring a local guide, a sustainable practice that regulates tourism in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region. At the world-famous Iguaçu Falls in Paraná, an extensive network of walkways offers breathtaking views of its 275 distinct cascades.
Conservation guidelines across these parks emphasize sustainability, including strict rules on waste removal and prohibiting contact with wildlife. In fragile ecosystems like the Cerrado savanna, vehicle traffic—such as on the route to the Formiga Waterfall in Tocantins—is restricted to designated roads to prevent soil erosion and protect the native vegetation.