Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls is a high-volume single-drop waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana, located in Potaro-Siparuni and set within primary rainforest. Its single plunge is one of the most powerful concentrated falls in the world.

The main attractions are the dramatic single drop of roughly 226 metres and the broad, forested gorge it has carved. Several established viewing platforms and short trails allow visitors to see the falls from the rim and from lower vantage points close to the spray.

The falls were well known to local Indigenous peoples for centuries and were first recorded by European explorers in the 19th century; the surrounding area was later protected as a national park to conserve the rainforest and river canyon. The site remains remote and largely undisturbed.

Located deep in Guyana’s interior within Kaieteur National Park, the falls are reached primarily by small plane from Georgetown; the setting is rainforest-clad plateaus and steep river gorges far from major roads.

• Height: The main drop is about 226 metres (around 741 feet), making it one of the largest single-drop waterfalls in the world by height and volume.
• Access: Access is typically by chartered small aircraft from Georgetown to the park airstrip; guided walks and short trails lead to the primary viewing points near the rim.
• Viewing: Viewpoints near the rim and a lower platform give different perspectives of the plunge and the surrounding sandstone gorge; flights and visits are weather-dependent.

What to See #

• Kaieteur National Park: A protected area surrounding the falls that preserves rainforest habitat along the Potaro River and includes the airstrip used by visitors.
• Potaro River: The Potaro River plunges over the main fall in a single great drop; the river and rapids upstream and downstream provide the dramatic gorge setting.