Kaieteur Falls: one drop, 226 metres, in the middle of the rainforest
The Potaro River runs flat and dark through the forest, then falls 226 m (741 ft) in a single drop, more than four times the height of Niagara. There are no crowds, no railings and often only your own small group at the edge. Here's everything you need to see it, and who's flying there this week.
- Single drop
- 226 m · 741 ft
- Flight from Georgetown
- About 1 hour
- Walk to the falls
- Short, guided
- National park since
- 1929
Seats this week
Full calendarNo seats listed for the next 7 days yet. Request your date below and we'll ask every operator.
Latest Kaieteur stories
All stories
"Video doesn't do this place justice": a waterfall sceptic meets Kaieteur
Travel creator Eli usually finds famous waterfalls a let-down. Her Kaieteur trip, with a week of waiting, a bumpy landing and a storm, changed her mind.
Rain, a cancelled flight, and then the last viewpoint: Jana Alessa's Kaieteur day
German travel creator Jana Alessa nearly missed Kaieteur twice: first the morning flight was called off, then rain hid the first two viewpoints. The third one made it all worth it.
Thirty years in Guyana, first time at Kaieteur: Alex Power's day trip
Guyanese YouTuber Alex Power finally made the trip he'd put off for three decades: Kaieteur in the morning, a swim at Orinduik in the afternoon. Here's what his day looked like.
No railings at the edge: what Jules and Xandy's Kaieteur video shows, and how to stay safe
A couple's TikTok from Kaieteur captures what makes the falls so different: ancient rock, strange plants, a bird of prey overhead, and an edge with nothing between you and the drop.
Back after 18 years: Chef Devan Rajkumar returns to Kaieteur and Orinduik
Chef Devan Rajkumar first saw Kaieteur in 2007, sitting right on the ledge. This time he came back with a seven-minute video and a new respect for the rapids at Orinduik.
How big is Kaieteur Falls, really?
226 metres straight down, more than four times the height of Niagara, with enough water to rank among the most powerful waterfalls on Earth. Here are the numbers, and what they feel like when you're standing there.
Getting there
Kaieteur sits deep in Guyana's interior, so the trip is a flight, not a drive. Small planes leave Georgetown, most of them from Ogle, and fly about an hour over unbroken forest before dropping onto the park's own airstrip. From there a guide walks your group to the lookouts.
Flights run on set days with a limited number of seats each, which is why seats on popular days go fast and why this site exists: to show you which flights still have room.
Kaieteur Falls only
Fly in, walk the trail to the lookouts with a guide, take your photos and fly back. About half a day, check-in to return.
Kaieteur + Orinduik Falls
Add a second landing at Orinduik Falls on the Ireng River, at the Brazilian border. The water steps down wide, shallow terraces you can sit and swim in: a very different falls from Kaieteur.
When to go
There's no bad month for Kaieteur. The rainier middle of the year usually brings the heaviest, loudest flow and the most spray; the drier months bring more clear-sky days and sharper photos. Small-plane flights depend on the weather on the morning, so plan the rest of your day loosely and give yourself a spare day if Kaieteur is the reason for your trip.
On the trail
The walk from the airstrip is short and mostly flat, through low forest and over sandstone. Your guide stops at a series of natural lookouts, including Johnson's View, Rainbow View and Boy Scout View, each showing the falls from a different angle. On sunny mornings the spray throws rainbows across the gorge.
The lookouts are bare rock with no railings. Stay with your guide, keep well back from the edge and take extra care when the rock is wet.
Wildlife to look out for
- Golden rocket frog: a tiny, bright-yellow frog that lives its whole life inside the giant tank bromeliads near the falls. Ask your guide to show you one.
- Guianan cock-of-the-rock: a brilliant orange bird with a half-moon crest, sometimes seen along the trail.
- White-collared swifts: they nest on the rock behind the curtain of water and pour in at dusk, usually after day trips have left.
The legend of Kai
The falls take their name from a Patamona story. In the best-known version, Kai, an elder of the Patamona people, paddled his canoe over the edge as a sacrifice to the Great Spirit Makonaima, to save his people from a threat. "Kaieteur" is often translated as "old man's fall". Other tellings differ in the details; ask your guide which one they grew up with.
What to bring
- Comfortable closed shoes with grip
- A light rain jacket: the spray and the weather both change fast
- Water and sun protection
- A phone or camera with a strap
- ID for the flight manifest (a passport if you're visiting from abroad)
- Small planes have bag and weight limits: ask your operator for theirs
Questions people ask
How do you get to Kaieteur Falls?
Almost everyone flies. Small planes leave Georgetown (mostly from Ogle) and land on the park's own airstrip after about an hour. From the airstrip a short guided walk takes you to the lookouts. There is no practical road for a day trip.
How long is a Kaieteur Falls day trip?
A Kaieteur-only trip usually takes about half a day, check-in to return. Adding Orinduik Falls makes it a full day. Each operator sets its own check-in and return times, shown with their seats on this site.
Is it Kaieteur only, or Kaieteur and Orinduik?
Both exist. Kaieteur only is shorter and cheaper. Kaieteur + Orinduik adds a second stop at Orinduik Falls on the Brazilian border, where you can sit and swim in the shallow terraced falls.
When is the best time to go?
Kaieteur is worth seeing all year. The rainier middle of the year usually brings the heaviest flow; drier months bring more clear-sky days for photos. Small-plane flights depend on the weather on the day, so keep the rest of your day flexible.
Is Kaieteur Falls safe?
Yes, with a guide and common sense. The lookouts are natural rock with no railings, so stay with your group, keep back from the edge and watch your footing when the rock is wet.
Who runs the trips listed here?
Independent tour operators. Every operator listed holds a current Guyana Tourism Authority licence, which we check before listing. You book and pay with the operator you choose.
What should I bring?
Comfortable closed shoes, a light rain jacket, water, sun protection, a camera or phone with a strap, and ID for the flight manifest (a passport if you're visiting from abroad). Small planes have bag and weight limits; your operator will tell you theirs.