Everyone knows the Amazon rainforest for its river cruises, night walks and caimans but not everyone knows about Kaieteur Falls. Hidden deep in the middle of the Amazon rainforest of Guyana, Kaieteur Falls is an interesting place to visit. Not because it’s hard to get to (oh, trust me, it is)… But how can something this impressive not be as world famous?

What you might not expect is that Kaieteur Falls actually bigger, taller, more powerful than a lot of the famous waterfalls in the world. Despite that, it’s pretty… empty.  Barely any crowds. No fences. No infrastructure trying to “enhance your experience.” It is just you, a sheer 200+ m drop and a whole lot of jungle.

If that’s piqued your curiosity, this is everything you need to know about visiting Kaieteur Falls in Guyana. I’ve included everything! What the experience is like, how the tours and flights work, what no one tells you about it and the honest truth if it’s genuinely worth the effort (and money).

Disclaimer: Some links earn me a small commission – same price for you, slightly less tragic bank balance for me.

What makes Kaieteur Falls so special?

Kaieteur Falls isn’t just another waterfall you tick off a list because it isn’t on many of the conventional lists. It’s often described as the largest single drop waterfall in the world by volume, which sounds impressive… but doesn’t really land until you’re standing there. And even then, you don’t fully comprehend it! It is taller than quite a few of the popular/well known waterfalls of the world.

Let’s put this into prespective:

• • It drops 226 metres in one clean plunge
  • That’s 4.5 times the height of Niagara Falls, which is only 50m tall.
  • That’s 2 times the height of Victorica Falls, which is 108m.
  • It’s roughly 3 times the height of Iguaza falls, which averages between 60 – 80m.

There’s nothing built around it. It is located in the pristine Amazon Rainforest with minimal infrastructure surrounding it. In some ways, when you’re looking around the scenery, it feels like you’ve stumbled onto something that you weren’t meant to find. Which is pretty special in its own way.

A bit of history

Kaietuer Falls isn’t just a geographical beauty, it’s tied to Patamona history. The Patamona are Amerindian people native to this region. The falls were always known them. In 1870, it was “discovered” by a British Geologist.  According to local legend, the falls was named after Chief Kai, who sacrificed himself by paddling over the falls to save his people. When you’re at the falls, you’re not just looking at it, you’re also standing somewhere of deep cultural meaning to the Patamona people.

How to visit Kaieteur Falls

It is in such a remote part of the Amazon Rainforest that there are only really two ways of visiting:

1. Take a fly-in tour which is what most people do

You’ll hop on a small propeller plane from Georgetown, an hour away and it drops you at the jungle airstrip. It’s the most common and easiest option for most people.

Stay tune, I’m writing a break down on exactly what the flight is like.

2. Multi-day jungle trek

This is completely possible. From my research, there are a couple of tour companies that offer this option: Enchanted Expeditions and Ecovoyager Adventures. I’ve never used any of these companies so I can’t speak to their quality of tour. The journey itself is a mixture of hiking, river cruises, overnight jungle camping and raw adventure.

I’ve also seen that there have been people who have done this hike “independently” but that can be quite logistically complex and time consuming for most travellers.

Tours to Kaieteur Falls: What It’s Actually Like

Most people visit Kaieteur Falls on a day trip from Georgetown and realistically – you’ll probably be doing this as well. The tours are fairly standard across the board: return flights, a few hours at the falls and a guided walk between viewpoints. It’s efficient and the complete opposite to slow travel.

Once you land on the small jungle airstrip and get settled, your guide leads you towards the falls, pointing out bits of history, plant life and birdlife along the way. Within about 10 minutes, you’re at your first viewpoint. The walk itself is easy enough but uneven, with tree roots, mud and the occasional rock underfoot. You’ll visit three different viewpoints, each bringing you slightly closer to the waterfalls. The full guided tour takes around 1.5 hours and afterwards you’ll head back to the main building for lunch before flying back to Georgetown.

Planning on booking a tour to Kaieteur Falls? Read this first.

The Waterfalls Edge (Yes, there are no railings)

Let’s address the obvious. There are no barriers. Which for some people can be quite nerve-wrecking. For others, it’s a non-issue. You can walk right up to the edge of a 226-metre drop with a full view of what’s down below. It’s not dangerous if you’re sensible.  Be extremely careful with your footing because help is a long way from here!

Wildlife you might see

While the main attraction is the Kaieteur Falls, some wildlife sightings enhance the experience of the falls. Wildlife is extremely easy to miss, especially if you’re only focused on seeing the waterfalls. You might catch a glimpse of the bright orange Guianan cock-of-the-rock! We visited their lek and found a couple of them hanging around there. Unfortunately, it was very quick glimpses of them.

The guide will point out some alien-looking plant life in the beginning. It’s actually a carnivorous plant that is endemic to Kaieteur region. If you’re lucky, you might see a tiny golden frog that lives inside the bromeliads. We unfortunately didn’t see the little guy!

Best Time to Visit Kaieteur Falls

I might argue that it’s good to visit all year round but of course, the water levels may change drastically.

Best: September to November. Strong water flow + better visibility.

Decent: December to April.
We visited in March and it was fantastic weather for us. There was a lot of rain and luckily, none when we went to visit the falls.

Risky: May to August. This is when rainy season is supposed to be. Which could lead to a higher chance of flight disruption.

If you’re planning on visiting, I would highly recommend booking yourself on a weekend flight as not all trips are guaranteed and can be moved if the minimum number of passengers isn’t reached. Also, the weather is a major factor if the flight goes ahead.

How Much Does It Cost?

Expect this to feel very expensive, especially for a half-day experience. We were very much on the fence about doing the tour simply because of the cost, but we did it in the end. The price was a whopping USD $325 per person. Yikes, it still hurts to write it out…

The price is all-inclusive of return flights, 2 hours of ground time, guided tour, park fees, a light snack (it was lunch for us), non-alcoholic drinks.

In reality, you’re also paying for how remote it is and how difficult it is to access the falls, aviation logistics and considering only 11 – 13 passengers per plane… It’s definitely not a budget friendly experience but it’s also not something easily replicated.

Still got questions? Let’s summarize.

Is Kaieteur Falls worth it?

WELL! Isn’t this a loaded question. If you’re in the “area”, looking for something different and still feels pretty undiscovered – then yes! It’s a beautiful place to visit. But you might feel underwhelmed if it’s not what you expect.

If you value guaranteed perfect conditions, polished experiences and something budget friendly… maybe sit this one out.

Is it safe?

Absolutely. We didn’t have any issues in Georgetown itself, although it can be a bit dodgy at night. For the Kaieteur Falls visit, I never felt unsafe either. There are no barriers so don’t do anything reckless.

How long do you spend there?

It’s 2 hours of ground time. The time spent at each viewpoint is approximately 10 mins. The full tour lasts about 4 hours.

Can you visit without a tour?

Not really. Although, I have read others make the trek to Kaieteur Falls independently, this isn’t something I would recommend. Your main options are to fly in or commit to a multi day trek.

Are there crowds?

Yes and no. When we visited, there was another other plane. Fortunately, we weren’t at the viewpoints at the same time and only overlapped for a short time. Generally, you’re not fighting for space or dealing with noise. It feels… quiet. Well, depends on your group.

What should you bring?

Your tour company will send you a list but generally, keep it simple:

• • light rain jacket
  • bug spray
  • snacks
  • camera

The Reality of Visiting Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Guyana isn’t a polished tourist destination. Tourism is slowly increasing but with the discovery of oil, it’s probably not at the forefront. Generally, visiting Guyana – expect that not everything will run on time and that logistics can feel messy. Plans can change last minute.

Guyana as a whole isn’t the cheapest place to visit. I mean, you saw the price of the tour! It’s also not the easiest country to visit  but it’s more geared to the traveller who enjoys minimal crowds and experiences that don’t feel too polished and are rough around the edges.

It’s one of the few places left where you’re not fighting the crowds and feel separated from nature. If this is something you’re after, this might just be the place for you.

Next step: Read this article before you book:
Planning on booking a tour to Kaieteur Falls? Read this first.