Salto do Itiquira: Waterfall in Goiás, Brazil

Salto do Itiquira in Brazil? As a half-Brazilian, I travel through Brazil differently. Sometimes I come to corners that are not touristy at all or only for Brazilian tourists. While Brasília itself admittedly loses its charm after a few days, the surrounding area is all the more exciting for it. Brasília and the Distrito Federal are located in the state of Goiás, a very rural region with many destinations, especially for nature lovers. The Salto do Itiquira waterfall near Formosa is one of them.

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Salto do Itiquira in Brazil: 168 meters of free fall

The Salto do Itiquira is “only” the eighth highest waterfall in all of Brazil, but that should not dampen the joy in the country where the gigantic waterfalls of Iguaçu are located. Because the Salto do Itiquira near the small town of Formosa is also quite impressive. The water plunges 168 meters steeply into the depths and comes up so hard at the bottom that bathing is prohibited directly at the waterfall. You get very close to the waterfall and it gets pretty wet pretty quickly! Further down, however, there are small pools where swimming is allowed, and the Brazilians who like to swim don’t miss out on that.

An experience just to bathe in the wilderness. Basically, the Salto do Itiquira is a popular destination for the Brazilses, but completely unknown among foreign tourists. Perfect, then, if you ever want to mingle with Brazilians: it’s guaranteed not to take long to get invited to a family picnic and hook up. Brazilians are always warm and hospitable, especially with tourists from outside!

Pure nature around the Salto do Itiquira in Brazil

Around the waterfall you can also walk through the dense tropical forest and enjoy nature. Attention: For the path directly around the waterfall to the top you need sturdy shoes, otherwise it is very slippery.

The Salto do Itiquira is located in Parque Municipal do Itiquira, about 38 kilometers from Formosa and 115 kilometers from Brasília. Admission to the waterfall is free. If you want to stay longer than just one day, you can stay at the nearby Itiquira Park, an amusement park with small chalets and a large pool complex. If you prefer a quieter setting, it’s best to look for one of the many options to stay at a chácara (farmhouse). Online booking is difficult; the nearest option is the Fazenda Hotel Bem Ecologico. There are more options on site; for example, you can book additional accommodations at travel agencies in Brasília, though you should have some knowledge of the language, as these accommodations are really geared toward Brazilians only.