Waterfalls

The area around Grand Etang National Park in the central of Grenada has some splendid hikes. One of the most popular ones leads to St Margaret Falls, which are also known as the Seven Sisters, as there are seven cascades in total. The falls are located on a private plantation. After paying a small fee of 5 EC at the house, where you also can borrow a stick (take one) and offered a guide, you follow a dirt road for a couple of hundred meters. When the road start to zigzag, you then take the small trail to the left. From there you just follow the muddy path until you reach the first two cascades, which tumble into two jungle pools perfect for a dip. If you want to see more of the seven cascades, you follow the trail up to the right. Take care, for it’s slippery and muddy.

Talofofo Falls Resort Part is strange amusement park. Kitch attractions falling apart mixed with modern zipline and cable car. But inside the park are the Talofofo Falls, which actually are nice. But they are super Disneyfied and you can't swim there, just look at them. The park also includes a replica of Yokoi's Cave, another weird - though fascinating - sight.

Guinea might well deserve to be renamed Monde de Chutes (World of Waterfalls). The country's mountainous highlands to the north – particular the Fouta Djallon – could be explored for weeks, visiting a new spectacular waterfall every day, without running out of new falls to explore. The list of our favourites is long, so we will only mention a few. Highest is the 120 m single drop Chutes de Ditinn, where a short hike will reward you by a swim in its plunge pool. The spectacular Chutes de Kambadaga has two drops, each more than 40 m high. Adding to Kambadaga's excitement, a rickety swing bridge cross the river, just 50 metres before the first drop. At Chutes de Kinkon's 60 m drop visitors can play around on the very wet and slippery stones right next to the drop. If they dare. Here is nothing to stop daredevils from plunging dramatically to their deaths. Also worth a visit are Chutes de la Salaa, Chutes de la Soumba, Voile de Marée and many more. Avoid touring the waterfalls at the very end of the dry season.

As often with waterfalls, countries claim that they are the tallest, widest, most voluminous, etc. in the world. The Kaieteur Falls is none of the above, but is probably the world's tallest waterfall with this volume. In any case it is definitely one of the most amazing waterfalls in the world! The massive amount of water from the Potaro river plunges 226 metres down into the gorge below. Pretty much all visitors to the falls take the one-hour flight from Georgetown to the top of the falls where there is an airstrip where small planes can land. From there you can take a guided walk to different viewpoints to admire the grandeur of these magnificent waterfalls and stand on the edge of where the water plunges down. If you have the chance, consider staying overnight. At dawn and dusk, a huge amount of swifts go out or come in to sleep behind the waterfalls.

The Blue Pools (Bassins Bleu) is one of Haiti's natural treasure. They're a series af beautiful blue pools linked by small waterfalls. The first two pools are easily reached from the entrance by walking and crossing some streams, where locals do their laundry. The third pool lies right above the others in a hidden grotto with a tall waterfall at the back. Locals dive in from the top of the waterfall, though it's recommended just to take a swim yourself. To reach the third pool, you need to descent a few meters with the help of a rope. It's easiest to get to the entrance of Bassins Bleu with mototaxi from Jacmel, a trip with great panoramic views over Jacmel Bay. There is a small fee at the entrance and local guys will offer to guide you for a tip.

Spectacular Akaka Falls drops impressive 135 meters down. For breathtaking unobstructive views follow the paved trail from the parking lot to the viewing deck. The trail is a loop of about 0.6 km and pass through lush rainforest with tall trees and giant bamboos. There is also a lookout for another and almost as tall waterfall, Kahuna Falls (100 m), but unfortunately it's partly hidden by vegetation.

Manoa Falls is an impressive waterfall which drops 46 meters into a pool in the middle of the jungle. To reach the falls you need to hike 1.3 km (one-way) along a muddy trail, which can get very crowded. It passes through the lush rainforest under the canopy of tall trees, and ends at the pool at the bottom of the falls.

Opaeka'a Falls is a beautiful twin waterfall with a height of 46 meters. The viewpoint right next to the road will offer unobstructed views from a distance.

Gorgeous Rainbow Falls is set among tall trees and green vegetation. The waterfall plunges 24 meter down over a lava cave into an emerald green pool. Two viewing platforms are offering breathtaking views from various angles. Come in the morning for a chance to see rainbows.

The "Road To Hana" (both north and south routes) passes so many waterfalls, but we will only mention Wailua Falls, which is considered to be the most beautiful of the lot. The picturesque waterfall cascades about 25 meters down into a refreshing small pool. It's visible right from the road, but most visitors would like more than a picture taken from the car window, so parking can be challenging at the small parking lot. There are usually also some vendors selling Hawaiian-made crafts.