Salto do Yucumã: the world's largest longitudinal waterfall
There is a waterfall in Rio Grande do Sul that does not fall forwards: it runs sideways. The Salto do Yucumã stretches for about 1,800 metres along the Rio Uruguai, on the border between Brazil and Argentina, and is considered the world's largest longitudinal waterfall. Instead of plunging perpendicularly like an ordinary waterfall, the water runs parallel to the riverbed, over a deep geological fault.
The falls are in the municipality of Derrubadas, in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, inside the Parque Estadual do Turvo. It is the first stop on our November expedition to Ametista do Sul and Derrubadas, and one of those places you do not expect to find in the Rio Grande do Sul countryside.
If you have never heard of Yucumã, this text is for you. Here we explain why it is so special, what the surrounding park is and how the visit works.
Why Yucumã is unlike any other waterfall
Most waterfalls are a step: the river reaches the edge and drops. Yucumã is a fissure. The bed of the Rio Uruguai meets a geological fault tens of metres deep, and the water flows down it along almost two kilometres, in drops of up to 12 metres, following the direction of the current.
From the viewpoints above, what you see is a wall of water running in a straight line, with no apparent end, separating Brazil from Argentina. On the Brazilian side, the falls are called Yucumã, a name of Tupi-Guarani origin that the Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Rio Grande do Sul (the state environment department) translates as "grande roncador" (great roarer), a reference to the sound of the water. On the Argentine side, in Misiones province, the same formation is called Saltos del Moconá. It is the same falls, with a different name in each country.
Parque Estadual do Turvo: the forest that protects the falls
Yucumã lies inside the Parque Estadual do Turvo, which covers a little over 17,000 hectares and is one of the first conservation areas in Rio Grande do Sul, created back in 1947. The park holds one of the last large remnants of Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) in the interior of the state and is the last refuge in Rio Grande do Sul for species such as the jaguar and the tapir. The official fauna list of the Secretaria do Meio Ambiente also cites the puma, collared peccary, harpy eagle, black-fronted piping guan and spot-winged wood quail.
Seeing one of these animals is very rare: they exist precisely because the park is large and well preserved. But the forest along the safari route is a spectacle in its own right: tall trees, the smell of woodland and a silence that is broken only when the river appears.
What a group visit is like
Visits to the falls are made with accredited guides, inside the park. The internal route is about 15 kilometres of dirt road, travelled in the park's own vehicles. On our expedition, the group covers this stretch by jeep, carretinha (trailer) or pickup truck, on a safari of about 50 minutes that shows the attractions of the region along the way. At the end, a short walk leads to the viewpoints over the falls.
The pace is relaxed and designed for our 60+ travellers: stops for photos, time at the viewpoints and a guide with the group throughout.
The best time to see the Salto do Yucumã
Yucumã changes with the river. In the dry season, between November and April, the level of the Rio Uruguai drops and the falls appear in full, with the drops running side by side. When the river rises, the water covers the fissure and the falls practically disappear, submerged.
That is why our departure is at the end of November: it is the window in which the chance of seeing Yucumã in its classic form is greatest.
Derrubadas: the town of the falls
The town that surrounds the park has a curious name: it comes from the felled trees (derrubadas) that the first settlers found at the site in the early twentieth century, left over from earlier logging. Today Derrubadas lives from tourism: besides the falls, the region has dozens of cascades, trails and rural properties, with about half of the municipality still covered in native forest.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Salto do Yucumã?
In Derrubadas, in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, inside the Parque Estadual do Turvo, about 470 kilometres from Porto Alegre. The falls are on the Rio Uruguai, which marks the border between Brazil and Argentina.
What is the world's largest longitudinal waterfall?
The Salto do Yucumã, about 1,800 metres long along the Rio Uruguai. Most official Rio Grande do Sul sources present it as the largest in this category.
Are Yucumã and Moconá the same falls?
Yes. Yucumã is the Brazilian name; Moconá (or Saltos del Moconá) is the Argentine name for the same formation, which lies on the border, opposite Misiones province.
When is the best time to visit?
Between November and April, when the river is low. When the river is high, the falls are submerged.
Is the visit tiring for people over 60?
No. The safari inside the park is done by vehicle, and the walk to the viewpoints is short. On our expedition, the itinerary respects the group's pace, with a guide and a CADASTUR agent alongside from boarding to return.
Come and see the "great roarer" up close
Yucumã is one of those places that give you the photo (and the story) you tell all year. The expedition Novembro 2026: Ametista do Sul e Derrubadas leaves Porto Alegre on 27 November, in a leito (sleeper) coach, and combines the falls on the first morning with two days in the world capital of amethyst. See the full itinerary on the expedition page (/expedicao/novembro-2026-ametista-do-sul-e-derrubadas) and message us on WhatsApp to secure your place.
The world is waiting for you. We take care of the rest.
