Top 5

  1. Iguazú Falls (Argentina/Brazil)
Thundering, majestic, awe-inspiring - no adjective can capture the sheer scale and impact of these falls; indeed the name itself means 'big water' in the native Guaraní language. Too vast for one country, the Iguazú Falls straddle Argentina and Brazil, and are larger than Niagara and wider than Victoria. Admire them from a boat under the Devil's Throat or on a walkway amid the surrounding tropical landcape - we recommend two nights, staying at one of the two hotels within the national park itself, to enjoy dawn rainbows, local wildife and breathtaking views from every angle.

  2. Angel Falls (Venezuela)
So isolated that until sixty years ago they were still unknown, the Angel Falls are named after the American aviator who finally uncovered them after a crash landing. This is the world's tallest single drop waterfall, and, believe us, a river plunging over the lip of a mountain from a height of almost a thousand metres (over twice that of the Empire State Building) to the forest floor makes it well worth venturing to this remote and still unspoilt region.

  3. Kaieteur Falls (Guyana)
Multiply Niagara by five and surround it with virgin Guyanese rainforest and a spectacular canyon and you come somewhere near the Kaieteur experience. A light aircraft flight away from the capital Georgetown, Kaieteur is not only an astounding waterfall but also a wildlife haven, showcasing golden frogs and the world's largest bromeliads.

  4. Semuc Champey (Guatemala)
At the entrance to Semuc Champey, a battered old sign proudly boasts that visitors are only steps away from the 8th Wonder of the World. Although this lacks official endorsement, the sign-painter's enthusiasm is certainly justified. In the middle of the jungle, a natural limestone bridge has been carved out by the Cahabon river, which emerges 300m later in a gushing waterfall. Fittingly for a country as colourful as Guatemala, the area's beauty lies not just in the waterfalls themselves but also in the exquisite turquoise colour of the pools.

  5. Hierve el Agua (Mexico)
This most unusual sight is in fact a 'petrified waterfall', an enormous stalactite formed by the high concentration of minerals in the cliff face. Located about two and a half hours from Oaxaca and surrounded by fields of maguey (the cacuts used for the local firewater, mezcal), Hierve el Agua is linked by scenic trails to pools of bright blue water where you can take a dip and admire panoramic views of the valley below.