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Cachoeira do Cantão in Nova Veneza, Southern Santa Catarina, attracts visitors with a crystal-clear water pool at the top of a 50-meter drop that creates an infinity edge effect with panoramic valley views, accessible by a 30-minute trail in the first stage and a 20-minute scramble to the top.
A hidden waterfall in Southern Santa Catarina is becoming a tourist sensation for a reason that photographs cannot fully capture. Cachoeira do Cantão, located in Nova Veneza, features a crystal-clear water pool at the top of its drop, simulating an infinity pool 50 meters high, a natural formation where the pool’s water seems to merge with the valley’s horizon below, creating a scene that visitors describe as mesmerizing and earning the waterfall a reputation as one of the region’s most impressive natural attractions. Access is via a dirt road to the trailhead, a route that starts easy with a 30-minute walk along riverbanks and small waterfalls before becoming more challenging in the final stretch.
Cachoeira do Cantão is considered one of Nova Veneza’s most remarkable attractions, a city most Brazilians associate with Italian cuisine but which holds natural wonders capable of surprising those who venture beyond the restaurants. The second stage of the trail to the top of the waterfall takes about 20 additional minutes and includes a steep climb with sections of scrambling, a requirement that filters out less prepared visitors and rewards those who reach the top with a panoramic view of the valley that justifies every drop of sweat. According to Nova Veneza’s Secretary of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Izabelle Amboni Destro, the waterfall is part of a natural heritage that the municipality is working to enhance as part of a sustainable tourism strategy.
What makes this waterfall different from any other in Santa Catarina
The differential of Cachoeira do Cantão is not the size of the drop nor the volume of water, but what happens at the top. The natural pool formed at the upper edge of the 50-meter drop creates an optical illusion where the water’s surface appears boundless, extending to the valley’s horizon as if it were an architect-designed infinity pool, an effect that is actually the product of thousands of years of erosion that sculpted the rock into the exact geometry to produce this natural mirage. No human intervention participated in creating the scenery that attracts more and more visitors to the waterfall.
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The panoramic view offered by the top of the waterfall amplifies the experience. From 50 meters high, the Nova Veneza valley unfolds in an expanse combining native forest, rural areas, and rock formations, a landscape that changes with the daylight and, in the early morning or late afternoon, takes on hues that make photographs of the waterfall viral material on social media. The combination of the infinity edge effect and the elevated view is what positions Cachoeira do Cantão above dozens of other waterfalls in Southern Santa Catarina that may be larger in volume but do not offer the same visual experience.
How is the trail to the infinity edge waterfall
The route to Cachoeira do Cantão is divided into two stages with distinct difficulty levels. The first part of the trail takes about 30 minutes and is considered easy, accessible to most people including families with older children, and the path follows riverbanks and passes by small waterfalls that serve as an appetizer for what awaits at the final destination. This first stage leads to the base of the waterfall, from where it is already possible to admire the 50-meter drop and feel the mist that the water produces upon reaching the lower pool.
The second stage is where the trail demands physical commitment. After crossing the river, visitors face a steep climb that takes about 20 additional minutes and includes sections of scrambling on terrain that can be slippery, especially on humid days or after rain. The effort is rewarded at the top, where the waterfall’s infinity pool reveals itself in its full extent and where the panoramic view of the valley transforms fatigue into admiration. The recommendation is to wear shoes with good grip, carry enough water, and avoid the trail on days of intense rain when the terrain becomes significantly more dangerous.
Precautions to take when visiting the waterfall
The beauty of Cachoeira do Cantão does not eliminate the risks that a 50-meter high drop naturally presents. Wet areas near the edge can be slippery, and getting too close to the limit where the water plunges into the valley is behavior that should be avoided even by visitors experienced in trails and waterfalls. The height of the fall does not forgive mistakes, and the Instagrammable scenery of the infinity pool can create the temptation to pose for photos at points that compromise safety.
The presence of venomous animals along the trail to the waterfall is a risk that deserves attention. Humid and forested environments like those surrounding Cachoeira do Cantão harbor snakes, spiders, and insects whose bites can cause severe reactions, and the guidance is to keep an eye on the path, wear long pants and closed shoes, and avoid putting hands into holes, rocks, or logs without checking first. The local guide, when available, knows the highest risk points and can advise the group on specific precautions for each section of the trail to the waterfall.
What Nova Veneza offers besides the waterfall for visitors to the city
Nova Veneza combines natural attractions with an Italian cultural heritage that few cities in Santa Catarina reproduce. Gastronomy is the most well-known entry point: restaurants serving Italian cuisine with recipes brought by immigrants in the 19th century attract visitors from all over Southern Brazil, and the waterfall serves as a perfect complement for those who want to combine a hearty meal with outdoor adventure in the same itinerary. “Waterfalls, trails, and rural landscapes enchant visitors. These spaces contribute to strengthening sustainable tourism, promoting experiences that unite nature, culture, and gastronomy,” highlights Secretary Izabelle Amboni Destro.
The municipality has been expanding actions to boost nature tourism. According to the secretary, “in Nova Veneza, there are already works and planning linked to nature tourism and the sustainable development of the tourism sector,” an indication that the Cantão waterfall is part of a broader strategy that seeks to position the city as a complete destination rather than a one-day gastronomic stop. For the traveler discovering Nova Veneza for the first time, the surprise of finding a waterfall with an infinity pool in a city known for pasta and wines is the kind of combination that transforms a casual visit into a memorable experience.
And you, have you ever known Cachoeira do Cantão in Nova Veneza? Would you hike to the top of the infinity edge? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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