The most famous waterfall in southern Brazil sits in Parque do Caracol, around 20 minutes' drive from Gramado and just outside the neighbouring town of Canela. The river Caracol plummets 131 metres into a forested gorge in a single curtain of white water that looks enormous in any season but spectacular after heavy rain.
A wooden viewing platform projects out over the canyon for the classic photo. From there a long staircase (or a glass elevator built in 2016) descends to a lookout near the base. The surrounding park has trails through native Atlantic rainforest with araucária pines and good chances of seeing toucans. Open daily; entry around BRL 30.