Salto del Penitente

The Salto del Penitente drops around sixty metres over a granite face in the Lavalleja hills, and its flow depends entirely on rain: after a wet spell it is a proper waterfall, and in a dry summer it can be a trickle down the rock. A small complex at the site runs a zip line across the valley, a restaurant and cabins, and paths lead to the top of the fall and to the pool below.

What you actually see

• The fall - about sixty metres over a granite face when the water is running.
• The zip line - a wire strung across the valley beside the fall.
• The valley paths - routes to the lip and to the pool at the base.
• The Lavalleja hills - the rolling granite country around the site.

When to go

April to November has the most reliable flow. Summer often reduces the fall to very little. Weekends bring family crowds.

Honest expectations

In a dry summer there is almost no water, which catches visitors out. The access road is gravel and rough after rain. The site is developed with a restaurant and cabins rather than left wild.

Nearby

Minas is southwest, and Villa Serrana is north.