1. Ponot Waterfall (North Sumatra)
This might be the biggest Indonesia waterfall of all, with a height of more than 250 meters (820 feet).
Ponot Waterfall is a giant 3-step waterfall near the famous Lake Toba in North Sumatra, and you can visit it on a day trip from east Toba with about 2 hours of driving.
You can see it from the parking lot, or hike to the base of the falls in about 10-15 minutes.
2. Sipiso Piso Waterfall (North Sumatra)
Sipiso Piso is one of the nicest falls in Sumatra, and also one of the tallest waterfalls in Indonesia.
It’s a 120-meter giant that flows into the famous Lake Toba in North Sumatra, surrounded by farms and highland scenery. It definitely belongs on any road trip itinerary for Lake Toba or Sumatra, or you can even visit it on a day trip from Medan.
The hike down to the bottom of the falls is also worthwhile if you have time. It takes about 30-40 minutes each way, and you can get some even better pictures at the bottom.
This is commonly mistaken for being the tallest waterfall in Indonesia, but that’s actually not correct. The Ponot Waterfall, also near Lake Toba, is much taller. However, Sipiso is still stunning and well worth a visit!
3. Mursala Waterfall (North Sumatra)
Mursala waterfall is unique for flowing directly into the ocean! You don’t see that very often.
This one is nicknamed the King Kong waterfall because of its similarity to a waterfall on ‘Skull Island’ in the movie King King (2005), although I think you only see it in the extended edition.
Mursala island is a small, remote island off the west coast of Sumatra, and it’s not easy to get there. The only way to visit it is on a boat trip, and the seas can be rough!
4. Piala Waterfall (Central Sulawesi)
The Piala Waterfall is a big turquoise waterfall with multiple cascades, located in the Banggai area of central Sulawesi, near the town of Luwuk.
This one reminded me a bit of the famous Kuang Si Falls in Laos, which also has turquoise colored water and lots of separate cascades and natural pools where you can swim.
It’s easy to visit Piala Waterfall from Luwuk since it’s right outside of town, and the drive only takes about 15 minutes.
This waterfall is still mostly unknown to international tourists, but plenty of locals go there, so if you want to beat the crowds then you have to go in the morning, preferably on a weekday!
5. Tumpak Sewu Waterfall (East Java)
This may be the coolest waterfall on Java island, and you can visit it on a day trip from Malang city, along with a few other nearby waterfalls.
Tumpak Sewu is called a waterfall, but it’s more like a thousand falls put together. The name loosely translated from Javanese means “many waterfalls.”
These waterfalls thunder down into a horseshoe shaped jungle ravine that looks like something right out of Jurassic Park. The end result is an unmissable natural wonder!
People often visit this waterfall on a road trip and combine it with other amazing sights in East Java, such as the Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen volcano craters.
6. Kabut Pelangi Waterfall (East Java)
The hills and mountains in Java are full of amazing waterfalls, but Kabut Pelangi has to be one of the best.
This is a huge cascade in a green jungle amphitheater. The name means ‘rainbow mist waterfall’ in Indonesian, and the size of this one is crazy awesome.
This waterfall is in the same area as Tumpak Sewu, but it’s harder to find and requires more hiking. The effort is worth it for this giant Indonesia waterfall.
7. Kapas Biru Waterfall (East Java)
This is another great waterfall in Lumajang, near Malang city. The hike is pretty straightforward and only takes about 30 minutes one way.
It’s a huge waterfall set against an orange rock wall, surrounded by prehistoric looking jungles and giant bamboo trees.
The name means ‘blue cotton waterfall’ and probably comes from the hazy blue color of the falls in the evening.
8. Curug Cikanteh Waterfall (West Java)
Curug Cikanteh is one of the biggest waterfalls at the Ciletuh Geopark in West Java, and it’s truly a giant.
This is part of a UNESCO-designated geopark loaded with nice waterfalls in Indonesia. It’s reachable by driving a half day from Jakarta, and there are some nice places to stay near the waterfalls.
The geopark takes a bit of effort to reach since it’s a 4 to 6 hour drive from Jakarta or Bandung, but once you get there, the waterfall is easy to visit with 15 minutes of driving and then 15 minutes of hiking. There’s also a steep mini path to climb up to the base of the falls and see them up close, which takes an extra 5 or 10 minutes of hiking.
Curug Cikanteh might be my new favorite Indonesia waterfall. If you hike to the top in the late afternoon, you can even stand under a big rainbow!
9. Curug Cimarinjung Waterfall (West Java)
This is another popular waterfall at the Ciletuh Geopark in West Java.
If you’re staying at accommodation in the geopark, you can reach this waterfall with a 10 minute drive and a 5 minute hike.
Curug Cimarinjung is a 2-step waterfall with a bunch of good viewpoints.
10. Curug Cikaso Waterfall (West Java)
This is a unique looking limestone waterfall with a greenish turquoise pool.
Curug Cikaso is located in West Java near the Ciletuh Geopark. If you’re staying in the geopark, it’s a 1.5 hour drive and then a 5 minute hike to reach these unusual falls.
This waterfall is a stunner! The best time to visit is around April, at the end of the rainy season, when the water has such a nice color.