At a height of about 80 m, the Gato waterfall is the largest one in Ilhabela. The water slides down an almost vertical rock face, and on its second drop, it falls from a height of about 15 m straight into a large well. The waterfalls here are on a scale without equal anywhere along the entire coast of the state of São Paulo.

The waterfall is so large that even though it is located amidst dense undergrowth, it can still be seen from the boats passing through Castelhanos bay. Below the main cascade, there are still at least five other small cascades, with wells of crystal-clear water, which are excellent for diving.

To get to the Gato falls, it is first necessary to go to Castelhanos beach. The trail that leads to the waterfall starts at the left end of the beach. It is about a 30 minute walk through the forest, along a in a track of moderate difficulty.