The Dominican Republic, a beautiful island in the heart of the Caribbean, is a vibrant country known for its stunning beaches, lush landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. This tropical paradise boasts miles of coastline with pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. It is a haven for beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts. Beyond the beaches, the country’s interior has verdant mountains, dense rainforests, and the 27 pristine waterfalls of Damajagua, that offers a unique adventure and exploration opportunity. One of the most popular and unique things to do in the Dominican Republic is to visit and slide down the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua.
About the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua
The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua, also known at the “Charcos de Damajagua”, are a series of spectacular waterfalls nestled in a beautiful jungle landscape in the hills of the Dominican Republic near Puerto Plata. The waterfalls are located in Rio Damajagua – the Damajagua River, which is a protected area. The waterfalls have created natural slides out of the rocks where you can slide into the pool of water below. Depending on the season and recent rainfall, the number of accessible waterfalls can vary. You can hike up the mountain and visit all 27 waterfalls or just a few of them. A hike up the mountain to the top of the waterfalls is easily three to four hours, depending on your hiking experience and endurance. It is important to go with a guide if you decide to visit all 27 waterfalls, as this is considered an advanced and strenuous hike.
Shorter Excursions to the Waterfalls of Damajagua
Visiting all 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua would be difficult for the average person. If you are in the Dominican Republic via cruise ship, you would more than likely miss the all-aboard time if you attempt to hike to all 27 waterfalls unless you are in excellent physical shape. Luckily, there are shorter excursions to the waterfalls available.
There are a variety of excursions available at the Waterfalls of Damajagua. Some offer visits to 12 of the waterfalls, but the shorter and more common excursions offer visits to 7 of the waterfalls. The visit to the waterfalls includes a few jumps into the pools of water. The jump platforms are about 20 to 30 feet high.
You can extend your excursion and include a zipline ride over the waterfalls or drive a buggy around the mountain and river and explore the area. There are also excursions available that include a traditional Dominican buffet lunch. You can select the excursion that works for you.
Things You Should Know Before Heading Out on Your Waterfalls of Damajagua Excursion
There are a few important things to know and keep in mind before you purchase and set out on your excursion to visit the Waterfalls of Damajagua.
Lockers Are Available to Store Your Belongings
Because of the nature of the excursion, where you will be hiking and sliding down the natural rock of the waterfalls, you will not be able to bring any personal items with you. Lockers are available for a small charge. There are three locker sizes, small, medium, and large. You can easily fit backpacks in the medium and large lockers. Feel free to bring dry clothes that you can change into after your excursion. All personal items must be placed in lockers. The exception to this is a Go Pro or other type of waterproof cameras. I recommend leaving your watch behind as well. Reya left her Apple Watch in the locker on a whim at the last minute. After sliding down the waterfall, she realized that her Apple watch would have been damaged had she not left it behind.
The only other personal items allowed are prescription glasses. This is a no-brainer as they are necessary to see while you hike. As you begin sliding or jumping into the pool of water, the guide will collect your glasses, place them in a protective pouch, and return them to you at the bottom of the last waterfall.
Water Shoes are Necessary and Required
When you schedule your excursion, you will be told that water shoes or other types of closed-toe shoes are required. No thong sandals or open-toe shoes are allowed. I highly recommend wearing sturdy water shoes or hiking / athletic shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. You should avoid the water sock type of water shoes. The best water shoes for this excursion are those with thick soles. Unless you regularly walk on rocks and are not bothered by them, you will need good water shoes.
I generally do not walk barefoot, so I have to admit I was worried about this, as I can feel small grains of sand under my feet when I walk barefoot. I prepared and brought good water shoes with me, but in the end, I decided to keep wearing my Olukai Huia Athletic Shoes, and Reya followed suit. While this might seem like a shameless plug for Olukai, these are the best shoes and sandals ever! Reya and I were able to hike, swim, walk, and cross the river without a problem. And our shoes were dry about an hour after finishing our excursion. The bottom line is that it is important to have a good pair of water shoes for this excursion.
You Will be Given Water
When you start your hike, you will be given two bottles of water. The bottles will be collected at a rest stop right before you reach the waiting area where the slides begin. Your refillable bottle of water can be left in your locker for later.
Setting Off to Damajagua
Whether you are a cruise ship passenger or staying in Puerto Plata or a neighboring town, you will likely have arranged transportation and will be driven to Damajagua by a comfortable, air-conditioned bus. Many excursion companies allow you to make pick-up arrangements from your hotel and from the Amber Cove Cruise Port or Taino Bay Cruise Port. If you are a cruise ship passenger, the excursion company will ensure you return to the cruise port with plenty of time to return to your cruise ship.
The drive from Puerto Plata is relatively short, about 30 minutes. The drive is even shorter if you are traveling from Amber Cove. You will see the lush landscape and pass by the local village in this area.
Your Waterfalls of Damajagua Adventure Begins
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a team of experienced local guides who will direct you to the area where you will be given your safety equipment. You will receive a life jacket and a helmet. The safety equipment is not optional; it is essential for this excursion. Your local guides will give you a short safety briefing and demonstrate how to put on the life jacket and the helmet.
Hiking to the Waterfall
You will be going on an uphill hike to reach the waterfall where your slide excursion begins. The length of the hike will depend on the number of waterfalls you will be visiting. We went on the shorter excursion and visited only the bottom seven waterfalls. The hike to the 7th waterfall is approximately one and a half miles long. It is really not that long of a hike. However, depending on the time of the year, you will be hiking in hot, humid weather. And since your hike takes you up to a waterfall, your hike will be on a constant incline.
The trail to the waterfall begins near the welcome center. As you leave the welcome center and start on your hike, you will come to a bridge. You will climb a set of stairs, walk across the bridge, down the other side, and continue on the trail towards the waterfall. This is the easiest part of the trail because the bridge has a smooth path and is level.
After you cross the bridge you will enter the forest. The forest is absolutely amazing. It is green and full of life. You will hear many local birds and learn about the flora and fauna that are unique to this area. Our guide pointed out the various plants along the way, even warning us about one plant in particular that resembled aloe vera and was highly toxic. We also saw a few rescue donkeys on our hike.
Hiking on the Natural Rocky Trail
The rest of the trail will be a natural path, just like any other hike. There are many rocks on the trail and you will need to cross the river a few times on the way back to the welcome center after sliding down the waterfalls. The river has natural river rocks that you will need to traverse. Which brings me to the next very important point, the stairs.
You Will Be Climbing Stairs on Your Hike to the Waterfall
The trail to the waterfall was constructed with stairs, which makes it easier to reach the area. However, you will have to go up about 400 steps on the trail. The stairs come in several groups so you will not be climbing all 400 steps at once. The first group has about 200 steps to climb. They are spread out and follow the incline of the trail.
Throughout the hike, there are several rest areas. The guides make sure that everyone understands there is no rush to get to the waterfall. It is perfectly okay if you need to stop while climbing the stairs. The guides take care of the group and make sure that everyone is doing well on their hike. At each rest area, the guides make sure that everyone is rested and able to continue to the waterfalls.
Reaching the First Waterfall
After about 45 minutes of trekking through the mountain, you will reach the first waterfall. This is the 7th waterfall from the bottom. If you are visiting 12 waterfalls or all 27 waterfalls, your hike will be much longer than 45 minutes.
At this point, you will be confident about the popularity of this excursion. A line forms near the seventh waterfall as people wait their turn to slide down the rock. The guides keep all groups together, and as you begin your Damajagua adventure, you will remain with the same group.
The wait for us to reach the first slide was about 20 minutes. On the day we visited the Waterfalls of Damajagua, two cruise ships were in town, so many people signed up for this excursion on that day. As you get closer to the first slide, your guide will let you know when to put on your life vest and helmet.
Entering the Water
The first entry point into the water is a jump. If you are not jumping, either because you do not want to jump or your cruise line does not permit jumping, you will enter the water by use of a ladder. The first ladder is a short horizontal ladder that you need to cross to reach the main ladder. I wasn’t able to take a photo of the ladder. After crossing this ladder and going down the main one it is time to take the plunge. Literally. It was great to feel the rush of cool water, especially after a hot hike.
The First Waterfall
When you reach the first waterfall, the guides provide a brief safety demonstration on the proper way to slide down the natural waterslides. Sliding down the smooth rocks of the waterfall was an exhilarating experience. The slide was fast, and the water was deeper than I expected. Hearing everyone’s cheers was also joyful. Everyone was very happy to be cooling off in the river.
The Rest of the Waterfalls of Damajagua
Each waterfall we encountered was unique and thrilling. Most of the waterfalls had natural slides, two or three had jumps as well as slides, and one might have only had a jump. The jumps were of varying heights into the pools below, which were pretty deep. The highest jump was around 24 to 30 feet. At some of the waterfalls, you are able to slide down the rock and make the jump as well. There is a ladder you can climb to go back to the top and make the jump. The leap seems daunting at first, especially when looking down. But you get encouragement from the guides and those who jumped before you, so it is easy to build up the confidence to take the leap.
Jumping is Not Required
If you are afraid of heights or don’t want to jump, you are not required to do so. You can stick to sliding or take the ladder down to the water.
This is also important to know as Carnival Cruise Lines does not permit its passengers to make any of the jumps. The guides also respect Carnival’s requirements, so you will not be jumping. You might experience some serious FOMO as you watch those from other cruise ships jump into the pools of water.
Making Your Way Down the Waterfalls of Damajagua
As you make your way between the waterfalls, you will swim through the river and narrow canyons, wade through shallow water, and walk on the riverbed. You will feel the physical exertion, but the cool water is so refreshing that this part of the excursion is quite relaxing. You might also find yourself bonding with fellow travelers as you make your way through the stunning landscapes of Damajagua. This is a unique experience, so bonding happens.
The Wonderful Guides of the Waterfalls of Damajagua
You will absolutely appreciate the guides who assist you on this excursion. One question I heard being asked over and over again is, “How many times a day do you do this?” The guides play a crucial role in making sure everyone’s experience is safe and enjoyable. They also take your picture several times during the excursion, which makes for a perfect souvenir of your experience.
After the Final Waterfall
After conquering the final waterfall, you will make your way back to the visitor center. This is a second but much shorter hike. The hike back is 15 minutes and is mostly flat and downhill. You will have to cross the river bed once or twice, but the water level is ankle-deep. When you reach the visitor’s center, you will be directed to return your safety gear and get your personal items from your locker. If you are feeling a bit hungry and did not purchase lunch with your excursion, there is a restaurant and bar at base camp, where you can grab a bite to eat or taste some local rum drinks, and a fruit stand where you can buy some local fruit. I recommend trying Soursop. I still can’t get over how delicious Soursop is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions about the Waterfalls of Damajagua Excursion.
The excursion can be dangerous. Injuries, accidents, and even deaths have occurred during excursions at the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua. You will be walking on a rocky path as you hike on the trail or on the riverbed. You can lose your footing, twist your ankle, fall, or even break a bone.
The area is also more dangerous after rainfall. There is more water, there can be undertows in the pools, and there has been flash flooding in some areas of the waterfalls.
When you slide, you are sliding on a rock. If your positioning is off, you can hit the rock, get bruised, or even cut yourself.
Wearing helmets and life vests helps mitigate the danger while in the water and sliding in the waterfalls. However, there are dangers related to this excursion.
There are many opinions on this. While the guides are helpful and do not rush you on the hike, you should have some level of fitness for this excursion. If this is your first workout in a long time, you will definitely feel the burn, and the hike will be strenuous.
The guides are very helpful and give everyone rest stops. However, if you cannot complete the hike, you can return to the visitor’s center. A guide will accompany you.
Our guides informed us that the donkeys in the area were there to transport people who needed help in emergencies. A medical station is also located in one of the rest areas. A trained medical team and an ambulance are also on-site at the park.
If you have mobility issues, this excursion is more than likely not for you. You need to be able to make the hike, climb ladders, position yourself on the rocks, slide, and surface.
Yes, children under the age of eight are only allowed to hike to the first waterfall. That means that the minimum age to go on the excursion that is set by the park is nine. Cruise lines may set their own minimum age requirements. Age restrictions should be verified prior to purchasing this excursion.
I have heard that non-swimmers have gone on this excursion without a problem. The guides assist you in the water. However, you are putting yourself at risk of drowning if you go on this excursion. Especially if there has been recent rainfall. According to the tour operator at the Waterfalls of Damajagua, the guides have first aid and CPR training. However, I suggest inquiring if the guides also have lifeguard training. Going on this excursion is not worth the risk if you do not know how to swim.
You will need to make that decision. When making that decision, make sure you understand the dangers, are aware of your abilities, and make a well-informed decision.
Yes, you will be required to sign a waiver before participating in this excursion.
Are the Waterfalls of Damajagua Worth Visiting?
Yes, it is worth it to go on an excursion to the Waterfalls of Damajagua. The excursion to the Waterfalls of Damajagua is a very exciting adventure. It is one of the best and most unique things to do in the Dominican Republic. It’s not just an exciting and thrilling adventure; it’s one of those experiences that can take you out of your comfort zone and make for a great memory. It is a combination of physical activity, exploring the beauty of nature, and cultural immersion. You do have to consider all the important facts about this tour such as your activity level, mobility, patience, and whether you can swim. All in all, it is a fun and thrilling one-of-a-kind excursion. If you decide to go on this excursion you will walk away with incredible memories of your adventure.
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