What You Need to Know About Damajagua Falls in Dominican Republic
Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic is a popular cruise port. A well-known excursion there is Damajagua (pronounced Dah-muh-hog-wah) Waterfalls. Here are some things you should know.
Damajagua Waterfalls Excursion
Most of the cruise lines porting in Puerto Plata sell Damajagua Falls as an excursion, including admission and roundtrip transportation in the cost. Several independent tour operators offer this option, although cruisers do not need a formal excursion to visit Damajagua Falls. They can simply buy admission on their own. Taxis in Puerto Plata are expensive, though, so I recommend booking this as an excursion. Before booking on your own, though, be sure to check out my post about the pros and cons of independent excursions versus those sold by the cruise lines.
Things You Should Know About Damajagua Waterfalls
- There aren’t really 27 Falls. This attraction is advertised as “the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua”, but in fact there are only around 12 waterfalls, with the rest being pools. Participants may only slide down 5-7 “waterslides”, depending upon the season and rain levels.
- Water shoes are encouraged, but not required. The attraction offers water shoes for rent at $3 per pair, although sizes may be limited. Whatever footwear you wear, know they will get wet and fully submerged in water.
- This activity is not for those with mobility limitations or who aren’t at least moderately physically fit. Participants must hike up steep hills and stairs for about 45 minutes to an hour to reach the top of the “falls,” although guides do a great job of stopping periodically for rest breaks. After navigating the waterfalls, there is a 15-minute hike back to the entrance, although this is mostly on flat terrain.
- Participants can wear whatever they want. When I participated in this excursion, I wore a swimsuit, but others in my group wore regular clothes such as leggings and a T-shirt. Swim vests and helmets are provided and required.
- You may get hurt. While the guides are wonderful and do what they can to keep participants safe, this is one of those riskier excursions with a higher risk of potential injury. In my group alone, there were three injuries, albeit minor.
- You don’t have to jump. Participants choose how they prefer to get down from each of the waterfalls: 1) jump, 2) slide down the natural rock “waterslide” or 3) climb down a ladder.
- It will be crowded. This is a popular attraction, and it often runs at maximum capacity, meaning groups of up to 12-15 people are stacked up and often in the pools of water simultaneously, making things feel a little congested.
- You can bring your phone, but make sure it’s in a waterproof case.
- It’s not close to the port. Transportation to Damajagua Falls from either of the two ports in Puerto Plata will take about 30-35 minutes each way, so plan accordingly.
How to Book Damajagua Falls
While this is a physically demanding excursion and one that can get overcrowded, it’s still a phenomenal experience and one that was personally on my bucket list. Here’s how you can book Damajagua Falls:
- Book directly through your cruise line.
- Book in advance with an independent tour operator.
- Buy an excursion once you’re at the cruise port (although it may be sold out).
- Hire a private driver and ask him or her to take you there as one of your stops
- Hire a taxi and pay admission there – admission is relatively cheap, around $10 USD, although taxis in Puerto Plata are expensive.
