Damajagua Falls (27 Charcos)

You can climb, jump off, and slide down natural waterslides on this obstacle course created by Mother Nature and the Damajagua River. Tour guides will take you as far as the seventh waterfall and provide appropriate safety equipment, such as helmets and life jackets. It is possible to explore beyond the seventh waterfall, but interested adrenaline seekers will need to arrange private transportation from Puerto Plata or Cabarete, then a private guide and safety equipment upon arrival at Damajagua Falls.

• Closed-toe shoes or water shoes are a must. Bring dry clothes to wear on the ride home.

• All visitors must arrive with a guide; self-guided tours are not allowed or advisable.

• Children younger than eight years old may climb only to the first waterfall.

• Be prepared to do more hiking through the jungle the higher you get.

• Most large jumps off the falls, suitable only for good swimmers, have walk-around options if you want to skip them.

Most visitors arrive at the 27 Waterfalls base camp via organized tour from Puerto Plata, Cabarete, Sosua, or the Amber Cove cruise port. If you’re arriving via car, look for the AGRD kiosk opposite the entrance to the falls. Buses are available from Puerto Plata or Santiago; look for the stop “27 Charcos, La Cascada.”

The falls are open from 8:30am to 4pm daily. The round-trip hike all the way to the seventh fall takes about four hours. If you want to avoid crowds, arrive early in the day.

Recognized as a protected area and natural monument, the authorities who run the Damajagua Falls tours are committed to preserving the environment. One US dollar of every entrance fee goes to a fund directly invested in the surrounding communities.