The Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic is a haven for active travelers looking for an adventure vacation. Your trip to the Dominican Republic can include trekking on forested hiking trails, kayaking or sailing on crystal clear Caribbean waters or exploring rivers and waterfalls in the mountains that encircle Samana Bay. One Caribbean adventure tour destination you won’t want to miss is El Limón waterfall located near the town of El Limón half way between Santa Bárbara de Samaná and Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.
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| El Limón Waterfall, Dominican Republic |
Over 150 feet high, Salto El Limón is the tallest waterfall in the Dominican Republic and one of the most spectacular. To reach the waterfall you have two options once you get to the general area of the falls between Samana and El Limón.
You can walk up to the waterfall via a steep and rocky path used mainly by horses. During the rainy season, the path becomes quite muddy, slippery and uneven from the combination of poor drainage and horse hooves. My husband recently visited the waterfall after a period of three or four rainy days and commented that only an experienced hiker should consider tackling the trail on foot.
The other option most people choose is to explore the falls via horseback with the help of a local guide. In that case, numerous outfitters have opened for business along the road and will outfit you with a horse, a guide and helmets and boots for your safety.
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| Helmets and boots for your trek up El Limón waterfall |
In addition, they may offer a meal before or after your trek. My husband and a friend chose Parada la Manzana to guide them to the falls. The hosts at Parada La Manzana provided a buffet meal before the trek that highlighted traditional local dishes like arroz con pollo, plantains and a variety of side salads.
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| Typical buffet and restaurant at El Limón waterfall outfitter |
The ride to El Limón waterfall takes approximately 45 minutes. Along the way, you travel through dense tropical rainforest with occasional breaks in the foliage that provide views of the surrounding mountains. Your guide will also point out a variety of local plants including mango trees, banana and plantain trees and numerous types of indigenous palms. One sizable stream runs across the trail near the end of the ride but the horses are familiar with the path and very comfortable with the terrain.
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| Getting your horse ready to trek to El Limón waterfall, Dominican Republic |
Once you arrive at the top of the falls, the guide takes your horses and you are free to explore the falls. At the top of the falls is a viewing area where you can catch glimpses of the pool below. As with many tourist attractions, even in the most remote areas, you will also find displays of the local handicrafts for sale at a small cabana at the top of the falls.
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| The base of El Limón waterfall, Dominican Republic |
When you are ready, you will traverse to the pool below on foot – a 15-minute hike down a rocky hillside to the base of the falls. Be sure to bring your bathing suit so you can enjoy the cool water when you finish the hard work of getting down the path.
In most cases, the guides are natives to the area who are very familiar with the falls. While you cool off in the deep pool at the base of the falls, they provide acrobatic entertainment. They climb the cliffs surrounding the falls and perform death defying stunts leaping off ledges situated along the rock face. You will want to stick to wading into the pool and enjoying the cascade of water from above.
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| Cliff diving at El Limón waterfall, Samaná Peninsula |
Your return trip via horseback will cover the same route as your entry to the falls. This part of the trip may go a little more quickly than the ride out since the horses are always eager to return to their corral. It is customary to tip your guide for their services – gratuities generally provide the majority of their income. Enjoy the adventure at El Limón!
