27 Charcos de Damajagua: The 27 Waterfalls of Puerto Plata (2026 Guide).

Of everything there is to do around Puerto Plata, the 27 Charcos de Damajagua is the day people talk about afterwards. It is not a viewpoint or a beach but a river you move through: an hour or so climbing a forested canyon, then the long way back down through turquoise pools, sliding down smooth rock chutes and jumping from ledges into deep water, with a guide calling out where to land.

What are the 27 Charcos de Damajagua? They are a protected natural monument on the Río Damajagua near Imbert, in Puerto Plata province: a staircase of 27 waterfalls and pools carved into limestone. Visitors hike up with a compulsory guide, then descend by sliding and jumping, on routes of 7, 12 or 27 falls lasting two to four hours.

This guide covers which route to choose, what it costs, how to get there, what to wear, and what changes the day — mostly the river itself.

What are the 27 Charcos de Damajagua?

"Charco" means pool, and that is what the place is: a narrow limestone canyon where the Río Damajagua drops through a chain of falls and basins, some shallow enough to wade, others deep enough for a jump of several metres. The second pool has its own name, La Tinaja, and the canyon walls hide small caves.

The area has been protected since 2004 as the Monumento Natural Saltos de la Damajagua, about 600 hectares around the river basin, mostly in the municipality of Imbert. Since 2005 it has been run jointly by the Ministry of the Environment and the Asociación de Guías del Río Damajagua, the local guides' association founded in 1998, with the tourism ministry, the town council and local landowners also involved.

It has grown into one of the busiest adventure sites in the country. Its director reported about 210,000 visitors in 2024.

7, 12 or 27 waterfalls: which route should you choose?

Every route works the same way: you walk up first, on trails and in the riverbed, then turn round at your chosen fall and come back down through the water. The difference is how far up you go.

Sources disagree on exact times, because so much depends on the group: a family of six moves very differently from two fit friends. Plan for the upper end of each range.

Cruise excursions are usually capped at 7 falls, and even then only when river conditions allow. If you are on a port day, that is the route to plan around.

Do you have to jump?

No. The jumps are the famous part — the highest is usually quoted at around 7 to 8 metres — but none of them is compulsory. You can slide or climb down a ladder instead, and the guide shows you the line before anyone moves.

How old do you have to be, and do you need to swim?

The park's own rules set a minimum age of 8 for the full route. Tour companies set their own limits on top: some take children from 7 or 8, some cruise excursions only from 11. Check the exact rule with whoever you book.

You do not strictly need to be a strong swimmer, because everyone wears a life jacket, but you will be in deep water and need to be comfortable there. Some operators ask for confident swimmers. Tour operators also exclude pregnant visitors and people with heart, back or breathing problems, and some set a weight limit, typically between 250 and 320 lb.

How much does it cost?

There are two ways to go, and the price depends on which you choose.

With a tour. Organised tours from Puerto Plata, Sosúa or Cabarete, with transport and usually lunch, cost about US$75 for the full day; shorter 7-fall tours run about US$50–65. Cruise-port versions from Amber Cove are listed around US$79, and combination packages sold by cruise lines — waterfalls plus buggies or ziplines — reach US$160–170.

On your own. You can also arrive independently, pay at the visitor centre and be assigned a guide there. The entrance fee includes the guide, helmet and life jacket. The park does not publish its current prices; unofficial listings for 2025–26 put the fee for foreign visitors at roughly RD$600–1,200, about US$10–20, depending on the route, with lower prices for Dominicans. Treat that as a guide and confirm on the official site before you go.

Extras to budget for: rental of water shoes (around US$3), a locker (around US$10), a photo package (around US$50), and a tip for your guide — US$5–20 is customary.

How do you get to the 27 Charcos?

Damajagua is inland, just off the Puerto Plata–Santiago highway near Imbert: the turn is at Llanos de Pérez, signposted from the main road. By car it is roughly:

• Puerto Plata city: about 30 minutes (28 km)
• Amber Cove cruise port: about 25–30 minutes
• Taíno Bay cruise port: about 30 minutes
• Sosúa: about 55 minutes
• Cabarete: about 1 hour 10 minutes
• Santiago: about 45 minutes

Tours pick up along the coast in the early morning — around 6:30 in Cabarete and 7:00 in Sosúa — to arrive ahead of the busy hours. Without a car or tour, a taxi is the practical option; agree the price, and whether the driver waits, before you leave. For the cruise ports specifically, our Puerto Plata cruise port guide covers how the waterfalls fit into a port day.

What should you wear and bring?

The park's rules are short and strictly applied:

• Helmet and life jacket at all times — both are provided.
• No entry without an authorised guide.
• Closed shoes or water shoes only.
• No alcohol, glass, single-use plastic or litter.
• Leave valuables behind — your hands need to be free.

You also sign a liability waiver before you start. Wear a swimsuit with something you don't mind scraping on rock, and bring a dry change of clothes for afterwards. A waterproof phone case is the only way to take photos yourself; otherwise the site's photo and video service can take pictures for you.

Is it open when it rains?

Not always. The whole site depends on the river, and the river depends on the rain. Floods closed Damajagua for 21 days in 2024, and on high-water days park officials shorten or change routes for safety — which is why cruise excursions promise 7 falls "subject to river conditions".

On the north coast the wettest months are November and December, then January, and June to September are the driest. A morning visit after a dry spell is the safest bet for the full route.

Is the 27 Charcos safe?

It is an adventure activity in moving water, and it is run that way. Every group goes with an authorised guide from the guides' association, safety equipment is compulsory, groups go up and down with their guide, and routes are cut when the river is high. The site adopted a formal safety protocol with support from Japan's international cooperation agency, JICA, in 2021.

The real risks are slips on wet rock and badly judged jumps. Follow the guide's line, skip any jump you are unsure about, and the canyon is very manageable for most reasonably fit visitors.

What else is there at the site?

The visitor centre has a restaurant, bar, gift shop, bathrooms, shoe and locker rental, and parking. There is also a 12-station zipline, opened in 2021, and buggy rides, so you can make a full day of it — or choose one of the combination tours that pair the waterfalls with a zipline or a buggy ride.

Combine it with the rest of the north coast

The waterfalls fit easily into a longer stay. Puerto Plata's old town, fort and Malecón are half an hour away, and the beaches of Sosúa and Cabarete are within about an hour.

• Our Puerto Plata guide covers the city, Paradise Island and the coast road.
• The Cabarete guide covers kitesurfing, surfing, the El Choco caves and Sosúa.
• If you are heading on to Samaná, three hours east, the El Limón waterfall is a very different experience: a single 40-metre fall reached on foot or on horseback.

Sources

• Protected natural areas of Puerto Plata — Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (2014)
• Salto de la Damajagua, leader in adventure tourism — Hoy (January 2025)
• A few hours of excitement at the 27 Charcos — Diario Libre
• Rules — Monumento Natural Saltos de la Damajagua (official site)
• Services — Monumento Natural Saltos de la Damajagua (official site)
• 27 waterfalls guide — Royal Caribbean
• Damajagua falls tour from Amber Cove — Shore Excursions Group
• 27 Charcos de Damajagua day trip — Civitatis
• Damajagua starts 2021 with a new attraction — Infotur Dominicano
• Puerto Plata climate data — Wikipedia