The 27 Charcos de Damajagua — the 27 waterfalls, or more literally the 27 pools — are a protected natural monument in the hills of the Cordillera Septentrional near the town of Imbert, roughly half an hour by road from Puerto Plata. Over thousands of years the Damajagua river has carved a staircase of chutes, slots and plunge pools through pale limestone, and the way to visit is to get in: you walk up through the forest, then slide, jump and swim your way back down.
The park is run with local guides, and nobody goes up without one. Helmets and life jackets are handed out at the visitor centre and must be worn. Most cruise excursions do the lower circuit of seven falls; fitter visitors with more time can go on to twelve or, when conditions allow, all twenty-seven. Every jump has a way round it, so nervous swimmers are not forced into anything.
Top things to do at 27 Charcos de Damajagua
Do the classic seven falls
The lower circuit is what almost every shore excursion means by "Damajagua": a walk of roughly half an hour uphill on a forest trail with steps and bridges, then seven waterfalls on the way down, including natural rock slides and a couple of optional jumps. Allow around two hours at the park, plus the drive.
Go further: 12 or 27
The twelve-fall and full twenty-seven-fall routes add a longer, steeper hike — the full route takes well over an hour of climbing before you reach the top pool — and higher jumps. The upper falls are sometimes closed after heavy rain or when the river is low, and they need most of a day. They suit stay-over visitors far better than cruise passengers.
Combine it with something else
Because the seven-fall visit is short, operators pair it with a zipline, a buggy ride, a monkey sanctuary or a quick city tour. These combos are good value if your ship is in port for seven hours or more.
Eat a Dominican lunch
Most tours include a buffet at the park restaurant or nearby: rice and beans, stewed chicken, fried plantain, salad and fruit. It is simple and welcome after the river.
How to get to 27 Charcos de Damajagua
- From Taino Bay: around 30–40 minutes by road, heading south-west towards Imbert. Almost everyone goes on an organised excursion with port pickup — see our shore excursions.
- From Amber Cove: closer still, roughly 20–30 minutes.
- By taxi: possible; agree a round-trip price with waiting time before you set off, and remember you still pay the park entrance and guide fee on arrival. Check current rates at the taxi desk.
- From Playa Dorada, Sosúa or Cabarete: allow 45 minutes to 1 h 30 min each way; tours with hotel pickup are the easiest option.
Insider tips
- Wear closed water shoes or old trainers with grip — flip-flops are not allowed on the falls. Shoes can usually be rented at the park.
- Bring nothing you cannot get wet. Lockers are available; a waterproof phone pouch or action camera is the only gadget worth carrying.
- There are age, weight and health limits, and they change — pregnant visitors and anyone with back, neck or heart problems should not go. Check the conditions on the booking page.
- Go in the morning. It is cooler, the water is clearer before the crowds arrive and you leave a safe margin before all-aboard.
- You will be photographed and filmed and offered the pictures at the end; decide in advance whether you want them and what you will pay.
Best tours for 27 Charcos de Damajagua
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see 27 Charcos de Damajagua:
Shore excursion from US$54 7 Waterfalls of Damajagua with Lunch (Taino Bay & Amber Cove)
The most-reviewed waterfall excursion built around the two cruise ports. You are collected at Taino Bay or Amber Cove, hike up through the forest with park guides and come back down the river by sliding and jumping through seven pools, then eat a Dominican lunch before the ride back.
- Slide, jump and swim down the first seven Damajagua waterfalls
- Helmet and life jacket provided at the park
- Dominican lunch and port pickup included
Shore excursion from US$50 Puerto Plata: All 7 Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch
A highly rated alternative that makes a point of doing all seven waterfalls rather than stopping at three or five. Multilingual guides, a Dominican buffet lunch and round-trip transfers from Amber Cove and Taino Bay are included.
- Climb, jump and slide all seven falls of the lower circuit
- Multilingual guides
- Traditional Dominican buffet lunch and port transfers
Combo tour from US$89 Puerto Plata: Damajagua Waterfalls and Monkey Park
A combination that works well for families and mixed groups: the natural waterslides of the Damajagua falls, then time among the squirrel monkeys of a jungle sanctuary. Reviews are excellent, though there are fewer of them than for the stand-alone waterfall tours.
- Slide down the natural rock waterslides of Damajagua
- Meet playful squirrel monkeys in a jungle sanctuary
- Two of the area’s favourite stops in one outing
