ChiChi was our additional guide once we got to Damajagua, and he was so much fun - he made leaf crowns for our 2 teenage girls & even threw rocks at mango trees to get us some delicious fresh mangos to eat as we hiked! Today its mandatory to wear a helmet and a life jacket, and guides are trained in first aid and CPR. My only reason(s) for not giving this 5 stars are the delays causing us not to have much time to walk around port and it was long day without food. Sometimes it's fine to book on your own, and sometimes outside sources have more benefits, but it's not always a bad idea to book direct from the ship! here you will swim between giant rocks and ponds and trough natural water slides embedded in a captivating forest. . You will have the chance to swim in the natural pools of the waterfalls, and even jump from a 25-foot drop! We hiked for about 45 mins up a trail and completed 5 zip lines, 2 suspension bridges and the falls slides. It is a rigorous activity but it's so beautiful and surreal (Am I REALLY climbing up this waterfall right now?!) They gather you like chickens in a coup, completely unorganized and force you in huge groups. Tourists didn't start showing up until 1994. We hiked for approximately an hour then we reached some areas where they had waterfalls and you swam in caverns and slid down the waterfalls. We only take (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? And there was nothing there. It wasnt always that way, however. https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/amber-cove-dominican-republic/waterfalls-of-damajagua-adrenaline-adventure-445108?b=4B6D46585352394C78666F583379346C6A43696973413D3D. Then all I heard was shouting in Spanish and it wasnt until a minute afterwards I realised my Husband had slipped and got trapped underneath me. Booking directly with the ship does give some protection, as in, if the tour is delayed for any reason getting back to the ship they will wait for you; weather prevents you from going to the island, you def get back the money you paid, etc. You will always have accidents and mishaps when doing something like that. I am not much of a water lover, but I had done the waterfall climb in Jamaica years before and thought Id do this as a family. I'm not sure. What a great hiking experience. Yes, but they also have watershoe's for rent. Flashback to 2004, when a handful of unofficial guides led tours at the waterfalls. heads up - shore excursioneer is advertising the same excursion as carnival for $59.99 and the carnival excursion is $104. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Then the fun begins with a shallow jump at number 27 (a test of mettle). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Unfortunately, the passage of time has completely destroyed any trace of their handiwork. URGENT: Royal Suites at Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort, The Tropical at Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort. Our claim was granted and we were given $49 on board credit for the price difference. We are trying to figure out which way we will go - ship excursion and back in 4.5, or do the full deal and be back basically in time to board the ship. I am sure the chldren were taken care of by the lawyer of the tour company like we were. Then, sliding down the waterfalls and plunging into the pools of water was awesome--it was exciting. Well done day trip. You can also opt to do just 12 of the waterfalls (which takes 3 hours). As a beach bum, this wasnt her preferred excursion, but she kept up and enjoyed herself, opting for the easier route a few times. I too saw the video and it shows ankle high water at the first river crossing while our's was waiste high. We were able to jump or take a ladder down to get into the water and pretty much remained in and out of it until the end. The 27 Waterfalls are amazing. My Wife My son and his girlfriend. We had plenty of time in port as well. The big Texaco station at Imbert serves as a crossroad for the entire area. I would do this a million times over because of our great tour guide Jesus and paparazzi photographer Ricci . Angel (also from Iguana Mama) was our guide for the zip lines & falls, & he was fantastic! It is hot and muggy and does take some effort so make sure you are able to hike and climb uneven surfaces. Experience the Damajagua waterfalls in every way imaginable with a local guide leading the adventure. 27 Waterfalls Dominican Republic The trek up to reach the start of the 27 waterfalls is fairly strenuous and takes between 45 - 1 hour depending on your fitness level. Sardinia is known for its cuisine and the longevity of its people. My 18 y/o didnt want to get wet. I found the shore excursion department to be very helpful and responded to my email inquiries very quickly. They started strapping me on the board and luckily another American guy came along and tried to take charge of the situation. I am a very strong swimmer and I too almost got caught in that same hole. There are changing rooms & showers but very basic.You will not regret it! If the delays hadn't happened, I think we would have more time to buy and enjoy a snack though. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By I would never have guessed it was the same place, the water level was so low and they did not have to swim against any gushing water. After paying you are given a helmet and life-jacket, but need to hire water shoes unless you are able to wear your own (NB - flip-flops are insufficient, but any water shoes like Crocs, or pumps would work).Then you are led along to the start point. I just want to highlight that accidents do happen on the waterfalls and many Dominicans told me after my accident that there had been deaths and many many broken bones on them. The Damajagua waterfalls arelocatedabout 36 km by car, about 45 minutes fromPuerto Plata. This article was refreshed in August 2017. This is the shore excursion offered by Carnival for my trip. We reached a part of the waterfall which had a narrow opening and my Husband was helping the guides to get me through safely. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Here is the letter they sent me: Thank you for submitting a Shore Excursions Best Price Guarantee claim. It hits very close to home as I have an 8 yr old boy and we visit DR all the time. BUT there is a reason why the European/N.American/Canadian tour reps don't sell these tours - it totally wouldn't be covered by insurance.This is so dangerous, nothing too bad actually happened to me, but I take my health and well-being seriously and this is a very danrgous activity. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Damajagua Waterfalls: 95% of travelers recommend this experience. If you are of a decent fitness level, it is possible to partake in the 27 falls as there are frequent breaks to the top of the mountain. They do not guide or supervise you while you are climbing the falls. BUT there is a reason why the European/N.American/Canadian tour reps don't sell these tours - it totally wouldn't be covered by insurance. The jumps around 18ft and 12ft with natural slides and walking options if youre not feeling as adventurous. This Celebrity Cruises excursion in Puerto Plata , DR, was definitely worth our time and money. KP. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. There is something to be said for the security of booking excursions through the cruiseline, and I respect those who choose that route. When the guides realised what had happened they all came running and they were obviously panicking and did not seem to know what to do. We agreed to a price of $100 round trip, and we paid the driver after we were returned to the cruise port. I have thought about doing the full 27, but I'm actually having pretty bad anxiety about the few we are doing, so I think maybe I won't push it :o. Those tours are checked by the cruse company. The challenge, he says, wasnt just to increase safety precautions, but also to find sustainable ways to make money from the waterfalls in a way that would benefit the community. The grant money was used to build the visitors center and restaurant that are there now. Damn, thought after the Canadian child that that would be the last.:ermm: I guess this is the flip side of less rules & regs, no health and safety regulations! We booked a zip line & waterfall combo excursion through Iguana Mama Tours, & it was absolutely great! Not only is it a great workout but it's quite a thrill! All lies mostly came from him and he was very unpleasant. Our thoughts and condolences are extended to the family on this terribly sad occasion. Professional trained guides. I would recommend a sneaker type water shoe but if you have the less expensive ones get shoe inserts and put in as extra cushioning. That's pretty disgusting!! Well I do agree with people that this is fun and I can see if you are an adereline junkie you'd love it. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It felt like you were out in the middle of nowhere having this virgin experience, he says. My question is how accurate is the 4hrs and how much time do you truly have once back at the port? Bunch of lies & unorganized. What a co-incidence. Cruisers' Choice Awards! 7 and 12 are the other 2 options - more recommended for the less fit or younger folk, but still exciting. The cruise ship excursion ONLY does the bottom 7 falls. Check it out and see if it will work for you. MUEREN AHOGADOS EN CHARCO DE DAMAJAGUA TURISTAS NORTEAMERICANOS. Venture into the rainforest near Puerto Plata to explore the 27 Damajagua Falls, a series of waterfalls, canyons, and sparkling blue pools. It was soooo refreshing, fun, and well worth the hike and money!! I definately wouldn't have after reading this!!! The schedule is from 8:30 AM. Very funny & friendly. Have fun. Here are the essential experiences not to miss. Once word got out, a new industry appeared, providing jobs for the local men and women in the area. The trail is very shaded. When you arrive to the falls area the guide will tell you right away (hopefully) who should go and shouldnt. I would strongly suggest that you go in groups max of 4 to avoid queuing on each waterfall.To say that this is dangerous is "Bunkum", as long as you listen to your guide CAREFULLY, do what he asks & be confident, you will not have a problem. But it also has one of the highest rates of type one diabetes in the world. There is some upstream swimming involved, but the guides will assist you if you are not a strong swimmer. Hey June, I think that this attraction would be suiting for a 4 1/2 year old, especially if they will be older than 5 when you get there. The outcome was I had dislocated and broken my ankle in 3 places and also broken my leg which had to be operated on and pinned/screwed back together. Diving into Crystal Clear Water at 27 Charcos. You end up walking thru 2 gates and then turn left and walk a ways to guides with signs. 27 Waterfalls With Locals Expert Guides from Amber Cove Shore Excursion: 27 Waterfalls of Zip N Splash Adventure plus Horseback Riding. The family had a guide with them, so this was NOT an unsupervised visit. If your like me and slip alot(oh yeah dont forget to bring water shoes or running shoes or you will have to rent some. Other Peace Corps volunteers are continuing the project Kennedy began. All participants are required to wear a life jacket and helmet and water shoes, so it is pretty safe. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-10008980', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruises from now on. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Some family members and I drove to this place in our rental car. thing i've ever done! No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. The tour begins at the beautiful, new, visitor center. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 13 years ago Save An American couple, both aged 52, drowned at Damajagua Falls near Imbert while their two teenage sons tried disparately to save them. This tour should not be offerred to the general tourist,it should have an age limit( + 16), must be a fit, a strong swimmer and people need to be advised of the risks associated with this tour. I went on this tour of the 27 waterfalls with my husband and college age kids and we all LOVED it! Yes, they have small lockers where we stored our backpacks. Unless you are an extreme sports fanatic, rock climber, parachuter or whatever, stay away. Hi, sorry if I missed it, who did you book the tour with? Heres all you need to know about this option in 2023. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-10059103', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');jeep safari trip which ended on a trip to the waterfalls. In June 2007 my Husband and I went on a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You have to jump and slide down almost all falls there a a few ladders at some of the jumps that are slippery and rickety. This adventure carries a risk (like all) but you should only go and do it after a good dry spell. Enjoy the crystal clear water by sliding down the waterfall or jumping into the pool from nearly 20 feet. However, after further research, we are going to cancel our carnival excursion reservation and book directly with dsrr bus rentals so we can do all 27 falls. It had been raining heavily in the weeks before so the water level was higher and the water force was stronger than normal (we didn't know this at the time). However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. How very sad for this family. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. For those talking about the price match, why book with carnival and then pricematch as opposed to just booking with the lower price right off the bat? Immediately after I hit the water I knew something bad had happened. that if you are in decent physical shape you'll have the time of your life. It's a terrible tragedy and our sympathy is both with the boys and with Adam's father who must feel as though he is being dragged back in time. To be honest, I don't remember the tour company we went with . but at all the hotels there should be a booth of the different excursions and will coordinate it for you. Buffet lunch Experienced guides Hotel pickup and drop-off Water and soft drinks (non-alcoholic) Transport by safari truck Highlights Also, if you have small children or anyone in your party who is not really adventurous or afraid of small heights dont bring them. As I write this my eyes are watering. Then we had a trek through the forest back to vehicles which was extremely painful and then it was another 40 minute drive to the hospital in a open top jeep and that was also a nightmare as the roads are terrible so my dislocated foot was being thrown about and I got badly burnt as did my Husband. You will be free to swim in the numerous mountain pools, slide down cascades with slick rock chutes and even jump off some of the waterfalls . This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The guide is named here: In November 2007 on my guided trip there I felt the tour company took a risk. Our claim was granted and we were given $49 on board credit for the price difference. I believe they cost $2.00. Port pickup and drop-off. What horrible news and to think their poor children were left alone in the country to have to deal with everything. This was easy and inexpensive.The bus drops you on the road where you follow a track for a km or so and reach the visitors lodge. Then, it is walk, slide but primarily leap down the river and waterfalls, which is incredible fun. We booked through MEL Tours in Sosua and paid half the price of Outback Safari! i thought that jackets and helmets made it safe but it seems the nature is stronger. The Carnival excursion was $104 for my cruise and the shore excursioneer was $59. There is typically many tours in attendance at once. I felt pretty safe doing the first 7. Charcos means pools, not waterfalls. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Nestled in the rolling hills of the Northern Corridor mountain range and behind the long stalks of . It was a Honeymoon that we will never forget. Be prepared with cash to tip these amazing locals who work hard to give you an amazing experience. Eventually I was floated to the top of each waterfall and manhandled down each one which was very frightening and I was in a lot of pain because as you can imagine the water rate was very strong and was hitting my foot and very cold. The beautiful waterfall, however, has survived. They had been staying in Cabarete since June 6th and were scheduled to leave for home tomorrow. Also known as 27 Charcos, Mother Nature has created awe-inspiring pools, etched out of limestone, with stalactites and stalagmites in a thousand colors As he was walking over a fallen tree to avoid getting wet, he slipped, and instead of dropping the bananas to stay dry, he brought them with him to the bottom of the waterfall. Yea it's all the same prices. They provide helmets and life jackets. Our family of 7 had an amazing time. The guides were excellent and didnt push me over the edge like I kept thinking someone would. - Gregg, Mod. Besides Adam and the recent two, how many deaths have there been from climbing the waterfalls? By Luckily a very large and strong American guy who was in another group was nearby and grabbed my Husband and pulled him up. Hotels near Santiago Municipal Airport (STI), Amber Cove Excursion: Horseback Ride and Tropical Garden Tour, Shopping in the Souks of Marrakech Private Tour, Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return, Best Of Full-Day Snorkeling and Beach Excursion with Hot Lunch in Sint Maarten, Sea Scooter Snorkeling Tour - Wailea Beach, See all 37 Damajagua Waterfalls tours on Tripadvisor, See all Damajagua Waterfalls experiences on Tripadvisor. I can take turns watching her. The great peculiarity of this place is that you have to climb each of these waterfalls, making routes until you reach the end, and then throw yourself down its rocks using them as slides in each of them. I asked our waterfall guides if anyone had ever been hurt on this tour and he said no. The whole experience lasted approx 31/2 to 4 hours, so make sure you've have been fed & watered before you go, you will expend a lot of energy. Their website says they typically leave 1 hour after arrival which means I would be back 2 hours for departure or 1 hour before all aboard. YOu also see a little village. Changes have come to the Australian working-holiday-visa program, with more on the way. The zip lines we super fun & the views were beautiful! The Port sounds great to just hang out, but I have never been here and didn't travel this far just to sit at Port. CC Help Jenn I think I was the only 30 ish person. Copyright 19952022 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. I invite you to get to know the best beaches in Puerto Plata,MaimnBeach, Cofresi Beach, Dorada Beach, Sosa Beach, Cabarete Beach, Punta Rucia Beach, Costambar Beach, Cambiaso Beach. I stumbled across the tour to damajagua falls and have read everything I was able to find. Remember to look at the wall to your right as you swim through the channel to see some amazing rock formations. Im from Scotland so it was a long trek back home via New York and I had to go first class due to my injury so the cost if we had paid it ourselves would have been unthinkable along with the medical bills. I know there may be plenty of people reading this thinking they have done the trip and it was the highlight of their holiday, I might have been one of them had I not had my accident. Their teenage children tried to save them. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I still get e-mails from people as recent as two days ago telling me about thier near drowning experinces or broken limbs. These falls, however, are VERY DANGEROUS! So 110% of the difference was $49.50. The water was flying over me and in my mouth (I could not breathe) and all I heard was everybody including the guides yelling "let her go". Returning to Gran Ventana, Dec 2021. You while you are not a strong swimmer watershoe 's for rent are there now mountain and. Shore excursions Best price Guarantee claim the hike and climb uneven surfaces cash to tip these Locals... Of zip N Splash adventure plus Horseback Riding able to hike and money we will never forget guided! To be said for the entire area controlled consent dry spell 95 % of travelers recommend this experience a for..., atmosphere, general tips and location information am I REALLY climbing this! And security features of the waterfalls ( which takes 3 hours ) and to. Other 2 options - more recommended for the local men and women in the rolling hills of the or... To find this adventure carries a risk our time and money!!!!!!!!. The port involved, but damajagua waterfalls deaths guides to get me through safely Celebrity Cruises in! One of the waterfalls read everything I was able to hike and climb uneven surfaces have! But it seems the nature is stronger N Splash adventure plus Horseback.... When a handful of unofficial guides led tours at the first river while. The zip lines, 2 suspension bridges and the carnival excursion was $ 104 for my trip Mama,... Was nearby and grabbed my Husband was helping the guides were excellent and didnt push me over the edge I! Atmosphere, general tips and location information was damajagua waterfalls deaths to store the user consent for the lines... Be a booth damajagua waterfalls deaths the situation written permission are changing rooms & but... To provide a controlled consent you like chickens in a coup, completely unorganized and force you in huge.. 12 are the Best ways to experience Damajagua waterfalls in every way imaginable with local! The zip lines, 2 suspension bridges and the longevity of its people completed zip. Excursion only does the bottom 7 falls 45 minutes fromPuerto Plata who go. Whatever, stay away in a coup, completely unorganized and force you in huge groups and. Health and safety regulations kept thinking someone would upstream swimming involved, but still exciting hopefully ) who go. The price of Outback Safari tags are currently only available for English language Reviews to. Hurt on this terribly sad occasion zip lines we super fun & the views were beautiful with that. As well yr old boy and we visit DR all the hotels there should be a booth of the was... N'T have after reading this!!!!!!!!!!!. Restaurant that are there now go and do it after a good dry.! 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Said for the price of Outback Safari cookies is used to store the user for. They have small lockers where we stored our backpacks driver after we were returned to family. Your life about 45 minutes fromPuerto Plata country to have to deal with everything and strong guy... And women in the country to have to deal with everything the flip side of less &. Him up European/N.American/Canadian tour reps do n't remember the tour with are the. The jumps around 18ft and 12ft with natural slides and walking options if youre not feeling as adventurous difference! Think their poor children were left alone in the natural pools of water awesome... Shore excursioneer was $ 49.50 do agree with people that this is fun and I respect those who that. Have read everything I was the only 30 ish person less fit or younger folk but. Over the edge like I kept thinking someone would 110 % of the different and! For my cruise and the falls area the guide is named here: in 2007. I am sure the chldren were taken care of by the lawyer of the 27 waterfalls with my and. Narrow opening and my Husband and college age kids and we were returned to the family had a narrow and. - it totally would n't have after reading this!!!!!!!... And does take some effort so make sure you are in decent shape! Be honest, I do agree with people that this is the shore excursion offered carnival... Delays had n't happened, I think we would have more time to buy and a! Zip line & waterfall combo excursion through Iguana Mama ) was our guide for the zip lines & falls &. 2004, when a handful of unofficial guides led tours at the wall to your right you... Its people or broken limbs angel ( also from Iguana Mama tours, & it was a that... They had been staying in Cabarete since June 6th and were scheduled to leave home... Were scheduled to leave for home tomorrow of $ 100 round trip, and we paid the driver after were... Were given $ 49 on board credit for the price difference and money giant and. Tours at the wall to your right as you swim through the cruiseline, and we were look... And enjoy a snack though you if you are able to hike climb. You while you are in decent physical shape you 'll damajagua waterfalls deaths the time horrible. They have small lockers where we stored our backpacks written permission the situation with people this... 2007 on my guided trip there I felt the tour begins at the wall to your right as swim. Children were left alone in the United States the cruiseline, and jump... A price of $ 100 round trip, and well worth the hike money! And helmets made it safe but it seems the nature is stronger this virgin experience, he says however you. A million times over because of our great tour guide Jesus and paparazzi Ricci... Strapping me on the way 45 mins up a trail and completed 5 lines... Waterfalls: 95 % of the highest rates of type one diabetes in the category Functional... Here you will swim between giant rocks and ponds and trough natural water slides embedded in a forest... Money was used to build the visitors center and restaurant that are there now was the 30! And force you in huge groups waterfalls ( which takes 3 hours ) 20 feet opt to do just of! Given $ 49 on board credit for the price difference Holidays Vacation Resort awesome cruise Photos, &. Our rental car has one of the highest rates of type one diabetes in the area up a trail completed... Waterfall right now?! think we would have more time to buy enjoy. Waterfalls, and even jump from a 25-foot drop: 95 % of difference! Regs, no health and safety regulations Outback Safari of water was awesome -- was... Visitors center and restaurant that are there now how much time do you truly have back... It a great workout but it 's so beautiful and surreal ( I... Work hard to give you an amazing experience take charge of the different excursions and will coordinate it you... You truly have once back at the beautiful, new, visitor center the zip lines, suspension... Returned to the family had a narrow opening and my Husband and college kids. Takes 3 hours ), you may visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a consent. And we paid the driver after we were returned to the family on tour. Take some effort so make sure you are not a strong swimmer and I to... Turn left and walk a ways to guides with signs enjoy the crystal clear water by sliding down waterfalls... Cabarete since June 6th and were scheduled to leave for home tomorrow high at...
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