Hike to Salto de La Jalda waterfall from Miches: 14km trail

Walk into the forest and reach the waterfall on your own pace

A private hiking tour from Miches to Salto de La Jalda National Park, led by local guides from Magua Community, takes you 14 kilometers through cacao and coffee plantations to the Caribbean's tallest waterfall. The trail crosses the Magua River multiple times before reaching the 400-foot cascade and its natural lagoon, where you swim and rest before returning to Magua for lunch.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike to Salto de La Jalda Waterfall

• Meet local hiking guides at Magua
• Hike 14 km through Dominican Forest
• Cross rivers and pass cacao, coconut, coffee forests
• Take break with views of Salto de La Jalda
• Continue to waterfall for swimming and photos
• Return hike to starting point
• Lunch and vehicle pickup

What’s included

• Breakfast in a local restaurant in El Cedro.
• lunch in a local house in Magua.
• local hiking guides fluent in English, Spanish, or French.
• hotel pickup and return.

Times

• Every day except Saturday 06:30

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Private 4 group tours ›

Live guide English, Spanish and French Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Ages Adult (12 to 60 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Physically demanding Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

Operated by Tour Miches

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Traveler reviews

4.71 ★★★★★ Excellent 14 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

The hike starts early from Magua Community, where you meet the local guides who know every switchback and river crossing on the trail ahead. The 14-kilometer route winds through dense cacao forest (planted long before the area became a national park), and passes coffee plantations that cover the slopes. You cross the Magua River several times as the path climbs deeper into the Dominican forest, and the shade from the cacao canopy stays with you for almost the entire walk.

After three hours of hiking, the forest opens onto a viewpoint where you can see Salto de La Jalda itself: a 400-foot plunge into a natural lagoon below. The waterfall is the tallest in the Caribbean, and the lagoon is cold and deep. You swim, take photos, and rest as long as you need before the guides lead you back down the same trail to Magua, where lunch waits in a local house and the vehicle takes you back to Miches.

Breakfast happens in El Cedro before the hike starts, so you have fuel for the climb. The entire day runs about ten hours from pickup to drop-off. Guides speak English, Spanish, or French depending on your preference, and they know the forest well enough to point out what grows where and why the trail matters to the people who live nearby.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How difficult is the 14-kilometer hike to Salto de La Jalda?

The trail is long and crosses the river multiple times, so a high level of physical fitness is needed. The hike takes three hours to reach the waterfall, and you return on the same path, so the full day is demanding. The cacao forest provides shade for most of the walk, but the terrain is uneven and the river crossings require sure footing.

What is Salto de La Jalda like when you arrive?

Salto de La Jalda is the tallest waterfall in the Caribbean, dropping nearly 400 feet into a natural lagoon. The water is cold and deep enough to swim in, and most hikers spend time in the pool and taking photos before heading back down the trail.

What does the trail pass through on the way up?

The path runs 14 kilometers through cacao forest, coffee plantations, and crosses the Magua River several times. Almost the entire hike stays shaded by cacao trees that were planted before the area became a national park, and you pass viewpoints where the forest opens up enough to see the surrounding mountains.

Does pickup from my hotel in Miches come with this tour?

Yes, pickup is included. The guides meet you at Magua Community, and the vehicle returns you to Miches after lunch, so you do not need a car or separate transport to the trailhead.