Dominican Republic | 🏛 Dominican Republic Waterfall Excursion

Damajagua waterfalls shore excursion: 7 or 12 falls from Amber Cove

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.85 (375 reviews) 91% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/7

Duration5h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Jump, slide and swim down 7 or 12 waterfalls in one port day

You get picked up at the cruise terminal, hike through jungle to Damajagua Waterfalls, then jump, slide and swim back down through 7 or 12 falls depending on river conditions and your ship's port time. Lunch and rum drinks are included, and the guides time everything so you're back before departure. Bring old running shoes and a towel; the tour is moderate to strenuous depending on which falls option you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Meet guides outside Amber Cove Terminal
Board air-conditioned vehicle to falls
Receive safety briefing and local info
Arrive at 27 Falls of Damajagua Park
Store valuables and get gear
Hike uphill to waterfall start point
Jump, slide, and swim through waterfalls
Relax in azure waters at first fall
Hike back to visitor center
Enjoy Dominican buffet lunch with drinks
Return to Amber Cove by transport

The Experience

The guides are running late. You're standing outside Amber Cove with thirty other passengers, checking your watch, wondering if you've already missed half the tour — and then the air-conditioned van pulls up and someone laughs because of course it does. Twenty-five minutes later you're at the base of Damajagua Waterfalls in Puerto Plata, helmet on, life jacket fitted, and the real problem becomes clear: you have to hike uphill through jungle for forty minutes before you even get to jump off anything. Most people choose the 12 Falls option when the ship is in port less than seven hours, which means you'll climb to the midway point, then spend the next couple hours working your way back down by jumping, sliding and swimming through a series of pools and canyons. The jumps go up to 25 feet, but there's always a way around if you're not feeling it.

The hike itself isn't casual. The path is uneven, wet, and you're carrying a water bottle while wearing a helmet that keeps sliding. Your guide — a local who knows every rock and root — points out where people slip most often and tells you to watch your footing. Once you reach the 12th waterfall and turn around, the mood shifts completely. You're not hiking anymore; you're playing. The first jump feels impossible until you're in the air, and then it's just cold water and the sound of everyone screaming. Between jumps there are moments where you float in pools so clear and blue they don't look real, and your guide is already pointing to the next slide or the next jump, keeping the pace moving so you're back at the visitor center by early afternoon.

After you've changed into dry clothes, there's a Dominican buffet lunch waiting — barbecued chicken and pork, rice, stews, salads — and local rum drinks are included. Beer costs extra, but the rum and coke is free and tastes like you've earned it. You eat with the other passengers, most of them still buzzing from the jumps, and then it's the 25-minute ride back to Amber Cove. The tour is built around cruise schedules, so you'll be back at least an hour before your ship leaves. If your ship is in port eight hours or longer, there's an option to add five zip lines to the waterfall tour, but most people stick with the falls alone — it's already a full morning.

What’s included

Port pickup and drop-off at Amber Cove Cruise Terminal, bottled water on the van, professional local guides, helmet and life jacket, a moderate 40-minute jungle hike to the midway falls (or longer if you choose the full 27), jumps and slides through multiple waterfalls and pools, a 15-minute hike back down, Dominican buffet lunch with barbecued chicken, pork, rice, stews and salads, and local rum drinks. The tour is timed to get you back to the ship at least one hour before departure.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Iguana Mama Shore Excursions

Is this one for you?Book this if you're on a cruise and want a single adventure that doesn't require arranging your own transport or timing — the pickup, lunch, guides and return are all coordinated around your ship's schedule, which is what makes a full waterfall tour possible in a short port day.