The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua
The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua is a guided canyoning adventure near Puerto Plata where you climb, jump, and slide down a series of natural waterfalls carved into a limestone canyon. Most tours cover 7 to 12 of the 27 falls (climbing further requires more time and a higher fee), wearing a helmet and life vest throughout. It's about a 30-40 minute drive from Puerto Plata, or 3.5-4 hours from Punta Cana. Tours run roughly $45-65 per person for a half-day.
This is the rare 'nature attraction' that's actually more fun than any resort's zip-line course — a canyon carved by a river into a stack of waterfalls, and the whole point is jumping into it. Genuinely one of the best-value adventure activities anywhere in the Caribbean.
How does the tour actually work?
A licensed guide leads small groups on a hike up through the jungle to the starting waterfall, then leads the descent back down — climbing, sliding, and jumping through a sequence of pools and falls, each with its own character (some are gentle slides, others involve genuine jumps of 10-25 feet). Everyone wears a helmet and a life vest for the entire descent.
How many waterfalls do you actually do?
| Tour level | Waterfalls covered | Approx. price | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 7 waterfalls | $25-35 | 1.5-2 hours |
| Standard (most popular) | 12 waterfalls | $45-65 | 2.5-3 hours |
| Full | All 27 waterfalls | $65-90 | 4-5 hours |
This is a physically demanding activity — expect real climbing, scrambling over wet rock, and jumps that some travelers find genuinely intimidating in the moment. It's not for anyone with serious mobility issues, a fear of heights that a guide's reassurance won't fix, or significant back/neck concerns. If in doubt, ask the tour operator directly about the physical demands of your chosen level before booking.
Do you need to know how to swim?
Basic water comfort helps, but you don't need to be a strong swimmer — the life vest keeps you afloat, and guides are stationed at each pool to help. That said, if you're genuinely uncomfortable in water, this isn't the activity for you no matter how good the guides are.
Getting there
From Puerto Plata, it's about a 30-40 minute drive, making it an easy half-day trip. From Punta Cana, it's a long 3.5-4 hour drive each way — doable as a very full day trip, but many Punta Cana visitors instead base a Puerto Plata side trip around it, or skip it in favor of closer excursions.
What to bring
- Quick-dry clothing and water shoes with good grip (some operators provide or rent water shoes if you don't have your own).
- A waterproof phone case or action camera if you want photos — most tour groups also have an official photographer you can pay to hire.
- Cash for tipping your guide, who's doing real physical work keeping the group safe through several hours of climbing and jumping.