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Originally Posted by gh1
We did the waterfalls with Iguana Mama, unfortunately my friend panicked at the third waterfall and we had to turn back - this really is for strong swimmers only - be warned!! Would love to go back one day and do the whole 12.
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I also visited Damajagua with Domingo Abreu, the country's most oustanding cave expert. While there is some risk involved, this is a trip that can be accomplished by anyone in relatively good physical shape. More important than swimming skills is a good pair of waterproof hiking shoes! We were a group of 50 and included in our group was a little girl of six that barely knew how to swim, her mother that also hardly knew how to swim. We all made it through. We did have to do rapelling as the water level was too low at one point. We walked up the cliff and then cascaded down the 21 or something holes. The tours only take you up to the 7th hole, I believe, and do it backwards.
The point I am making here is that one does not have to be a strong swimmer to do this tour. Also, there are more than 21 cascades and the better way is to walk up the hill and cascade down. Not walk up through the cascades.
We started at 9 am and made it down by 5 pm, but that was because we were 50 and at the point where ropes had to be used, we spent about two hours getting everyone to take a crash course in rapelling to make it down the rocks.
Everyone who made that trip has bookmarked it in their most precious life memories. It is tasking and challenging and daring, but when you are through there is a great satisfaction in having met one's fears.