Rio Damajagua and its waterfalls

[appleman]

The pictures here look a lot like the "cascades" near Imbert, but the directions in the post seem to indicate a different location. And for the life of me, I cannot find the Rio Damajagua on my trusty DR map. Will someone please clarify if these are the falls near Imbert. If not, I want to go to these as well because the ones at Imbert were great and these look just as good.
Thanks in advance.

Bob H.

[Cleef]

Originally Posted by appleman

The pictures here look a lot like the "cascades" near Imbert, but the directions in the post seem to indicate a different location. And for the life of me, I cannot find the Rio Damajagua on my trusty DR map. Will someone please clarify if these are the falls near Imbert. If not, I want to go to these as well because the ones at Imbert were great and these look just as good. Thanks in advance.Bob H.

When I began writing this I went to double check that I had the location/directions accurate. I too couldn´t find the river on the map. I know I´ve seen it somewhere and I believe it´s on a topo map that Dolores has in her home.

She posted on this thread so I´m assuming I had the directions pretty close. Don´t remember where Imbert is and I don´t have a map handy so I´ll have to double check tomorrow.

[Dolores]

Damajagua cascades are the same ones near Imbert.

[appleman]

Originally Posted by Dolores

Damajagua cascades are the same ones near Imbert.

Thanks Cleef and Dolores. I thought these were the same but wasn't sure. I had a great trip there last year and recommend it. My guide swam up each pool holding my digital camera above the water with one hand while paddling with the other. I was scared to death that I would lose all the pictures of my vacation, but he didn't even get it wet.

Bob H.

[muchacha]

"I noticed a man who stopped cutting the cane to smile welcomingly to me – he clearly had began his day where his night had ended it – smiling back through the bus window, I thought what good fortune it was that I’d forgotten my Rolex."

I came across this forum searching for the spelling of that river. I've just returned from the Dominican Republic and had a wonderful waterfall experience.

I love your pictures however, I have to take exception to your comments above.

You see a lady we stayed with also insisted on bringing her diamonds and gold with her to the falls. She wrapped them in a towel and left it on a rock. Going back in the truck through the sugar cane fields she realized she had the towel but no jewelry.

One of our guides ran back to the fall but did not find anything. They took our resort villa number and promised to look harder.

The next day after searching with a group for three hours, they drove every piece of jewelry back to her at our villa on Cofresi.

BTW, our jeep safari tour videotaped the entire day for us so we came home with our entire waterfall adventure on DVD.

If I find the contact info, I'll post later.

[PeachezNcream84]

I have been to these falls 3 times. They are really amazing. And I still get terrified to jump, and take a good 3 minutes of coaxing to do some of the bigger ones.

I LOVE the "water slide" ones though. So much fun.

Cleef - wonderful photos and amazing writting. You are a talented writer. You were brave to bring your camera like that.

I brought my digtal once, and like appleman was terrified to get it wet (I have worked collectivly for over 7 years in the camera repair industy, so I know how bad water is for cameras) But we put it in the case, wrapped it in 3 plastic bags, and the guide didn't even let a drop of water on it.

Conchman - I do believe this is sold in hotels with packages. Some of the Jeep Safari tours go there. I went twice at a low tourist sean, and it was only us and our guide, which I like MUCH better then high tourist seans where there are truckloads of tourists being driven out. We drive right up to the beginning of the hike (before you cross the first big river) on our motoconchos, and then you can hire a guide at the bottom for 100 pesos per person (approximatly). There is no reason this waterfall trip should be unsafe if you have a guide with you.Maybe more then one if you have a bigger group. They have done this many times everyday and know exactly what they are doing. They are very strong despite the fact that some of them are really small. (You should see some of these skinny little guys hoist up these larger and sometimes older tourists through the waterfall to the next level. It is quite a site.) But I have never seen them drop anyone, or anyone fall and get hurt.

Only injured person I ever saw there, was an extremly drunk Dominican who triped and fell when he was climbing, and tumbled down and fell into a tree, but he just cut his knee.

Only thing I have ever had gone missing was my sunglasses, I set them down for a second and turned around, and didn't notice they were missing until we got back home.And that was the time we went and there were lots of tourists.

My husband takes people out there quite often for tours. He doesn't get paid but sometimes when our friends are visiting we will all go together. Or when he meets a nice family on the beach he will take them up there for fun.

The falls are VERY beautiful.

[yasmin]

I worked for three years as a tourguide in Jeep Safari, every day we went up te waterfalls of Damahagua, it's not dangerous if you go there with a dominican guide who helps you en tells you step by step what to do.
The only time when it's dangerous is when it rains a lot, the waterfalls are stronger, more water is coming down, and also the rivers are more difficult to walk through.

But anyway if you watch out what you are doing, it is a lot of fun, i'll never forget this time of my life, having such an adventure everyday, and even getting paid for it!!!

[planner]

I too have done this tour - 12 times. I however will not do it under certain conditions. If we have had a lot of rain then I won't go, it is dangerous then. I will only go with sufficient Dominican Guides who are experienced.

This tour is sold here on the north coast. YOu can purchase it almost anywhere. Many of the Tour Operators however will not sell it.

On a full day jeep safari everything is included, your guides, your transportation, food, drinks and entertainment. Some companies videotape for you to purchase. I bought mine once and my friends back in Canada were amazed!

I recommend this to the reasonably fit of all ages who can swim. If they can't swim where a lifejacket!!!

By the way, your directions are a little confusing. YOu take the highway from Santiago towared Puerto Plata. Yes you are heading east but don't come anywhere near Cabarete, that was the part that confused I think. YOu turn off to the right before Imbert!

Enjoy, of all the trips I have done in this country, it continues to be one of my favourites.

[bozorboso]

my friend and i were in sosua about a month ago, and we took a jeep safari...no clue that we were going to the Damajagua cascades, or what it involved. it turned out to be the trip of a lifetime. we had a blast! the guides, Aridio and Nelson, were so much fun. they sang songs, taught us all the "cool" spanish phrases, flirted (naturally ) , and made the trip all around great.

[Deej]

The waterfalls are certainly worth a visit.

I've dodgy ankles and couldn't get passed the the bottom pool. It was still fun watching people jump off that last step, though.

Walking from the "car park" to the bottom of the falls is quite easy with a guide but you will get grit in trainers (I ended up with a couple of cuts on my feet from that). Better to use "water shoes" of some sort that let the small stones out with the water.