Amber Cove Waterfall Excursion: Complete Guide to Damajagua Falls
An Amber Cove waterfall excursion visits Damajagua's 7 waterfalls, 31 minutes from port: about 3 hours, from $39, ages 7+. Plus safety and packing tips.
Amber Cove Excursions
An Amber Cove waterfall excursion takes you to the Damajagua Waterfalls, a 31-minute drive from the port, where you walk up through the forest and then jump, slide and swim your way back down seven waterfalls. Our Damajagua tours start at $39 per guest, last about 3 hours and include round-trip transportation from inside the cruise terminal; lunch comes only with the lunch versions. Kids can join from age 7.
What are the Damajagua waterfalls?
Damajagua, known locally as the 27 Charcos de Damajagua, is a chain of waterfalls that the Damajagua River has carved into soft limestone. Over time the water has polished the rock into natural slides, deep pools and narrow canyon passages, all surrounded by tropical forest. The area is a protected natural monument, managed in partnership with the local community.
Unlike most waterfall visits, you don’t watch from a viewing platform. Guides lead you up a forest trail, and you come back down through the river itself: jumping into pools, sliding down smooth rock chutes and floating through the canyon.
7, 12 or 27 waterfalls?
The park groups its falls into routes of 7, 12 and 27 waterfalls. Our tours cover the 7-waterfall route, which has plenty of slides and jumps and fits comfortably into a port day. The longer 12- and 27-waterfall routes involve more hiking and bigger jumps and are meant for older, fit guests. We don’t sell those routes.
Which Damajagua tour should you book?
Every one of our Damajagua tours covers the same seven waterfalls with a guide, a helmet and a life jacket, plus round-trip transportation from the cruise terminal. What changes is what you add to the day.
| Tour | From (per guest) | Length | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damajagua Waterfalls + Dominican Lunch | $49 | 3 hours | 7+ |
| Damajagua Waterfalls (7 waterfalls), no lunch | $39 | 3 hours | 7+ |
| Damajagua + Monkey Park + Dominican Lunch | $99 | About 4 hours | 8+ |
| 7 Waterfalls + Zip Line + Lunch, private transportation | $110 | 4 hours | 8+ |
| Damajagua + Zip Line + Buggy | $149 | 5 hours | 8+ |
| Damajagua + Double Buggy + Dominican food | $110 | 5 hours | 8+ |
- Just the falls: The seven-waterfall Damajagua tour from Amber Cove or Taíno Bay keeps it simple: transfer, waterfalls, back to the port, with no lunch.
- Falls plus a meal: Damajagua with a Dominican lunch adds a local lunch after the river and takes the same 3 hours.
- Families with kids 8 and up: The waterfalls, Monkey Park and lunch combo adds an up-close visit with friendly squirrel monkeys.
- Maximum adrenaline: The zip line, seven waterfalls and lunch day with private transportation starts above the forest canopy, while the two buggy combos add muddy countryside trails.
Still deciding whether the falls are the right pick? Our ranked list of the 10 best Amber Cove excursions compares prices and drive times. Our guide to choosing a shore excursion at Amber Cove also covers ATVs, buggies, the city tour and the monkey tours.
What happens on the day
- Pickup inside the terminal. At Amber Cove your guide meets you in the terminal lobby; at Taíno Bay, inside the port. Before your port day, we email the exact meeting point, a photo of your driver’s ID badge and a contact number.
- A short drive inland. Damajagua is about 31 minutes from Amber Cove (23.8 km, or 14.8 miles) and about 38 minutes from Taíno Bay, past green hills and small villages.
- Gear and briefing. Everyone wears a helmet and a life jacket the whole time, whatever their swimming level. Your guide explains how to jump and slide safely before you set off.
- The walk up. Expect about 15 to 20 minutes uphill on a forest trail, with uneven ground, steps and handrails on the steeper parts, and small bridges over the river.
- The way down. Now the fun starts: you jump into pools, slide down natural rock chutes and swim through narrow canyon passages, with guides in the water at each jump. Every jump is optional, and your guide will show you another way down, such as a ladder or a gentler slide.
- Lunch and the ride back. Change into dry clothes, sit down to a Dominican meal if your tour includes one, and ride back into the cruise terminal.
If this is your first visit, our Amber Cove cruise port guide explains the terminal layout and what’s inside the port complex.
Safety and fitness
Damajagua is an active outing, so be honest about your fitness before you book. You should be able to:
- Walk uphill for 15 to 20 minutes on uneven, sometimes slippery ground
- Climb short ladders and rock steps
- Feel comfortable in water (the life jacket keeps you afloat, so you don’t need to be a strong swimmer)
The tour isn’t recommended if you’re pregnant or have a serious heart condition or severe back or knee problems. If you have a health question, contact our team before you book and we’ll help you find the right tour.
The minimum age is 7 for the Damajagua tours and 8 for combos that add a buggy, zip line or Monkey Park. Beyond that, fitness matters more than age. Nervous about the jumps? You never have to jump, and skipping one or two is completely normal.
What to wear and bring
Bring
- Water shoes or old sneakers that stay on in the water, since the rocks are slippery
- A swimsuit under quick-dry shorts and a rash guard or synthetic T-shirt
- A waterproof phone pouch if you want photos, because you’ll be fully underwater at times
- Reef-safe sunscreen, applied before you leave the ship
- A dry change of clothes and a small towel in a dry bag for the ride back
- Cash for tips, which aren’t included; $5 to $10 per person is typical
Leave behind
- Flip-flops and loose sandals, which slip off in the water
- Jewelry, watches and anything you’d hate to lose
- Cotton clothes, which get heavy when wet
- Phones and cameras without waterproof protection
Pack water shoes from home rather than counting on buying a pair on the day.
Weather and timing
Puerto Plata’s wettest months are November through January; in November it rains on about 4 in 10 days, usually in short showers. Damajagua runs in light rain (you’re getting wet anyway), but after heavy rain the guides can close the falls for safety. If that happens, we offer you another tour or a full refund.
Your start time follows your ship’s arrival, and days with several ships in port can be busier at the falls. Our Amber Cove cruise ship schedule shows which ships are in on your date, with the top three tours, the weather and pickup details for each ship day.
FAQs
Can I do the waterfalls if I can’t swim?
Yes. Everyone wears a life jacket the whole time and guides stay in the water with you, so non-swimmers can float between the falls. You can also skip any jump.
How long does the Amber Cove waterfall excursion take?
The waterfalls-only and lunch tours take about 3 hours. Combos take about 4 hours with Monkey Park or the zip line, and 5 hours with a buggy.
How old do kids need to be?
At least 7 for the Damajagua tours, and at least 8 for any Damajagua combo with a buggy, zip line or Monkey Park.
Can I do the 12 or 27 waterfalls with you?
No. We sell only the 7-waterfall route, which suits a port day. The park’s longer routes are meant for older, fit guests.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain doesn’t stop the tour. After heavy rain, the guides can close the falls, and then we offer you another tour or a full refund.
Will I get back to the ship in time?
Our tours are planned around your ship’s arrival and departure, with pickup and drop-off inside the cruise terminal. If your ship was scheduled to dock at your booked port but doesn’t, you get a full refund.
Plan your Amber Cove day
Reserve any Damajagua tour with a 30% deposit and pay the rest on arrival, or pay in full. Groups of 6 or more get 5% off automatically, and groups of 11 or more get 10%. You can book online up to 12 hours before your ship arrives, and cancellation is free up to 25 hours before the tour starts. Compare dates and prices on our Damajagua excursions page.
