Hike to El Limon Waterfall, Dominican Republic

Stay at the seaside village of Las Terrenas nearby for easy access to El Limon waterfall and catch a super cheap Gua Gua (pronuonced wah wah).  A Gua Gua is sometimes a tight fitting overcrowded bus, but for shorter journeys it comes in the form of an old ute with the back canopy decked out with wooden seats around the edge of the railing. You will find the Gua Gua’s hanging out on the beach road of Las Terrenas out the front of the cemetery. It will be a 30 minute ride to the entrance of the waterfall. Ask the driver to be dropped at the entrance of the waterfall for 50 pesos, or in spanish ‘La entrada de El Limon cascada’

The driver should drop you at the entrance with a sign on the road to El Limon waterfall. From there it is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the main road up a dirt path to the entrance to buy your ticket for 50 pesos. In some cases they may drop you at small businesses that offer the trip by horseback. They say the only way to see the waterfall is by riding a horse, and many will try everything they can to convince you so. The guides hold the horses by their tail as they force them to trod across sharp rocks, most with no horseshoes. These little ponies are often carrying out-of-shape tourists up steep terrain. Protect the poor horse and ignore these locals offering tours and continue walking to the entrance.

When you reach the first river cross to the other side and continue to the right until you cross again to the other side. The path is clearly visible from here as it winds up the mountain.

The hike takes around 1 hour depending on fitness levels and is mostly uphill. It includes some spectacular views from the top before you reach a small cafe then descend back down 200meters of steps to the waterfall.

The jewel at the end of this exhausting but scenic hike in the heat was a stunning waterfall with water gushing down from high into the jungle. The swim is the perfect refresher before hiking back down the mountain the same way you came.