Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
CASCADA EL LIMÓN
Tucked away in surprisingly rough landscape, surrounded by peaks covered in lush greenery, is the
52m-high El Limón waterfall. A beautiful swimming hole at the bottom can be a perfect spot to wash
off the sweat and mud from the trip here, though it's often too deep and cold for a dip. The departure
point is the small town of El Limón, only a half-hour from Las Terrenas. Just about everyone who vis-
its does so on horseback, and almost a dozen
paradas
(horseback-riding operations) in town and on
the highway toward Samaná offer tours (though it is not recommended to hire someone off the street,
as there's little saving and the service is consistently substandard). All outfits offer essentially the
same thing: a 30- to 60-minute ride up the hill to the waterfalls, 30 to 60 minutes to take a dip and en-
joy the scene, and a 30- to 60-minute return trip, with lunch at the end. Your guide - who you should
tip - will be walking, not riding, which can feel a little weird but is the custom. Walking or on horse-
back, you will get wet as there are several river crossings along the way - rubber sandals are a good
idea.
Spanish-owned Santí, at the main intersection in El Limón, is a good choice but also the most ex-
pensive. The lunch is excellent and the guides and staff (all adults) are better paid than elsewhere
(though that doesn't make them any more professional). If you book with a tour company in Las Ter-
renas, transportation to/from El Limón is often not included (
guagua
RD$50). Typically the tour
(horse, guide and lunch) costs per person from US$35 to US$50. Most other operators charge around
RD$650/300 with/without lunch; try Parada la Manzana, 5km east of El Limón toward Samaná, which
has the added advantage - depending on your perspective - of being much closer to the falls as well as
offering a pleasant new bar for cocktails, Apple Bar.
Tours may also be booked from Las Terrenas, some of which include transportation to El Limón by
quad bikes, followed by the standard horseback ride and lunch (US$55); try Casa de las Terrenas.
Otherwise, it's a minimum 40-minute walk (from the main intersection in El Limón it's roughly
5.6km), up a sometimes very steep trail over rough terrain and with even a river or two to ford. It's not
difficult to follow the path once you find it, though, especially if there are groups out on the trail. If
you do make the trip independently you'll need to pay the entrance fee (RD$50).
Activities
Diving & Snorkeling
Las Terrenas has reasonably good diving and snorkeling and at least three shops in town
to take you out. Favorite dive spots include a wreck in 28m of water and Isla Las Ballen-
as, visible from shore, with a large underwater cave. Most operators also offer special
trips to Cabo Cabrón near Las Galeras and Dudu Cave near Río San Juan. Standard one-
tank dives average US$60 with equipment. Four-, 10- and 12-dive packages will save you
about US$10 to US$20 per dive. Two-tank diving day-trips to Cabo Cabrón are US$160,
including gear, lunch and transportation; and one-tank day-trips to Dudu Caves are
