A cool reward awaits those willing to journey through the jungle
Getting to the waterfall known as El Salto del Limon is an adventure in itself. This 120-foot high cascade is located on the Arroyo Chico River, which flows through the rugged interior of the Dominican Republic’s Samana Peninsula. There’s no chance of the site being swarmed by tour bus crowds, as it is located several miles from the nearest road. Adventurous types can hike to the site, but this will involve a three-mile trek that requires fording streams and a lot of uphill climbing on a steep, rugged footpath cut through the lush landscape. To avoid this strenuous effort, most visitors arrive by horseback.
Rides start in the town of El Limón, where a number of outfitters lead horseback tours to the site. The ride can take from 30 to 60 minutes, after which the cool pool at the fall’s base provides a welcome respite from the trail. Tours often include a picnic lunch and plenty of time to swim and explore before starting the return trip to the village. The resorts of Las Terrenas are less than a half hour away, but tours to this iconic cascade also originate from points across the eastern Dominican Republic, including Punta Cana. Because of the long drive times required from these more distant locations, the trip becomes a full-day excursion. But as anyone who has ever ducked under the fall’s cooling spray of cascading water can attest, the destination is well worth the journey.
