Waterfalls ~ Dominican Republic travel pictures

Waterfalls on Horseback

Waterfalls tours start near Jarabacoa, following a very good buffet lunch at Rancho Baiguate. You can go to the waterfalls on horseback, following the trail, or take the open-air truck ride - about 15-20 minutes either way.

If you are tall, I recommend taking the jeep. The horses are diminutative, and we large North Americans and Europeans are a little big for them. If you are on horseback, a young local lad hops on behind you, taking the reins and more horse space.

Jeep Truck to the Waterfalls

The trail to the waterfalls is fairly narrow and steep in parts, with loose gravel sections. Several times, the trail passes through small streams. It's not a relaxing ride through the countryside, as one would think.

If it's raining, or rainy season, it can really make this a difficult ride. We were all so elated to arrive at the trailhead in one piece without falling off that we all over-tipped the young lads and all of us took the truck back to the bus.

I took this photo from the back of the truck on the way back. These now tourist-free horsemen raced to catch us. They all seemed to be having a lot more fun on the way home than when encumbered by passengers.

Down the Trail to the Waterfalls

By the time we got to the trailhead to the waterfalls, those group members who had instead ridden in the truck were already waiting for us. Bring bottled water (there's usually a cooler on the bus), and wear a bathing suit under your clothes if you want to swim in the pools at the falls. If not, then you can sit on the rocks or wade into the shallows. It's usually so hot, you'll dry off quickly without a towel.

If you're here in rainy season, take care on the gravel path, and of course swimming in the pool is out of the question -- the water is muddy and rough.

The walk down to the waterfalls pool takes about 15 minutes, but remember, you have to walk back up.

Groups spend about 20-30 minutes at the base of the falls. It wasn't until I was reading my Lonely Planet Dominican Republic and Haiti (see Haiti Books) that night that I noticed its caution that the water above Dominican Republic waterfalls may contain bilharzia (also called schistosomiasis). Just so you know. I hadn't heard of any recent outbreaks, but it can be nasty.

Base of the Waterfalls

The path makes a fairly steep drop, with stairs in the steepest parts. This waterfalls and river are Rio Baiguate, about 30 minutes' driving time from Rio Yaque del Norte, the country's only white water river.

In summer, the pool below the waterfall makes a lovely, cool break from the hot midday sun and the sweat from trail walk.

Even if you don't swim, think about wading -- it's a long hike back up the hill. The day after I was here, I heard that a tourist visiting one of the area waterfalls the day before had climbed up the stones beside the falls, then lost his footing and fell quite a distance. It took rescuers a long time to get to him, and take him to hospital. Moral: Don't take unnecessary chances and ruin your holiday.

Waterfalls Pool

It would be easy to spend much of the day here, climbing to the top, having a picnic, cooling off.

If you have more time to spend, you can rent a car, as a friend did recently, and explore the area independently, but ask local advice too before you set out.

The roads are usually in pretty good shape (drive on the right, as in North America) and there's not a lot of traffic in the countryside near Santiago.

In January, heavy rains made this trip a totally different one than in August. the trails were muddy, swimming in the pools was out of the question, and the tour guide stayed back at Rio Baiguate, leaving a baffled English-speaking tour group with a driiver who spoke only Spanish. Iwas not impressed. Other than that, it was a good tour.

Santiago De Los Caballeros City View

From the forecourt at the monument, there are fabulous views of the city and surrounding countryside. The area around Santiago is a main area for textile factories and growing flowers for export, as well as a cigar factory. This day trip continued on to one of the pottery shops near Santo Cerro, with the church and the relics of Columbus' Cross. But once you've taken in the view from the monument, and wandered around the structure, that's about all there is to do here.

Monument to Trujillo

In Santiago, astatue of Rafael Trujillo (in power from 1930-1961) tops the monument now named Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration of the Republic. His legacy includes amassing a personal fortune at the Dominicans' expense. Our guide explained that the tower was too difficult to get a crew to the top to replace it, so it's still there. The monument is 67 metres (220 feet) high, and apparently affords wonderful views of the valley, and beyond from the observation area. With the elevator out of order at the time I was there, and tour time short, we didn't get to climb up the eight storey stairway to the top.

Update: The monument has now been renovated -- more photos of the new look coming soon!

Hand Rolled Cigars at the Factory in Santiago

Santiago de Los Caballeros (or Santiago, for short) is 71 kms (44 miles) south of Puerto Plata and the beaches, and 155 kilometres (96 miles) north of Santo Domingo, the capital.

It's the country's second largest city, and home to the agricultural sector built around the bounty of the surrounding countryside -- flowers, sugar cane, tobacco and rum. Santiago doesn't feel touristy. Pictured here is one of the workers at the cigar factory. While interesting to see the techniques and admire the skills needed (there is no smoking allowed in the building), the hour-long stop at this factory was about 40 minutes too long, in my opinion.

Not much time is needed to buy a few boxes, should you so choose, and watching someone roll and trim cigars is just not that engrossing an activity.

Factory Worker Trims Dominican Cigars by Hand

Wrapped, rolled and trimmed cigars -- that's about it. There's a place to get coffee and a snack, though the newer demonstartion factory tour, while modern and updated, is not as cosy. Tours may stop at either one - it's the luck of the draw.

Yos may also be interested in these pages

• Dominican Republic Information

• Sosua and Cabarete Beaches

• Santo Cerro and Pottery

• See travel tips Before You Go

• and What To Pack

• Dominican Republic travel deals

• Sosua Domincan travel story