Rainforest Trek to Natural Pool - Taino Bay & Amber Cove ports
Description
Trek through a beautiful tropical forest, crossing a suspension bridge and streams while discovering the flora, fauna and medicinal plants along the way to a natural pool. Begin your nature-adventure with a fully narrated drive in an air-conditioned van or mini bus, to the trek start-point with time for restrooms, a short orientation and safety briefing as well as safety equipment is provided. Your enthusiastic guide will assist in identifying tropical birds and plants along the trail. You will discover the many traditional uses and medicinal qualities of plant roots, leaves and flowers. Splash across streams while enjoying the view along the way to a natural forest pool and cascade where you may choose to take a dip in the refreshing water. You will then make the return trek to the start-point. Time is provided to change or use the facilities before reboarding your bus or mini-van for the lively return to the port complete with merengue music and complimentary rum punch.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure begins when you are greeted by your welcome team at the cruise center main entrance. Meet your guide and board a mini-bus or van for the fully narrated drive to the hike's start-point. Once there, receive an orientation, a safety briefing and have the opportunity to use the facilities before you begin your trek through the Dominican forest. During the hike you will cross streams and see tropical birds and plants along the path. Continue this moderate hike until you reach the waterfall where you will enjoy a relaxing swim. After your time at the waterfall, you will make the return hike to your start-point where you will have a bit of free-time to browse the gift shop, enjoy a cool beverage or have a bite to eat (at own expense). After, re-board your safari truck for the return to the cruise center main gate. Please note, while this is an "easy" hike, you will be required to walk for approximately 1.5-hours on uneven surfaces.
A tropical forest trek to a waterfall and natural pool!
Pick-up at meet location outside gates of Taino Bay Cruise Center and Port.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
PLEASE READ ALL: TOUR DEPARTURE TIME IS 45-MINUTES AFTER THE SHIP'S ACTUAL ARRIVAL. IF THE SHIP IS EARLY OR LATE THE DEPARTURE TIME REMAINS THE SAME (45-MINUTES AFTER THE SHIP'S ACTUAL ARRIVAL). Please print/download meet instructions, map and information specific to your FUN Tour or REAL Adventure which will be sent to you by your shore excursion operator via the Viator system. Please check emails for updates and all instructions and map :-) PORTS: Amber Cove: Just Outside the Main Gate Taino Bay, Puerto Plata: Just Outside the Main Gate Important Note: there are two (2) ports in Puerto Plata - Taino Bay, Puerto Plata AND Amber Cove (less than 15-minutes apart by car. If your ship announces an "itinerary change" to either port - we will be there. We will provide you with the new map and meet instructions. There is no need to cancel your excursion!
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
- This activity is not suitable for participants with back problems, heart complaints, respiratory issues or other serious medical conditions or for pregnant women
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Cane and walker users may not participate.
- Participants will cross small streams in order to arrive at the waterfall. Appropriate footwear is required (water shoes, sneakers that can get wet or sport sandals with a back strap). Participants who do not arrive with appropriate footwear will be required to rent shoes for $2 once at the hike start point
- Minimum age is 10 years old
- This adventure is for participants in good physical condition
- Participants must have good balance and be able to easily navigate uneven terrain and slippery surfaces; inclines/declines and sandy areas
- Must be in good physical condition
Reviews(55)
This was such a great trip! Both Rosy and Lisa gave us tons of information about island, people, culture. My husband went through waterfalls slides, I was walking with Lisa and was swimming in the last waterfall waiting for the main group arrival. Tons of fun and super safe!
We are so happy you thought your adventure was great! Lisa and I really enjoyed our day with you as well. Our Rainforest Trek to Natural pool version of Damajagua Waterfalls is the perfect blend of flora, fauna, culture and light-adventure without the jumping from the waterfalls and the uphill hike. We are so glad that your husband decided to enjoy the natural slides :-) Please come back one day very soon for more fun!! HAPPY SAILING!! Our Tour Hosts, Jump Coaches © (Damajagua Adventures) and Naturalist Guides are fully licensed. Our company is fully licensed and insured and holds fully compliant Tourism and Business Licenses. All tours and adventures include deluxe, air-conditioned transportation, full narration, and a chauffeur as well as a guide. Cold, bottled water upon arrival and throughout your adventure is provided. Fresh fruit from a picturesque, typical stand and complimentary rum punch is always included. Our Fun Tours and Real Adventures return to port at least 1, 1 ½ hour before ALL-ABOARD (2 hours before the ship departs). HAPPY SAILING!
The highlight of our cruise was this tour we took with Jordan. His personality, knowledge and friendliness was welcoming from the start. He treated us like we were important. Stopping frequently on the trek to explain all the plant life and trees and the culture of the island. When we got to the waterfalls, he kept a watchful eye on our belongings and took pictures for us. On the ride back in a comfortable van he served us yummy rum punch and got instruments to play along with the island music. We also stopped at an outdoor stand and he bought local bananas for all of us to sample. By the time we got out of the van we felt we were leaving a good friend behind. 5 out of 5 isn’t enough to say about his tour guiding abilities. ❤️
Thank you!! This review is lovely and has been shared with Jordan :-) This type of thoughtful feedback makes our entire team smile. We are glad that you enjoyed your adventure, our signature rum punch and the fresh from the stalk bananas. From our welcome at our meet location to the return to port - we do all we can to make every moment count! Our Tour Hosts, Jump Coaches © (Damajagua Adventures) and Naturalist Guides are fully licensed. Our company is fully licensed and insured and holds fully compliant Tourism and Business Licenses. All tours and adventures include deluxe, air-conditioned transportation, full narration, and a chauffeur as well as a guide. Cold, bottled water upon arrival and throughout your adventure is provided. Fresh fruit from a picturesque, typical stand and complimentary rum punch is always included. Our Fun Tours and Real Adventures return to port at least 1, 1 ½ hour before ALL-ABOARD. For early ship arrivals our return to the port is typically, approximately noon. HAPPY SAILING!
Zander was an awesome tour guide! Very knowledgeable, funny & attentive to everyone in the group. My daughter wanted a rainforest & waterfall hike; this was a great compromise vs. the more strenuous Damajagua hike & falls. You will need sturdy soled water shoes. You will be walking on rocks in the streambeds.
Thank you and Zander says, "thanks" as well! Our Rainforest Trek to the pool made by Mother Nature is a great alternative for those not wishing to jump :-) We hope you also enjoyed our signature rum punch and Merengue party on the return to port. We really appreciate the time you took to review your experience! Our Tour Hosts, Jump Coaches © (Damajagua Adventures) and Naturalist Guides are fully licensed. Our company is fully licensed and insured and holds fully compliant Tourism and Business Licenses. All tours and adventures include deluxe, air-conditioned transportation, full narration, and a chauffeur as well as a guide. Cold, bottled water upon arrival and throughout your adventure is provided. Fresh fruit from a picturesque, typical stand and complimentary rum punch is always included. Our Fun Tours and Real Adventures return to port at least 1, 1 ½ hour before ALL-ABOARD. For early ship arrivals our return to the port is typically, approximately noon. HAPPY SAILING!
We went on a cruise and Amber Cove was one of our ports. We did this tour a few years ago and had a great time. We followed the directions to the meeting location and made it to the air conditioned bus for the drive to the falls. They had 2 separate groups on our excursion with each having a different guide. One that was going to go on the falls and one that went on the Nature Trek with an option to climb and slide or jump. I wanted to slide but my sister did not. She was still able to enjoy the natural pool at the end. Our guide Zander was awesome and even though we had done this tour before, we learned so much more about the history of the Damajagua Falls area. It was a great experience! A must do!!!
We really appreciate the time you took to provide such a detailed review :-) Coach Zander is very happy you and your sister enjoyed your experience. We are especially thrilled that you thought enough of our experience to do it again! We also hope you enjoyed our signature rum punch and Merengue party on the return to the port! Hope to see you yet again one day soon. Our Tour Hosts, Jump Coaches © (Damajagua Adventures) and Naturalist Guides are fully licensed. Our company is fully licensed and insured and holds fully compliant Tourism and Business Licenses. All tours and adventures include deluxe, air-conditioned transportation, full narration, and a chauffeur as well as a guide. Cold, bottled water upon arrival and throughout your adventure is provided. Fresh fruit from a picturesque, typical stand and complimentary rum punch is always included. Our Fun Tours and Real Adventures return to port at least 1, 1 ½ hour before ALL-ABOARD. For early ship arrivals our return to the port is typically, approximately noon. HAPPY SAILING!
Great excursion, so well organised, Informative and fun. Thanks to Jordan for guiding us through the rainforest and streams to the pool where we could enjoy a refreshing swim. He was so knowledgable and personable, a perfect guide. The journeys on the minibus were comfortable and fun. Xander was so entertaining and the party atmosphere with rum punch on the way back added to the experience. Highly recommended.
We had a fantastic time on this tour. It wasn't strenuous and would be perfect for anyone that can move around easily. There was about a 45 minute hike to the lower falls that included history and info about the animals and plant life in the area. The water was refreshing. You will have to swim in the pool to get to the ladders to climb up the falls. It is optional to slide or jump the falls. We were able to walk up a little further to one extra fall that required swimming to. Xander our guide was fantastic and made sure everyone was safe and had help if needed. We would highly recommend this tour if you didn't feel you could do the full experience to all the falls.
This is a great choice for someone who doesn’t want the 45 minute uphill climb in the heat to the top of the 7 falls. Tony was an excellent guide walking me through the woods and crossing the river in 5 spots. Added bonus was that most people choose the uphill climb so he was my private guide, and it was a peaceful experience. I got to swim in the bottom pool under the lowest waterfall for a while with no one else around. If you want to climb the ladder and jump or slide down you can. This park gets really crowded, so booking with a small group through Puerto Plata Adventures made it an experience of nature rather than of crowds. Also want to recognize Rosie for great communication in allowing me, a non-cruise passenger, to sign up. The cruise port and ship timing gets complicated and she was very attentive to keep me connected. Well done!
If you don’t take the trek to the 7 waterfalls you’ll have a bit of down time. One couple with our group (of 8 ppl) took the 7-falls route and we waited quite a while for them to return. If we’d wanted to swim in the pool at the bottom after doing the bottom slide and taking pics we could have but it still left us with too much time in hand. Our part of the trek included more low water crossings and Jordan stopped several times to tell us about the trees and plants which those going to the upper pools didn’t get. All in all it was a good experience but not worth $80. I don’t know how they distinguished between those wanting the more eco-tour vs full hike to top and then jumping and sliding the whole 7.
Booked excursion with Puerto Plata Adventures rain forest trek. Alex was our guide--very professional, entertaining, and nonweldable regarding Dominican Republic history and current event. Motor coach was very comfortable and clean. From cruise terminal, arrived at national park after 20 min drive. National park was was well maintained with well marked trails and interesting vegetation. Alex guided our hike to the waterfall and swimming area. Not too strenuous. Water was refreshing, and sliding down waterwall was worth the trip. Highly recommend this tour organization (Puerto Plata Adventures) and greatly appreciate Alex's attentiveness and professionalism.
We had a wonderful experience!! The trip was nice, the driver was careful.. Xander was very informative as well as Jordan. They made this excursion worth every penny!! My favorite part was taking a dip in the river!! I highly recommend this excursion.
