Damajagua Waterfalls - 27 Waterfalls

Every year on November 25, our family uses that day to celebrate our oldest daughter officially becoming a part of our family.  To us, that is family day.  So today was planned ahead and set aside as a special day.  We had some JWs, that we met here at the resort, join us.  They are from Greenville, South Carolina. We rented a van and drove about 30 minutes into the mountains and visited the Damajagua Waterfalls.  It is a series of 27 waterfalls.  You pay your entrance fee according to how high you want to hike.  You can hike up to the first 7, 1-14 or 1-27 (all the way to the top).  It was a 20 minute hike. sometimes through the river, in order to get to the base of waterfall #1.  We only paid to go to waterfall 1-7.  Once we got to the base of the waterfalls most decided that they did not want to climb, but would stay at the water pool at the bottom.  Mike wanted to go, and I wasn't too sure.  The water was FREEZING.  Also, once you hike up, the only way down was to slide down the waterfall.  The guides assured me they would help me along the way, so off Mike and I went.  Rebecca, Michaela, Mom, Dad, David and Marie all stayed behind.  I must say that it was a little rough going at times, but it was awesome overall.  There were times we were swimming through littel caverns, with the water about 12 foot deep and only about 5 foot wide.  The main reason I chose to go ahead and hike up is my little one told me I was a whimp if I didn't.  Sounds so familar of something else involving water and a cliff (for those of you who know what I am talking about).

David and Marie from Greenville, South Carolina

Suspension bridge that you have to walk across to access waterfalls - the bridge has only been there for 7 months - prior to that when the river was high after heavy rains, they would have to shut down the park because it was too dangerous for anyone to walk across on foot

Our group heading to the waterfalls

After crossing the bridge you then have a 20 minute walk into the jungle area

This is the base of waterfall one and two - it is a swimming hole that those waiting can swim at while waiting - in order to get up to the other waterfalls you must climb up the little waterfall on the left and then up the wooden ladder - only real way down is to slide

Yes that is me sliding down waterfall one - it was a blast!!

Mike and I at the base of one of the waterfalls we hiked up

This is the caverns that you have to swim through to get to the next waterfall - it was breathtaking

Some trying a fresh cocoa pod that our guide had just picked for us and busted open - he let them suck on the white fleshy part of the meat (inside the white meat is the cocoa bean - that if left in the hot sun for a few day would dry up the meaty part and it would fall off and out would come the dried cocoa bean)

This is a typical scene along the roadside in the DR - it is kinda like in Texas when you see a man on the side of the road selling his fresh pecans, peaches and honey - see those coconuts