27 Charcos de Damajagua and the canyon of turquoise pools
Published on 09/18/2026 at 21:46 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
27 Charcos de Damajagua near Puerto Plata is a chain of waterfalls and natural pools carved into limestone in the municipality of Imbert, forming a compact canyon route where the ascent runs on foot and the return follows the water itself.
A limestone canyon in the hills behind Puerto Plata
27 Charcos de Damajagua lies inland from Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, in the municipality of Imbert in Puerto Plata province, where the Damajagua river cuts down through limestone hills to form a narrow gorge of stacked pools and drops.Damajagua river cuts through limestone hills The site is known under several Spanish names — 27 Charcos, 27 Cascadas and 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua — but all refer to the same stretch of river canyon in the Damajagua valley north of the coastal city.27 Waterfalls of Damajagua
This section of the river carries Natural Monument status granted in 2004, a legal designation that recognises its geological character and protects the canyon landscape as a national asset.Monumento Natural since 2004 The limestone here belongs to the Cordillera Septentrional, the northern mountain chain that runs behind Puerto Plata, and over thousands of years the water has cut a succession of basins and falls into the rock, giving the route its sequence of natural steps and deep turquoise pools.cordillera limestone and turquoise pools
Twenty-seven waterfalls, pools and water-carved chutes
The core fact that gives 27 Charcos de Damajagua its name is simple: the Damajagua river forms a chain of twenty-seven distinct waterfalls and basin-like pools along this canyon stretch, connected by short runs of river where the water flows through channels cut into the limestone.series of 27 natural waterfalls Some sections take the form of natural chutes where the rock has been smoothed by water into slides, while others present ledges beside deep pools where cliff jumps are possible for visitors using the established circuits with guides.route of jumps and slides
The canyon route has become a structured adventure outing, with local guides leading groups along circuits that climb up through farmland and forest above the gorge before dropping back into the river corridor to descend through the water itself.guided canyoning route Circuits follow sets of the waterfalls, and the full route reaching all twenty-seven is reserved for visitors prepared for a longer hike and sustained series of jumps, slides and swims in helmet and life jacket along the narrow canyon.
A protected natural monument with organised access
As a designated Natural Monument, Damajagua is managed with a formal entrance area and guiding structure, and organised visits begin at a park base reached from the Puerto Plata–Navarrete road near Imbert.Damajagua Waterfalls Natural Monument From this base, trails lead up through cultivated land and forest towards the higher reaches of the canyon, and marked points give access down to the river where the first pools and falls can be entered on foot.
The canyon setting combines rock faces, narrow passages and terraces of limestone beside the water, so the organised circuits use fixed points for entry and exit and require safety equipment along the route.series of waterfalls and pools Helmets and buoyancy aids are standard, and local guiding cooperatives run the circuits under rules shaped by the protected status of the site and by the physical demands of moving through the water-filled canyon.
Visiting 27 Charcos de Damajagua: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- 27 Charcos de Damajagua lies in Imbert, inland from Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, reached by road from the city and nearby coastal resorts.
- The route through the canyon involves hiking on forest and farmland paths and moving through the water along narrow sections of river, with jumps, climbs, ladders and stairways beside the falls.
- The terrain combines wet limestone, uneven steps and sections where visitors enter deep pools, so sturdy footwear, swimwear and readiness for sustained physical effort on foot and in water are part of the visit.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Dominican peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about 27 Charcos de Damajagua
Where is 27 Charcos de Damajagua located?
27 Charcos de Damajagua is in the municipality of Imbert in Puerto Plata province, inland from the city of Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.
What should visitors expect on a visit?
A visit combines a hike through farmland and forest with guided movement through a limestone river canyon, including jumps, slides and swims in a sequence of waterfalls and natural pools.
What makes 27 Charcos de Damajagua distinctive?
The site brings together a formally protected Natural Monument designation, a canyon of twenty-seven waterfalls and turquoise basins, and an organised route where the descent back runs through the river itself.
