El Salto El Limón is a beautiful waterfall with three falls of 40 meters or 131 feet. This natural wonder is one of the places that you cannot miss in the Dominican Republic. You can get there on foot or on horseback and the reward will be a refreshing dip in this enchanting place.
The waterfall is located 2.5 km (1.5 mi) from the El Limón community, Samaná . It is located 300 meters above sea level and has a natural pool to take a relaxing bath. If you want to enjoy a unique experience on your visit to the DR, you have come to the right place . In this complete guide you will find the most complete information on the internet about El Salto El Limón: how to get there, where to eat and stay, how much it costs and the best tips to make your visit unforgettable. Read to the end and don’t miss a single detail.
How to get to Salto El Limón?
It is advisable to stay in El Limón or in nearby towns such as Las Terrenas and Samaná. You can get there from both places in a guagua (bus) for RD$50/US$1 or by taxi for approximately RD$2,250/US$40.
From Las Terrenas and Samaná it takes 30 minutes to reach the town of El Limón by car. Park in El Limón Parking (RD$200/US$4) and go along Sendero El Café. The cost of renting a car varies a lot but you can get a standard car starting at US$35 a day. A large SUV costs $57 and a van costs $88 per day.
There are two ways to get to Salto el Limón from any trail: walking or riding a horse. Walking you exercise while appreciating the exuberant vegetation and tropical fauna. If you don’t want to walk, you can go horseback riding with one of El Limón’s many tour guides. The inhabitants wait for the tourists with horses in the ranches.On the usual routes, the journey takes 30-60 minutes on foot or on horseback. The time depends on the tour guide and how much you want to enjoy nature. There are alternative routes such as El Café with several stops to taste typical food and drinks from Samaná.
What is in El Salto El Limón?
Salto El Limón is accompanied by vegetation and animals that increase its natural beauty and enrich the tourist experience. Read on to discover what you can find in El Salto El Limón.
Source: @cascadaellimonFora and vegetation
On the road and around El Salto El Limón you will find coconut and mango trees, soursop, figs, banana trees and coffee trees . In spring and summer the flamboyant trees cover the forest with reddish tones. The mangrove that abounds is the Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) that measures from 4 to 10 meters. It is used as a source of coal.
Source: @cascadaellimonFauna
At the entrance you will meet the horses, but there are more animals in this paradisiacal place in the Dominican Republic. While you bathe you can see hawks, seagulls, vultures, pelicans, herons . There is a great variety of endemic birds such as Guaraguao, Chua-Chua, Zaramagullon, Gallito de agua, woodpecker and others.
There are some reptiles that accompany you on the road, you should not worry about them, because they are not dangerous. Iguanas, lizards and lizards abound. If you are lucky, you can witness how a chameleon changes its skin color.
Source: @avesdemipueblo03Climate
El Limón has the characteristic tropical climate of the Dominican Republic. The average temperature is 25.3ºC or 77.5ºF . Precipitation is 1062 mm per year. In conclusion, it is a good place to visit at any time of the year.
What to do in Salto El Limón?
Taking a bath in the natural pool of El Salto El Limón is something you cannot miss. You can have a picnic around the pool and jump from the top of the waterfall. Thanks to the variety of birds, it is an excellent place for bird watching. Hours go by quickly seeing the different species that come to Salto El Limón.
In El Salto El Limón you can go hiking guided or on your own. Sometimes it is possible to rappel in some parts of the path. Depending on the route you take, you can get to know the culture of El Limón. The inhabitants show you their art and gastronomy at each stop. There are some caves located around the waterfall where special picnics are held with a different atmosphere. You can explore the cave if you want a little extra adventure.
Where to eat in Salto El Limón?
Near El Salto El Limón there are restaurants that offer Dominican food such as the Santi Restaurant , rated as the best restaurant in El Limón. Here you find Creole food, Spanish food and an interesting mix of both. The cost per person is from US$7 to US$13. Its unique dish is Lambí a la Gallega.If you want to eat something more traditional and simple, the options abound. From small home restaurants to fitness restaurants are the options you have to eat after going to Salto El Limón. If you go with a tour guide, he can guide you to decide where to go to eat. These are good options near El Limón:
- Empanadas and more : It is located in Las Ballenas, Las Terrenas. It is a restaurant with Caribbean, Latin and international food. In 2022 it was the best restaurant in Las Terrenas according to TripAdvisor and received the Travelers Choice award. Their specialty is empanadas, but they sell hamburgers, seafood, cocktails, tostones, and more.
The menu costs from US$1 to US$5 and has dishes for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free. It is open from Monday to Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Source: @casadelaempanada.rd- L’ Industrie Pizzeria LT : It is located on Paseo de La Costanera in Las Terrenas. It is a traditional pizzeria with very good flavor . Won the 2022 Travelers Choice Award on TripAdvisor. You can eat your favorite pizza and there are options for vegans and vegetarians.
Its price range is from US$2 to US$32 and it is open every day from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm The staff is helpful and the food is usually ready in 10-15 minutes. It has a quiet and well decorated environment. It is recommended to go with family, friends or partner.
Source: @lindustrielt- The Dieciocho Las Terrenas : It is located in Beach Garden Plaza, Las Terrenas. It is a restaurant with Caribbean food, seafood and international food. Among its entrees are golden fillet with thyme (US$17), Frito mixto (US$21), Seafood spaghetti (US$15). The children’s menu costs US$9.
It is open every day from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm It is a good option if you want something elegant and delicious . The atmosphere is familiar, although they also sell beer. Vegans, vegetarians and gluten intolerant people can eat here. He was awarded the 2022 Travelers Award.
Source: @el18restauranteWhere to stay El Salto El Limón?
The Dominican Republic is a small tourist country, so you will have no problem finding a good hotel near El Salto El Limón. There are options for all kinds of budgets and needs . The most recommended hotels are:
- Bahia Principe : It is one of the closest hotels to El Limón, it is located on the Las Terrenas-El Limón highway. Do you want a guarantee of quality and comfort? This hotel has 4.5 stars out of 7,800 reviews on Tripadvisor. It is the only hotel in Las Terrenas with “all inclusive” service.
The hotel has 2 swimming pools, 6 restaurants, 8 bars, a spa, a water park, a nightclub, a gym and an amphitheater . During your stay, dinners at restaurants, sports such as archery, table tennis and bodyboarding are included. The night costs US$239 for two adults. The reception is open 24 hours.
Source: @harris_travel- Saman Boutique Hotel : It is located on Abra Grande Avenue in Las Terrenas. It is characterized for being a quiet and relaxing place to rest after the adventures in El Salto El Limón. The night costs US$126. The decoration has an artistic style that mixes culture, nature and poetry.
It is a small hotel with 24 rooms that offers a more picturesque and romantic experience than today’s tourism. It has a restaurant, VIP transfer to the airport and to the beach, personalized excursions and car rental . The reception is open all day.
- Hotel Alisei : It is located on Francisco Alberto Camaño Deñó beach, in Las Terrenas. It offers a chic beachfront stay for $165 a night. The ocean view and the tropical and classy decoration provide an experience worthy of the natural beauties of the Dominican Republic.
The reception service is open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm If you don’t want to bathe in the sea and sand, you can do it in the hotel pool. In the complex there is the restaurant El Loro that serves breakfast to guests. Then à la carte dishes are offered with room service.
Source: @aliseihotelspaHow much does it cost to go to Salto El Limón?
It is advisable to only go with professional tour guides or tour companies. There are residents who offer themselves as guides, but they are not dedicated to tourism and do not have the necessary knowledge and tools. The price difference is small and the service is more complete and enjoyable with a tourism professional.
A tour guide usually charges US$30 to US$55 for the entire tour including lunch. You have to pay an entrance fee to the park with the cost of RD$50/US$0.90 if you do the route independently. Adding the prices of a hotel, transportation and restaurant in total it can cost between US$250 and US$450 depending on the services.Remember to tip the guide , the tours to Salto El Limón are the main source of income for the inhabitants. Since 1977, locals have been promoting environmentally friendly rural tourism. That is the objective of the Salto del Limón Community Ecotourism Association (ACESAL). The idea is to preserve natural resources to take advantage of them.
Tips to enjoy your visit to Salto El Limón
We have compiled the best advice from locals and visitors to the waterfall. Follow these tips to make your experience in El Salto El Limón the best of all:
- Exercise before going: The route to get to Salto El Limón is not very hard, but some people may have difficulties on the way. It is a good idea to do cardiovascular and resistance exercises to be in shape when doing the route. Hiking would be ideal.
- Take mountain boots: Some guides offer you mountain boots for the journey on foot or on horseback. If you want to save yourself a bit of money, bring your own hiking boots to protect you from water and mud on the trail.
- Bring a bathing suit: It can be counterintuitive to bring a bathing suit to a place where you also need hiking boots, but that’s nature. Don’t forget your swimsuit to enjoy a moment of relaxation in the natural pool of Salto El Limón.
- Bring food for the picnic: If you want to have a picnic, be sure to bring food for you and your companions. Try to properly store your food so that it does not spoil on the way. Remember that you cannot make bonfires in El Salto El Limón, bring food that can be eaten without heating.
Conclusion
For only US$250 you can live the experience offered by one of the most important natural wonders of the Dominican Republic . It is a great opportunity to enjoy a relaxing bath or eat a picnic with your loved ones. The locals will show you their rich culture and gastronomy while you go walking or on horseback.
There are many hotels nearby that offer everything from “all-inclusive” services to hotels that offer a different experience from the rest. Satisfaction and safety are guaranteed . The restaurants are varied so that you can eat local , international or quality fast food dishes. Tell us about your experience in the comments!
Now that you know everything you need to go to Salto El Limón, what are you waiting for to visit this hidden jewel of the Dominican Republic?
