The park Name
• The original Dominican name for the national park “27 CHARCOS de Damajagua” was mistranslated many years ago as WATERFALLS and the mistranslation stuck. The correct translation for the word Charcos is pools or puddles. There are in fact 27 Pools of water at Damajagua but there are only 12 actual waterfalls.
• Damajagua is pronounced DAMAHAGUA and in Spanish we verbalize every letter of every word (no hidden or silent letters).
• Damajagua is pronounced DAMAHAGUA and in Spanish we verbalize every letter of every word (no hidden or silent letters).
PORT PICKUP & PARK ARRIVAL
• When you follow the detailed port instructions and map we send with your confirmation you’ll find your guide waiting for you just outside the port wearing an Iguana Mama t-shirt and holding an Iguana Mama sign. This is your guide for the day and he stays with you throughout the excursion! You also have a dedicated driver that stays at the park waiting to take you and the guide back to port. Enjoy the ice cold bottle of water and air conditioned vehicle!
• On the way to Damajagua your guide will give you park instructions, tell you some local history and generally pump you up for your big adventure!
• At Damajagua there will be MANY GUIDES that help with the hike, the jumps, the slides and remember… your Iguana Mama guide also stays with you the entire time. You’re in a lot of good hands!
• On the way to Damajagua your guide will give you park instructions, tell you some local history and generally pump you up for your big adventure!
• At Damajagua there will be MANY GUIDES that help with the hike, the jumps, the slides and remember… your Iguana Mama guide also stays with you the entire time. You’re in a lot of good hands!
safety
• Your safety is our number one priority (along with making sure you have the most memorable adventure possible).
• Everyone is issued a life jacket, helmet and a bottle of water. The safety equipment must be worn during all river activities. You can carry them while hiking if it gets a bit warm.
• This is a physical activity and accidents can happen now and then. There is a trained medical team at the park and even an ambulance should it be required.
• You’ll be just fine and have an amazing experience if you … pay attention to all the guide’s instructions. Jump straight as a pencil, jump where they point to in the pool, slide with your arms crossed on your chest and be aware of your surroundings. It’s going to be awesome!!
• Everyone is issued a life jacket, helmet and a bottle of water. The safety equipment must be worn during all river activities. You can carry them while hiking if it gets a bit warm.
• This is a physical activity and accidents can happen now and then. There is a trained medical team at the park and even an ambulance should it be required.
• You’ll be just fine and have an amazing experience if you … pay attention to all the guide’s instructions. Jump straight as a pencil, jump where they point to in the pool, slide with your arms crossed on your chest and be aware of your surroundings. It’s going to be awesome!!
CAMERAS
• Some tour operators and cruise lines tell you that you can’t bring your own camera. That’s not true. You certainly may however, please remember, cameras, cell phones, disposables or Go-Pros need to be waterproof and shock resistant otherwise you could ruin your device.
• The helmets provided are not equipped with camera mounts so you’ll have to carry it throughout the activity. We recommend you find a way to secure the camera to yourself because it’s very easy to drop on a jump or have it slip out of a pocket on a slide.
• It’s fairly challenging to take your own photos and videos while jumping and sliding. Damajagua offers a photo/video service. You can hire a park photographer to follow you (and your group) throughout the park and at the end, you will receive a thumb drive with approximately 3 gigs of photos and videos.
• Iguana Mama is not responsible for lost or broken cameras.
• The helmets provided are not equipped with camera mounts so you’ll have to carry it throughout the activity. We recommend you find a way to secure the camera to yourself because it’s very easy to drop on a jump or have it slip out of a pocket on a slide.
• It’s fairly challenging to take your own photos and videos while jumping and sliding. Damajagua offers a photo/video service. You can hire a park photographer to follow you (and your group) throughout the park and at the end, you will receive a thumb drive with approximately 3 gigs of photos and videos.
• Iguana Mama is not responsible for lost or broken cameras.
FOOTWEAR
• We recommend an old pair of close-toed tennis shoes or river shoes like Keen or Teva. You can’t always see where you are stepping in the river and stubbed toes hurt.
• Tread… you need some decent tread for both the hike up and coming down through the falls. Rocks are slippery when wet. The best shoes tie up or strap on, have closed toes, have thicker soles and good tread.
• Soft soled water shoes will get shredded on the hike up and you’ll have very sore feet.
• Tread… you need some decent tread for both the hike up and coming down through the falls. Rocks are slippery when wet. The best shoes tie up or strap on, have closed toes, have thicker soles and good tread.
• Soft soled water shoes will get shredded on the hike up and you’ll have very sore feet.
LADIES
• We highly recommend ladies wear an old pair of shorts over your bathing suit (especially 2 piece suits) or you might find yourself rather embarrassed after a jump or slide 😳
• And, if you're pregnant CONGRATS!! But unfortunately, you can’t go on this excursion 😞
• And, if you're pregnant CONGRATS!! But unfortunately, you can’t go on this excursion 😞
VALUABLES AND CHANGE OF CLOTHES
• The visitor centre offers lockers in the men’s and ladies change room/bathrooms but often there are not enough lockers available for everyone. You can leave your dry clothes, shoes, towel and any valuables on the transport. It’s safe to do so! Iguana Mama transports stay at the park. We don’t leave to pick up other groups so your valuables stay safely locked up in the transport waiting for you to get out of the river.
• We do recommend you leave all jewelry on the bus. Especially wedding rings. The waterfalls and slides are notorious thieves.
• We do recommend you leave all jewelry on the bus. Especially wedding rings. The waterfalls and slides are notorious thieves.
LUNCH
• Lunch at Damajagua is a delicious, authentic Dominican buffet (ALL YOU CAN EAT) including:
- Stewed and/or Fried Chicken
- Pork
- Sausage
- A Pasta Dish
- Rice & Beans
- Plantain
- Green Salad
- Fruit
- Soft drinks / Water
- Alcohol is available for purchase (the first drink is on us)
- Stewed and/or Fried Chicken
- Pork
- Sausage
- A Pasta Dish
- Rice & Beans
- Plantain
- Green Salad
- Fruit
- Soft drinks / Water
- Alcohol is available for purchase (the first drink is on us)
RETURN TO PORT
• You’ve had a crazy, fun filled few hours and we like to keep that vibe going all the way back to port. On the bus enjoy local rum drinks (Cuba Libre or Santo Libre), lively Dominican music and the guide (who you now think of as family) will keep you laughing till it’s time to say ...
Hasta Lavista Baby!