Salto de Jimenoa

Two waterfalls carry the name Jimenoa near Jarabacoa. The lower one, Jimenoa Uno, is the striking one: a walk from the road crosses a series of narrow suspension bridges strung above the river, swaying underfoot, and ends in a rock amphitheatre where the fall drops around forty metres into a churning pool. The upper fall, Jimenoa Dos, is reached by a short easier path and drops into a broad shallow pool that is better for swimming. Jarabacoa sits at around five hundred metres and is cool by Dominican standards, which is why it is the base for rafting on the Yaque del Norte, canyoning, and the walk up Pico Duarte.

What you actually see

• The suspension bridges - swaying walkways above the river to the lower fall.
• Jimenoa Uno - a forty-metre drop into a rock amphitheatre.
• Jimenoa Dos - the upper fall, easier to reach and better for swimming.
• Jarabacoa - the cool mountain base town for rafting and Pico Duarte.

When to go

November to April is drier and the bridges less slippery. The falls run strongest after rain but the pools are muddy then. Mornings avoid both crowds and afternoon mountain cloud. Weekends bring Dominican families in numbers.

Honest expectations

The bridges are narrow, wet and bouncy, and anyone uneasy with heights will find them unpleasant; there is no alternative route. Rocks around the lower pool are slick and the current below the fall is strong. Both sites charge separately and facilities are basic. The road between them is rough.

Nearby

Jarabacoa is fifteen minutes; Pico Duarte trailheads are beyond it.