Damajagua Hiking

If you've read about the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua and thought "that sounds great but I don't want to jump off cliffs," you're not alone — and there's a perfectly good option for you.

The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua is one of the headline excursions on the north coast: a series of 27 cascades carved into a limestone canyon, with the standard tour involving climbing up to a starting point and descending through the falls by sliding, swimming, and jumping into emerald-green plunge pools — some of those jumps from heights of 12–25 feet. It's exhilarating. It's also not for everyone. Older guests, families with young kids, anyone with a fear of heights, or anyone with shoulder/back injuries often avoid the trip entirely because of the jumps.

The 7-falls hiking option fixes that. Same canyon, same pools, same lush jungle setting — but you only ascend to the lower 7 waterfalls, and the descent involves walking, wading, gentle slides, and one or two optional small jumps from heights of 3 feet or less. No mandatory cliff jumps. Helmets and life vests still provided. The whole experience takes 2–3 hours including the hike up. About half the cost of the full 27 falls tour because the time and difficulty are reduced.

What's different vs the 27-falls tour

27-falls full tour: 30-minute hike up to the top, descent through all 27 cascades over 5–6 hours, includes 2–3 mandatory jumps in the 12–25 foot range, life vest and helmet required, age 12+ recommended, $75–$100 per person.

7-falls hiking option: Shorter 15-minute hike to a lower start point, descent through only the bottom 7 cascades over 2–3 hours, no mandatory jumps (any jumps are optional and short), same gear, age 8+ welcome, $40–$60 per person.

The decision usually comes down to who's in your group. Solo travelers and athletic couples almost always do the full tour and love it. Families with kids under 12 or guests over 60 should default to the 7-falls. Mixed groups can sometimes split (the tour operator handles different paces) but most operators run them as separate trips.

When to go

Mornings, year-round. The canyon is cooler in the morning and the operator's safety crew is freshest. Dry season (Dec–March) means lower water flow and easier walking; wet season (May–Oct) means higher water and more dramatic cascades but slightly more challenging footing. The canyon is shaded so heat isn't a major factor either way. Most resort tour desks have the 7-falls option clearly listed alongside the 27-falls option — make sure you book the right one.