This is a very long excursion, so be prepared for a full day. We left our resort at 6:45 AM and didn’t return until 7:30 PM. Overall, we did enjoy the experience, but the transportation logistics were clunky and poorly communicated, which made parts of the day feel disorganized.
For pickup, we were collected from our resort and then transported to a gas station, where we were asked to transfer to a coach bus. This transfer was not communicated in advance, and we ended up loading onto the bus on the side of the road, which felt confusing and a bit uncomfortable. The same process occurred on the return trip. We were dropped off on the side of the road to transfer into a smaller van. This portion felt especially awkward in the evening, as it was already dark outside.
Our main goal was to see an active waterfall, and Limon Waterfall absolutely delivered. It was beautiful and well worth the effort. That said, this excursion is not ideal for anyone who isn’t active. Expect to walk on uneven paths, navigate uneven stairs, and do a fair amount of hiking. Proper footwear and clothing suitable for hiking are a must.
The food throughout the day was underwhelming. In the morning, before boarding the catamaran to Samana, we were provided ham and cheese sandwiches with ketchup, some fruit, and espresso coffee. Lunch was served buffet-style, but much of the food was cold, and we ended up mostly eating the salad. The best part of lunch was the view from the dining location, which was beautiful.
After lunch, we got on the boat, and was taken to the beach. This was wonderful and a highlight of the day. We only wished we had more time there, as it was a relaxing and scenic way to wrap up the excursion. Do be prepared to walk past a large number of local vendors to access the beach. While it’s great to support the local economy, the selling can be quite persistent.
One additional note: bring cash for tips and for the beach vendors. Volunteers help guide the horses down toward the waterfall area, and tipping is clearly expected - we did $30 for each volunteer who helped us. The beach vendors also need to be paid with cash.
If you’re up for a long, physically demanding day and want to experience a stunning waterfall, scenic views, and a lovely beach stop, this excursion can be rewarding. Go in well prepared and with realistic expectations about transportation, food, and pacing.
** We did book this a couple of days in advance. In regard to the tour company, our only main issue was the transportation from our resort. We did feel uncomfortable with the pickup and dropoff part of the day. The communication should have been much better. Also, the pickup was late getting to our resort. **