El Salto del Limón, as the waterfall is locally known, is found in the northeast of the Dominican Republic in the attractive peninsula of Samaná.
There are four access routes to the falls located about midway along the road joining Las Terrenas on the north coast with Samaná on the south coast. Four small communities-Rancho Espanol, Arroyo Surdido, El Café and El Limón-have organized entry points, or 'paradas', offering guided horseback treks to the falls. Food and beverages, local produce such as coffee, cocoa, grapefruit, coconuts and handicrafts can also be purchased at these paradas.
A brief overview
The native Ciguayos were driven out of the region with the arrival of Colombus and the Spanish. The main period of settlement occurred during the 1820's when hundreds of freed slaves from Philadelphia came here at the invitation of the President of the country.
These so called Ingleses brought with them their language, customs and beliefs and many of our older residents speak English to this day. During the latter half of the 19th century more immigrants from other islands were attracted to the area by the economic boom in neighboring Sanchez. The region of Samaná and its communities is, therefore, characterized by a rich ethnic mix and cultural diversity.
The landscape surrounding the falls is picturesque. Small houses are painted in vivid colors and made from locally available materials such as palm wood and thatch. The area is predominantly agricultural, with home gardens and vegetable plots bordering plantations of banana, cacao, coffee and coconut.
It is crucial that the watershed of Arroyo Chico, the river which plunges 40 meters down the falls is conserved to insure the long-term future of the falls and water supply for the communities, as well as the inherent biodiversity. |
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