30 Mar Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall, the visit you’ll never forget
Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall, the visit you’ll never forget
If you are passionate about nature and want to discover the more exotic side of this part of the Caribbean on your next trip to the Dominican Republic, the Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall is one of the visits you’ll love most on your holiday in paradise. Get ready to fall head over heels in love with the Dominican Republic!
Hot to get to Salto de Aguas Blancas
The Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall is located in the Juan Bautista Pérez Rancier National Park, known as Valle Nuevo, 20 kilometres from Constanza in the Vega area. Therefore, the first thing you must do is travel to this town. Constanza can be reached from any of the country’s important cities, one of which is Santo Domingo. From here, there are several options for getting to your destination.
The bus is one of the most frequently used means of transport by those who visit Constanza. You should know that the trip is cheaper, but it will take close to 3 hours due to the different stops that are made along the way. Other faster options to get there in less than two hours are to take a taxi or go by car to travel the almost 150 kilometres that separate Constanza from Santo Domingo.
Once you get to Constanza, to continue the journey to the Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall, you need to have an off-road vehicle to safely cross the large forests and trees that populate this area. From Constanza, this trip will only take an hour, but it will be well worth it due to both the destination and the beautiful views along the entire journey.
What to see at the Salto Aguas Blancas waterfall in Constanza?
Aguas Blancas is actually made up of two waterfalls that, seen from a distance, seem to merge into one to become the tallest waterfall in the Caribbean with its drop of more than 83 metres. Watching the elegance with which the water falls from the top into a large bright green pool is a spectacle in itself. But one of the unique characteristics that make this place so special is the environment in which the waterfall is located, since the vegetation covers the entire space with lush trees. It’s important to note that the waterfall is located more than two thousand metres above sea level, which, together with the thickness of the vegetation, means that the temperatures tend to be lower than in other areas, especially in the early hours of the day, so you should bring some warm clothing so that the cold doesn’t prevent you from enjoying this spectacular place.
In addition to the waterfall, the natural setting in which the Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall is located makes it an ideal destination for those who love active tourism thanks to the fact that it is one of the best places for hiking.
Vegetation
The Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall has the privilege of being located in an endemic Creole pine forest. This species is native to the island of Hispaniola and is the most abundant tree in the Dominican Republic. It can reach 30 metres in height and 2 metres in diameter, making this species truly astonishing, which leaves its mark on the landscape. In addition to the Creole pine, around the Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall you’ll also be able to find lots of different types of vegetation consisting of a variety of lichens, as well as mosses, flowers and epiphytes. Nature lovers will find endless reasons to want to photograph every inch of this special place.
Wildlife
The wildlife that you can find here is also truly unique. The Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall is frequented by more than 40 species, 13 of which are also native to Hispaniola. You will be able to admire the elegant flight of the Ridgway’s hawk, as well as other species such as the rufous-collared sparrow and the limpkin. Various birdwatching activities are organised in the area to take advantage of its great ornithological wealth.
In addition, if you pay close attention and look very closely, you’ll be able to see a wide variety of insects that also inhabit this place, in addition to the noisier birds. Among them, you’ll definitely notice the butterflies with their intense colours, serving as the perfect subject for more than one photograph that you can take home as a souvenir.
Going to the Salto de Aguas Blancas waterfall in Constanza means enjoying one of the many spectacles of nature that the Dominican Republic has to offer us. And best of all, this is just one of the many things you can do on your visit to Constanza during your next holiday in the Dominican Republic.
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