The Dominican Republic never ceases to amaze us! Beyond the beautiful beaches of Punta Cana, the colonial area of Santo Domingo or the beautiful bay of Samaná, there are small corners that seem to be taken out of a fairy tale.
In this article we want you to visit a tourist attraction in the province of Espaillat, in the north of the island. It is the impressive waterfall Los Bueyes, also known as Arroyo Grande waterfall, a natural place in the middle of the Dominican jungle that you must visit when you are in the country.
The Arroyo Grande waterfall is perhaps the culmination of one of the wildest excursions in the Dominican Republic. We could say that it is the icing on the cake, since the experience prior to reaching the waterfall is also very satisfying for any visitor.
In this case, the tour begins in the town of Villa Trina, the main logistical center of the excursion. From there, along a dirt road, you will have to cross the Dominican fields and the jungle in a 4x4 safari style. After arriving at the community of Los Bueyes, a hiking route of approximately two hours begins, easy enough even for beginners in this sport. The winding trail passes through large trees and a beautiful jungle area, where you can observe all the splendor of nature in the middle of nowhere.
If you are one of those people who love the calm and quietness of natural sites, we are sure that this excursion is for you. But remember, being in the middle of the jungle will also have its dose of adventure that only these places can provide.
The end of the trip is, as we have already told you, the Arroyo Grande waterfall. This waterfall is one of the most impressive in the northern part of the country, with a height of 7 meters caused by the course of the Arroyo Grande River. Another reason for the beauty of this place is that the waterfall falls in two different directions, towards a small pool of crystalline water in which, if we want, we can take a bath.
Then we will have to undo the road to return to Villa Trina, where you can buy souvenirs of our visit to the Salto de los Bueyes.
Before you make the excursion, we want you to know why this place receives such a peculiar name.
The name of Los Bueyes comes from the fact that during the United States intervention in the Dominican Republic between 1916 and 1924, a large number of trees were cut down in the area. The nearest town was Villa Trina, and the large trunks were transported there by oxen, which were the main draft animals of the time. From that moment on, both the waterfall and the adjacent community acquired the name of this curious animal.
The main thing you should bring to Arroyo Grande is the desire to enjoy an exceptional natural environment, but for the experience to be complete we also recommend that you bring some things from your resort or hotel.
For the hike to the waterfall we recommend comfortable shoes such as sneakers or hiking boots that allow you to walk comfortably. To this you can add a pair of booties so that, once you get to the waterfall, you can walk on the stones of the puddle without any problem.
A bathing suit is another essential for this excursion, especially if you want to take a dip in the waterfall. Remember to bring a change of clothes and a towel so that you can walk around completely dry.
Finally, although not essential, we recommend you bring sunscreen and sunglasses, as well as cash in case you want to buy some souvenirs when you return to Villa Trina.
To get to the area of the Arroyo Grande waterfall we must have previously done several steps on the map. The first of all is to get from your lodging to the city of Moca, in the province of Espaillat. From there, the next destination will be the town of Villa Trina, location from where the excursion begins.
Making all this journey by public transportation is quite complicated, so we recommend you to use private transportation.
