Adventure Insider Online Magaine » Waterfalls

Dominican Republic Pre-Trip

Abbie — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:13:30 +0000

In a few short days I will be packing up and flying over to the Dominican Republic. My experience in the Caribbean has been that of a family cruise, so as you might imagine, it was very “planned,” from the shore excursions to the shopping. While I am going to the Dominican Republic on a blogger trip sponsored by the Domican Republic’s Bureau of Tourism, I am really excited to get away from some of the more touristy attractions and see what the DR is really about. I will be sure to try out everything from snorkeling to waterfall cascading to hiking, to be sure that I have a well-rounded experience, of course.
I’m also going to be testing the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 digital camera. Being waterproof to 33 feet should come in handy while I’m snorkeling, and I’m hoping I don’t have to field test the shockproof (up to 6.6 feet) or the crushproof (up to 220 lbs.) features while I’m hiking in Los Haitises National Park. I am looking forward to testing the HD video capability, though, and the in-camera panorama feature. After I return from my trip, expect to see a full review of the Olympus Stylus Tough camera to see if it met my expectations.
As you may (or may not) know, Adventure Insider is all about finding the hidden treasures that exist out there, beyond what the usual tourist might experience, and that’s what this trip is about for me – finding some of the best adventures that Samana and Puerto Plata (and the nearby areas) have to offer! Keep an eye out for an article in the first issue of Adventure Insider Magazine, due out September!

Costa Rica Photo Essay

Erick — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:57:38 +0000

Costa Rica – Day 8

Erick — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:52:57 +0000

Our trip is drawing to a close. And, although we have accomplished most of what we were hoping to do and seen much of what we had hoped to see, we seem to be getting started later into the morning. So yesterday we decided to play things sort of close to our base camp in Playa del Coco. We set out heading southeast on the Pan American Highway (highway 1) toward the northeastern edge of the Parque Nacional Palo Verde. We decided to make a stop at the Rescue Shelter Las Pumas located 5km north of Cañas. Unless you are hiking in some of the most remote protected areas of Costa Rica, you’re unlikely to see any of the large cats native to this region. So, rescue shelters like this one offer pretty much your only opportunity to see jaguars, margays, ocelots, pumas, jaguarundis, and pumas as well as gray fox, lots of parrots, toucans, and a very playful river otter, and capuchin and spider monkeys. The shelter relies on entrance fees and donations to care for these rescued animals — all the animals have a sad story and some bear physical scars of their past abuses. It is a last resort — releasing these animals back into the wild is simply too dangerous for them. It was a great experience to see these magnificent animals up close but also a sobering reminder of the cruelty imposed by some and the consequences of human sprawl.

Afterward, we headed to a waterfall around 2km off the Pan American Highway 3km north of Bagaces known as Llanos de Cortés. The waterfall and surrounding gold-flecked sand beach is a well-known spot to Ticos, but off the beaten tourist path. The road to Llanos de Cortés is 1.3km of unimproved dirt road leading to a large parking lot that seemed pretty full. After paying $2 to the parking lot security guards, we hiked a short, steep path down to the waterfall where we enjoyed our picnic lunch and a refreshing swim in the pool under the falls. All told, there were probably around 150 people hanging out there, but it was a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon and easily 95% of the crowd was Tico. Everyone was friendly and clearly enjoying the swimming and diving. There were a couple of barbecues set up and a generally festive atmosphere. A short path to the left of the falls led to the top of the falls where there were only a few people. Great for solitude and a wholly different perspective on the falls. In the late afternoon, we packed up and returned to Playa del Coco for dinner at a local seafood joint, Papagayo, and a relaxing evening on the lanai.

Buttermilk and Silver Spray Falls

Erick — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:49:08 +0000

The Delaware Water Gap in northern New Jersey holds a couple of waterfalls that will never cease to amaze. Located just outside the little town of Walpack, Buttermilk Falls, the more popular of the two, is the highest waterfall in New Jersey. Following the trail 1.9mi will allow you enjoy a hike on a portion of the classic Appalachian Trail (http://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/hikes-at-sunfish-nj.htm). The requisite climb of the stairs to the top of the falls is a must. When you have had you fill of the well traveled path and all the crowds it attracts, head down the road to Silver Spray Falls to explore on your own.

Located over a half mile to the south of Buttermilk Falls, Silver Spray Falls yields views that are just as stunning (if not better), but without the crowds. However, little seems to be known about these falls, including the from the locals. A stop at the local deli will get you directions to Silver Spray Farm, but mention the falls and you may be told nothing of the sort exists. Many people don’t realize that many of our greatest treasures lie where few people have ventured. Park at the abandoned Farm and head North on Mountain Road about 500ft. Once past the house head east and make your way back towards the creek. Stay next to the creek and enjoy one of the sights in solitude. You may want to pack a lunch as it will surely take you longer then expected, after all, there are so many pictures to be taken.

Quick Info:

Location: Deleware Water Gap NRA, NJ, USA
Permits: None
Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Varies from 2-5

http://www.nps.gov/dewa/