Tamanique Waterfalls
Tamanique Waterfalls
4.5
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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4.5
40 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
5
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Rachel G
2 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Went in March. Drove to Tamanique ourselves and found a guide in the village. Everyone you stop seems to be a guide! But to be honest we would not have found the waterfalls without a guide as there are no signposts directing the way (and the gps had sent us completely the wrong way). Guide charged 5 dollars for each of us (we were 3) which was probably on the high side, but heigh ho. We wore good shoes. He wore flip flops. He was twice as fast as us!!! Litter was atrocious, particularly first part of the hike. Such a pity. After you walk about 20-25 minutes you get to a little hut in the middle of nowhere which charges you 2.50 dollars per head and gives you an orange armband to go down to the falls. Water was quite low given the time of year. It doesn’t take too many people for it to feel full/crowded. We skipped jumping in the first pool as it was full. Thankfully we were the first to the second pool. Was quite a climb down to it - again probably due to water level, so I think you get a very different experience depending on time of year. Water was fantastically refreshing. Saw masses of people trailing down to the last pool, so thought we would end on a high and made our way up the hill again.
Would do a second time without a guide, now we know where we are going.
Was a nice mornings outing, but the litter was a real negative.
Would do a second time without a guide, now we know where we are going.
Was a nice mornings outing, but the litter was a real negative.
Written 15 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SnappleSpice
New York City, NY647 contributions
July 2023 • Friends
This one was one of the best things we did in all of El Salvador! We booked a tour through Wayo Surf in El Tunco (though they did not actually run the tour - we were picked up by a guide seemingly from the park itself). I know it would have been cheaper to drive there and rent a guide on our own, but we did not have a car and it was more convenient to pay for everything at once.
The most important thing is to GO EARLY. We picked the earliest time offered (8AM), and our guide linked up with one other guide who only had one other man with him (making this a three person tour with two guides). We were the first ones to sign the entry log book that morning. The hike down is short but STEEP - wear the right shoes. I didn't have a walking stick but I wish I did. There were some points near the water that were a bit scary because I imagine you could get very hurt if you slipped, but we were able to go slow and see everything without any other people around because we went early. I cannot imagine doing some parts of this trail with a bunch of people around!
Swimming near the waterfall was amazing. After our first dip in the cold water (which felt great because it was VERY hot), we hiked to another spot nearby and were able to jump from the cliffside into the top portion of the falls. The guides go first, and even offered to take pictures/film. It was awesome!
Our guide Pedro was the best. I was a bit nervous about my footing on the hike down, and he helped me navigate. On the way back up, my friend struggled with the incline and he at one point carried her stuff for her, offered a fan to both of us, and paused to make sure we were okay frequently.
If you decide to visit this place (which you should), you will need to hire a guide to enter. They are great, and make sure you bring money to tip them afterwards (this is hard work they do all day in the heat!). Don't forget to bring lots of water and appropriate shoes!
The most important thing is to GO EARLY. We picked the earliest time offered (8AM), and our guide linked up with one other guide who only had one other man with him (making this a three person tour with two guides). We were the first ones to sign the entry log book that morning. The hike down is short but STEEP - wear the right shoes. I didn't have a walking stick but I wish I did. There were some points near the water that were a bit scary because I imagine you could get very hurt if you slipped, but we were able to go slow and see everything without any other people around because we went early. I cannot imagine doing some parts of this trail with a bunch of people around!
Swimming near the waterfall was amazing. After our first dip in the cold water (which felt great because it was VERY hot), we hiked to another spot nearby and were able to jump from the cliffside into the top portion of the falls. The guides go first, and even offered to take pictures/film. It was awesome!
Our guide Pedro was the best. I was a bit nervous about my footing on the hike down, and he helped me navigate. On the way back up, my friend struggled with the incline and he at one point carried her stuff for her, offered a fan to both of us, and paused to make sure we were okay frequently.
If you decide to visit this place (which you should), you will need to hire a guide to enter. They are great, and make sure you bring money to tip them afterwards (this is hard work they do all day in the heat!). Don't forget to bring lots of water and appropriate shoes!
Written 9 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelin' Dan
Los Angeles, CA119 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
We were told at the office it would be a 30-minute walking tour to the waterfalls and back. Little did I know you had to become Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger and literally climb your way out of a deep, sweltering jungle with no chance of rescue if you happen to break your ankle or physically cannot do it. There were no warnings, pictures, signs, wavier forms, or anything to suggest that you're hiking down about 2 miles DOWN into a jungle and you're expected to return the same way you came. The sun was brutal, no breeze, and there were about a thousand ways for you to kill yourself (twisty trails, fallen trees, slippery rocks).
I checked my iPhone health app when I finally made it back and it showed I climbed the equivalent of 43 stories. In other words, a skyscraper. And I didn't even go all the way down.
Recommended if you're: John Rambo, a personal injury attorney, a high endurance athlete, someone with a private helicopter on standby for an emergency rescue.
Not recommended if you're: Overweight, hungover, have swollen feet, a vaper, adverse to heat strokes, not willing to die in a Central American jungle
I checked my iPhone health app when I finally made it back and it showed I climbed the equivalent of 43 stories. In other words, a skyscraper. And I didn't even go all the way down.
Recommended if you're: John Rambo, a personal injury attorney, a high endurance athlete, someone with a private helicopter on standby for an emergency rescue.
Not recommended if you're: Overweight, hungover, have swollen feet, a vaper, adverse to heat strokes, not willing to die in a Central American jungle
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ModernWanderers
Fairfield, CT2,416 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
With a free day during our time in El Zonte, we hired a driver for a half day and headed out here.
Just a big reminder: What goes down, must come up! So if you’re not into steep ups or downs, this hike to the falls might not be for you.
My friend and I paid $10 each for our official guide, Pedro. The trail and the falls themselves were much quieter than I was expecting for a Saturday — in fact, it was just us and one other couple (and their guide) at the main falls, and then just us at the rock-jumping pool!
We noticed many people had walking poles as they were heading down to the falls — we didn’t and don’t felt we really needed them.
We were suuuuper sweaty by the end of the up up up hike — we hit the sunlight (ie came out from shaded trails) with about 20 minutes left to walk and started sweating profusely … we were very grateful for the small tienda at the end selling water!
Just a big reminder: What goes down, must come up! So if you’re not into steep ups or downs, this hike to the falls might not be for you.
My friend and I paid $10 each for our official guide, Pedro. The trail and the falls themselves were much quieter than I was expecting for a Saturday — in fact, it was just us and one other couple (and their guide) at the main falls, and then just us at the rock-jumping pool!
We noticed many people had walking poles as they were heading down to the falls — we didn’t and don’t felt we really needed them.
We were suuuuper sweaty by the end of the up up up hike — we hit the sunlight (ie came out from shaded trails) with about 20 minutes left to walk and started sweating profusely … we were very grateful for the small tienda at the end selling water!
Written 10 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Antonio M
Copenhagen, Denmark46 contributions
Dec 2019
Escape playa El Tunco on a hot day :)
Or go swimming early in the morning - you will see sun going up straight from the ocean! And there is almost nobody there so early.
Then book a guide in Tunco Life (for about 25 USD) who will bring you to Tamanique. From there, it will take a little hike downhill and you will pass few places where you can jump (if you want) - it's about 6-9 m.
During the dry season, the cascade is quite small, yet refreshing. We enjoyed the tour!
Or go swimming early in the morning - you will see sun going up straight from the ocean! And there is almost nobody there so early.
Then book a guide in Tunco Life (for about 25 USD) who will bring you to Tamanique. From there, it will take a little hike downhill and you will pass few places where you can jump (if you want) - it's about 6-9 m.
During the dry season, the cascade is quite small, yet refreshing. We enjoyed the tour!
Written 4 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jimbobsister
Denver, CO65 contributions
Mar 2020
I couldn't surf one day and my resort charged us $60USD each to see the waterfalls. It was such a rip off. The waterfalls are tiny and so not worth it. There was also a lot of trash.
Written 11 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lempes
TLV709 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
Nice place but relatively long way to go down and up . if its raining you should avoid going . you first go down and then up. taking in consideration it is a steep walk and requires good shape. take good tennis . there is another mid level place where you can jump to the water but not for anyone .
Written 7 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rodney D
13 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
Beautiful waterfalls with some great ledges to jump off. The hike is a little tough so be prepared for some steep, treacherous sections. Also bring plenty of water. It is best to hire a local guide in town. Our guide was great at helping some of the younger kids on the trail and he showed us great places to jump from. A great experience.
Written 18 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rich S
Macatawa, MI38 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
Great hike for a family with teenagers. Be sure to wear running shoes or hiking shoes. Bring a backpack and carry plenty of water. Hire a guide who knows the way well. Out guide cost $15 for 15 people, and he was excellent. We nick named him spider man as he was so agile jumping off of cliffs and into the pristine water. One of the areas to get down by the falls is somewhat treacherous so be sure to clarify with your guide if you’re not looking for excitement. This will be a great place to swim.
Written 13 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarabeth
Michigan28 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
We used a guide which is a definite must! We tipped him well! Go early in the day because the sun is hot and it’s a tough trek getting out. Bring plenty of water and good hiking shoes. Going down is intense but you’re rewarded with amazing waterfalls to jump in and swim in. Clear refreshing water! And not overly populated - we had it all to ourselves!
Written 11 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johannalvarado25
San Salvador, El Salvador
Hola! Me gustarĂa saber si los vehĂculos se dejan muy retirados de las Cascadas?
Written 7 April 2018
mflamenco19
San Salvador, El Salvador
Es seguro ir a esas cascadas y caminar en las montañas ?
Written 25 March 2018
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