El Limón is a waterfall in the mountains of the Samaná Peninsula, about 15 kilometres south of Las Terrenas. The falls drop roughly 40 metres into a pool deep enough to swim in, and the combination of the mountain setting, the cool water, and the hike to reach them makes this the best excursion from Las Terrenas. Most people come on horseback, which takes about 45 minutes each way through forest and past small farms.
The approach from Las Terrenas passes through the hills that separate the north coast from the interior, climbing from coconut-palm lowland into forest. The final section to the falls is on foot — a steep path through vegetation — and the payoff is immediate: the fall emerges from a cliff face with good volume most of the year and the pool below is genuinely refreshing after the heat of the ride.
Several guides in Las Terrenas and in the village of El Limón itself offer the horseback trip. Prices and horses vary; ask your accommodation for a recommendation. The trip is best in the morning before the heat builds. Bring water, shoes you do not mind getting wet at the pool, and a dry bag for anything electronic. Avoid going the day after heavy rain when the path is slippery and the water visibility in the pool drops.