Rincón Waterfall

Rincón Waterfall on Sunday 13thJanuary 2019

Rincón is an agricultural community located on the North Coast Road approximately 2 km from the Las Cuevas Beach Facility. Its historical authenticity goes way back to 1795 when Governor Jose Maria Chacon granted 1,250 acres of land to the Spanish Treasurer Jose Ramon Muxica to establish an estate. The Las Cuevas Estate comprised of the Rincon Valley and extended all the way from the Sea to the foothills of El Tucuche. The landscape boarded by two rivers, on the northeast Curaguate or Rincon River and on the west Quebrada De Hierro. In 1797, the land sold to Valentin de Basanta, who planted sugarcane but with the Slave Amelioration Act of 1824, the estate became bankrupt and was again put up for sale. The population of the estate recorded by the English Surveyor Frederick Mallet was 2 white men, 2 coloured men and 2 coloured women, 40 male slaves,14 female slaves with 2 boys and 2 girls. Within a few years, cocoa replaced sugar cane as the dominant crop and today, unmanaged cacao trees showed evidence of its vibrant history. Rincón is a Spanish word when translated means  “in a corner” and the area used for transhipment between the rugged North Coast and the old capital San José de Oruña.

The prominent peaks of El Tucuche (936m) shadow the Rincon Valley and nestled within its boundaries are several fascinating waterfalls. The most magnificent is the Rincón Falls which has an altitude of 76 metres and is the second highest in the country. On the southern side of the Tucuche Mountain in the Maracas St Joseph Valley, the highest the Maracas Waterfall is 91.5 metres. The Rincón Falls flows over a steep cliff and cascades down a series of rock steps into a large basin. It is a stimulating sensation to go under the water-drop for a comforting message and plunge into the pool for a refreshing swim.

The trek to the falls starts from Rincón Village and takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the destination. There is the option to do the expedition as circuit hire and return via another route on the left-hand side of the valley. The journey for the first 20 minutes starts with an energizing ascend and mellows as it reaches the top of the hill. Along the way, the trail passes an enchanted basin known as Black Pool and continues with gentle curves along the ridge. The trail eventually descends to a junction where the right path goes further up the mountain to Habio Falls while the left goes down to Rincón Falls. Echoing distinctly in the forest is the loud call of the black and white male bearded bellbird or locally known as Campanero. His sounds are to attract a female and at the same time ward off any rival males.

Island Hikers visit the Rincón Waterfall on Sunday13th January 2019,

Rating: 4moderate (some uphill walking)

Hiking time one-way: 11/4 hours

Assembly 1: 7.00am entrance to Central Bank Auditorium or

Assembly 2: 7.30am Sam’s Bar Maracas Bay.

Suitable for kids 7 years and over with a wiliness to walk

For details call Mario 749-2956, Marcia 490-2421, Jamal 761-1889 or www islandhikers.com.