I've read a lot about Captain Dennis' trips to the Black River, the Pelican Bar, etc. It sounds great and I'd love to take the trip next month. I'll be staying in Negril -- how do I get in touch with Captain Dennis? Does he arrange transport from Negril or should I hire a car? Is it cheaper just to go with a larger tour company, and if so, which one?

Many thanks,
Lynne

Rather than driving to TB and then
backtracking 12 miles back by boat to Black River, you might want to contact Sienna and Sala at Talk of the Town Tours in Negril who'll
provide not only transport, without
tour bus crowds, to Black River and up into the Great Morass,and set up a boatman for the short boat ride out to Pelican Bar, but also highly personalized service, reasonably priced.
Dennis Abrams, Joseph Brown, Ukie Hill,
Len Parchment -- there are lots of
boatmen in TB who can be hired for the
trip from there as well.

...and Sala and Sienna always use Dennis when they arrange that trip, so I'll second that recommendation.

Thanks for the helpful recommendation. Because there are no other people scheduled on the states we are in Jamaica, the TOTT tours are pricey -- $200 for both of us. I'll do it if it's the only alternative, but I wondered whether anyone knew of another company that may have people scheduled on the same day.

Many thanks,
Lynne

E-mail Carolyn Barrett at
[email protected]
or Wolde Kristos at reliableadventures.com if TOTT too pricey for your budget (they're worth every penny,tho)

I know it seems like a lot of money, but our cost for a trip with Dennis out of Treasure Beach wasn't a lot less than that for 2 people. Think of it as putting something directly back into the local economy...

A better way to consider the value: a simple roundtrip transfer from Negril to
Treasure Beach with a private van/driver
runs US$200 to US$250 plus driver tip.
It's about 2.5 hours each way.

I think Dennis charges around $50-60 per person for the boat portion, and you still have to get to and from Treasure Beach which, as tiv says, isn't cheap.

Remember this is an all day trip with 2+ hours of driving each way and 2-4 hours on the boat between leaving TB and traveling along the coast, stopping to see dolphins for awhile, stopping at Pelican bar for drinks/food/snorkeling, going up the river to see crocs and everything else, stopping up there past the bridge to swim or drink/snack, and then back down the river to town.

It's the best trip I've ever done in
Jamaica. Significanty cheaper if you are staing in Treasure Beach, of course, but well worth the day from Negril in my opinion.

No large tour companies do this trip. You can get a big tour to Black River safari, where you ride on a larger pontoon boat and don't go nearly as far up the river or out to sea at all, but that's a totally different, smaller sort of trip. Dennis pulls over on the river wherever you want and stays at each stop as long as you want, the large boats cannot, they have schedules.

If you wind up with Carolyn or Reliable I'd love a report onthe trip, I'm considering a Reliable boat trip of some kind for next time.

Hope it works out for you!

Thank you everyone for your thoughts on the value of the trip. I'm a recovernig backpacker and prices still shock me. With such rave reviews, I think we'll try it, but I'll also check into reliable.

Liz: Wolde's come a long way and has
brought quite a few locals, the majority
women, into his company, with a focus on mt.hikes/birding in the Cave/Mearsnville area mountains, as well
as boat trips around Bluefields Bay.
Ask him if he's made it out to Pedro
Cays, a long daytrip, but one you're
definitely cut out for -- with a bonus in April nesting season on the last cay, but the interest in the 'wild man' shall we say main cays. He's still a bit green, not as well-versed as Carolyn or Chester, but a real sweet and honest, plugging guy....totally self-taught, even down to his literacy.

Thanks tiv, perhaps next time, if we wind up in TB. Still considering Christmas but haven't booked yet.

gold, if you're a backpacker you can get to TB for a lot less but it takes a lot of time and patience and willingness to squeeze in with folks. Route taxi from Negril to Savannah-la-Mar, then Black River, then perhaps private car to Treasure Beach.

Or you can get a boat right from Black River, which isn't a bad ride from Negril. Negotitate with the fishermen/boatmen by the bridge for a trip to Pelican and upriver.

Nah, Liz, de bway cyan do dat -- without LOTS of aggro, even for a 'reformed backpacker', unless he's got NASCAR in his blood. It means a bus or a route taxi to Sav, not the most pleasant place to hang around in the heat;then another route taxi at 80mph
to Black River and a wait around under
the concrete station island. Then, if he lucky, a route taxi to TB -- a whole day of sweaty travel before he even gets there.

But it's cheap. And one can just go to Black River and get a boat from there. Or heck, just hop off at Font Hill and meet the boat there, as you suggested to me once.

I'm a rental car or hired driver person myself but if you've got lots of time, not much money, a sense of adventure, a desire to see how locals move, no luggage and a lot of patience....it might be the way to go.

At least it's worth considering.

Yeah, it's cheap -and it's hell on wheels. Would advise a smarter roi -- invest in TOTT and enjoy the trip, with expert guides, in an A/C van without being packed like sardines in a route taxi with the driver more intent
on fondling the leg of the dawta beside him.

Unlike most, you know your way around, Liz -- which is why gave the advice to pick-up a boat in Black River.

Tiv and Liza,

Thanks for the smiles your exchange provided tonight !!

I have to agree with Tiv on this one though. Spend the money for the tour.

A route taxi is a last resort, even for most locals.

Thanks again for the smiles...and now where is my Patois dictionary

Marion

Route taxis don't bug me so much, perhaps it's my NYC packed-in-like-sardines-in-the-subway upbringing.

In any case, just wanted to present all possible options. I'd take TOTT too, in fact I took them on this tour for THEIR first time

Some good (if less frantic/lol) news for you, Liz. Gladys is making many
new improvements to BB -- and at that
price for the holidays, it's, as you
said, a 'no-brainer'. Best - S

Really? Nice to know. Are you going to take it on?

Not until I see it again in person
this fall can I make any sort of true
decision. Will let you know.