Dunn Rivers Fall trip
 

How tough is the climb to the falls and is it worth the climb???What other trip would you suggest in Ocho rios???

Hi Cass: It is diffently worth the effort to climb Dunn's River Falls. We did it in May 2000 and it was a highlight of our trip. There are wonderful photo opps there also. Take a taxi there, we took a boat cruise that promised a stop for swimming but we did not get to go so we felt ripped off. Karen

We also did the climb and we had a ball, met alot of really cool people and had a wonderful day and they take pictures of you while you are climbing and you can choose to buy them or not. They will also take pictures with your own camera if you ask for no charge. We did horse back ridding on the beach and that was also very fun.

Karen or Kim- how long did it take to climb the falls? We are going on the Sea Princess cruise and thought about doing that trip. What is the beach or swimming like there???

Climbing Dunns River Falls is not to be missed. You can do it as an excursion from the ship or on your own. (take a taxi). You will be hooked up with a "guide" and climb the falls hand in hand with many other people. The guide carries your camera and takes pix for you. There are also picture takers who do this and try to sell you the pix (we have always bought them as well as taken our own). Don't worry, the guide keeps your camera dry. Unlike you who will probably get soaked. <BR>You will need water socks or old shoes to climb in. They rent them there if you don't have them. Take a towel. <BR>Dunns River Falls is part of a little park with admission charged. (part of the excursion if you go that way). At the base of the falls is a gorgeous beach. The excursions do not usually leave time to swim there. For that reason you might go on your own. There is also a great outdoor shopping market (cheap stuff) outside the park. <BR>It takes about 30 min to climb the falls after you start. You should allow a couple of hours for the whole thing. <BR>What the climbing entails is snaking your way around and up finding footfalls (hence the guide and hand in hand--for stability). You can't see the footfalls because of the rushing water. The water is cold but feels good in the Jamaica sun. You will get wet. How wet is up to you. Minimum is up to the waist. Usually there are photo ops where you go under a small fall. <BR>This is quite an experience. I have done it 3 times and would never go to the area and not do it. <BR>This will only occupy about half your shore time there. Some of the ships excursions combine this with other things like a tour of a plantation or rain forest. There is also good shopping in Ocho Rios. <BR>A word of caution: don't venture off on your own too far from touristy things. You will be "hounded" to buy etc. Also if there are young people with you someone may try to sell you drugs. <BR>Enjoy. It will be one of the highlights of your trip.

Is there any danger of falling? I haven't been there before but am currently deciding between Jamaica and Turks and Caicos, so looking at what all there is to do because I have two teens. Is the climb dangerous? Thanks.

The water is from knee high to waist high, chest high for short people. If you don't want to walk into water, you can walk the steps (concrete paved) then you will not get wet at all. The falls are about 100 feet vertical. It is a easy walk. The first time I went I wore sneakers. The rocks were very slippery. I fell off the rock and hurt my knee. Since then I always advise people to bring water socks. You could rent them $5 at the park or you can buy them at Wal Mart for the same price.

Hi Cass: There is a beach were you can swim it is not a classic Caribbean Beach but it clean. We went to Dunn's River Falls as part of a shore excursion. We took a sail boat there, I would not do this again I would just go by taxi and maybe take a different shore excursion like Fern Gully ect. You could easily do two things on shore time. I think anyone who is even somewhat fit can do this walk and there are spot throughtout the climb that you can get out of the water if you were tired. It is diffently a must see but you could do it in two hours from the ship and back. There are excursions that will combine Dunn's river Falls with Shaw Park or Fern Gully ect maybe this would be of interest to you. You can go to the ship which you are cruising site and they may have the excursions available for Jamaica listed. This is how I knew in advance which excursions we wanted to take for our last cruise. Hope this helps. Karen