On a cruise, when you stop in Ocho Rios, can you visit Dunn's River Falls on your own or should you go with the ship's tour?

I think you could do it either way. I saw people walking up that way from the cruise ships or taking cabs.

oh yeah, don't for get your rubber bottom shoes...I ended up having to rent them, and it was gross.

I would recommend going on your own that way you can get right out of there before the massive crowds. It will also be cheaper. Definitely bring beach shoes or they do rent them there.

Hire Peat Taylor-do a search and you will see he has great reviews. We used him. He picked us up right at the ship, brought us to Dunns River, then a tour, then stopped at a marketplace, and finally to a restaurant for lunch. He will bring you where ever you want to go, however he does have good suggestions. Price was very reasonable.

I have done plenty of research on this topic and I will be there in June for the first time. I spent $5 at wal-mart and bought a pair of water shoes. I had read so much about needing them that i figured i would just buy them. I just read a post that said that it costs $5 to rent them for the short time that you are at the falls.<BR><BR>So, if you buy them, then you can use them at any other port (if you go snorkeling at a rocky beach).

Besides, who wants to wear shoes, who knows how many people have had on? Second the recommendation on Peat Taylor, he was fun and gives you a great tour! He took us into the rain forest where people actually live in caves. He also dropped us off at a place to buy chicken or pork jerk (great!) for lunch and rum drinks (150 proof and wonderful!)and then picked us back up. He has a web site.

Can you stand a third for Peat? If you take the ship's excursion, you will stand in a long line, holding hands, with a huge throng of people. Wasted time. peat got us there FIRST...he prides himself in this, and my husband and I were first up the falls, unassisted. If you need a guide, or help, look for the guys in royal ble shirts. Others offer to guide you for a &quot;fee&quot;...beware. If you're in good shape, you won't need a guide. They are slippery and the water rushes quickly in some areas; use caution.<BR>http://www.geocities.com/peattaylor/

Peat dropped us off and the four of us used a quide. There were many who did not but what we liked was that he put our camera's in plastic bags and took pictures of us all the way to the top of the Falls. They look great in our scrapbook and are great way to remember the trip!