A wild ride down the Spice Island’s Balthazar River
After a somewhat harrowing drive from the St. Georges area to the heart of Grenada, we eventually made it to ‘The River’s Edge’ restaurant, which also conveniently doubles as the launch site for river-tubing Grenada’s “Great River”. It was warm and sunny the day of our visit – Just perfect for a river tubing adventure. A couple of friendly locals from Funtastic Island Adventures greeted us in the parking lot to get us ready for our journey downstream. Our excursion guides for the next hour or so were named Blue and Splashy. Once they fitted us with helmets and life jackets we were each handed a large inflated ‘tube’ that would be the best seat in the house, which in this case was the Spice Island’s Baltahar River. One by one we plopped ourselves down into the floating bright orange tubes and excitedly pushed off from shore.
After a few seconds, the river current picked up speed and we headed downstream. After the first set of rapids, we gently bounced off a stone wall before slowly drifting under a bridge where we gained momentum once again. For our Grenada river-tubing experience, it was just our small party of three, so we pretty much had a private tour. Well, actually a couple of dogs also joined us for our journey – sometimes running along the shore, other times joining us in the water for a refreshing swim. Pretty cool…
The Balthazar River system consists of a diverse assortment of fairly fast-moving water through long narrow channels bordered with large rocks, exciting small waterfall-like drops of a foot or two, along with some wide open areas of deeper water where things slow down to more of a lazy river vibe. All this variation made for a very interesting ride through the tree-lined river gully, giving us a remote and secluded feel. The entire voyage through the lush green environment was a great way to enjoy the Grenada wilderness.
After a few calming minutes of leisurely drifting down the river, we left the world behind and it was just us and the ebbing flow of the stream, surrounded by the natural beauty of Grenada’s jungle-like vegetation. Blue told us that being mid-April the water level was really low for our river journey and that during the rainy season later in the year the water level can be two feet higher or more, and much much faster! Meanwhile, for our trip down Grenada’s “Great River”, we occasionally felt rocks passing beneath us, but the tubes we were riding in had Styrofoam bottoms to keep us protected. We did get caught up several times on rocks, but Blue and Splashy were always close by, helping to pull or push us around the obstacles as required. One time though, going over a 3-foot drop I thought I was going to dump for sure – but I just held onto the handles until Blue rushed over to pull me through the mini-falls and the tube eventually righted itself. During all the excitement, I did get a little mouthful of water, but that just added to the fun experience!
To add to the ‘nature’ vibe of our river tubing experience, at one point we came across a handful of blue herons fishing the waters. At yet another area we passed under an old stone bridge that looked like the ruins of some lost civilization – Turns out it was just the remnants of an old road that was replaced decades ago. It was still an interesting sight though, as it is slowly being reclaimed by the natural world.
Somewhere along our outing, we floated into a fairly large pond area where the water was barely moving. Apparently, when large groups are taking the tour, additional entertainment is provided by locals jumping off the riverside cliff! Anyways… After about 45 minutes of speeding through small series of rapids and slowly floating across tranquil ponds, our amazing Balthazar River tubing experience sadly came to a conclusion as the river was getting too rocky and shallow to continue. Well, it was great fun that I didn’t want to be over, but all good things must come to an end!
ACT Staff
For more information about river tubing down the Balthazar River, check out the Funtastic Island Adventures website.
For Tour Operators who can get you on the river, as well as guide you to many other great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Grenada page.
For an overview of the Spice Island of the Caribbean, take a look at our Grenada Vacations page.
If you’re looking for more ‘active’ things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Grenada Adventures blog post for some great ideas!
Jamaica River Tubing – Again, Again! Let’s Do It Again…
One thing that makes Jamaica different from many other Caribbean islands, is the number of decent sized rivers they have. While some other islands have similar weather and terrain, in terms of rainfall and a mountainous interior, they’re much smaller and don’t have the room for long winding rivers. The Spanish explorers were right to call Jamaica the ‘land of wood and water’ – The lush forested island has all the right ingredients for plenty of natural waterways… and that means plenty of opportunity to have adrenaline pumping fun while Jamaica river tubing.
Sometimes I look for a Caribbean island tour that’s a little “off the beaten track” and I’m always looking to support the island’s local population. Well, we found a great ‘rootsy’ outing with Yardy River Adventure Tours. These folks are not a large commercial operation, however they know how to give you a real Jamaican experience. Friendly and un-pretentious, the folks from Yardy River Adventure Tours showed our small party of three a great time – even arranging transportation for the long drive from Montego Bay down to their facility in Savanna la Mar.
While the first part of the drive, through Montego Bay and a long section of road that was undergoing major re-construction was nothing to talk about, the last part of the drive was really enjoyable. I especially liked driving through the cane fields and seeing the rural communities so far away from the tourist areas of Jamaica’s north/west coast.
This was a local tour, in a remote area, managed by local residents of the area. The low-lands where we did our river tubing was absolutely beautiful. The over-all property was very natural and rustic, with lovely tropical thatched-leave covered buildings next to the river. On the day and time we had our tour, we were the only tourists there, so it was nice and quiet – The sun was shining and we felt warm and cozy. This amazing environment provided a great backdrop for the Jamaica river tubing adventure we were about to experience.
While some Jamaica river tours offer rafting and kayaking, we wanted to get real close close to the action and “tube” down a wild river. Two guides joined us, one on a tube in the water with us, the other walking along the shore-line just ahead of us, ready to jump in if needed. This way we felt safe and that we were in good hands. Ya Mon!
OK, here we go – Our private river tubing experience was underway… We sat comfortably on the tube, with only your hands, feet and bum getting a little wet. Having come down from the mountains and being mostly in the shade, we were expecting the water to be on the cold side, however we were pleasantly surprised that after the initial transition of getting into the water, it was “all good”.
The Yardy River, which I believe is part of the same waterway as the Roaring and White Rivers in the area, carves a snake-like path through the well canopied landscape. The river has fairly high banks and moves fairly fast, although there were a few nice relaxing slow areas as well. There were several bends and turns in the river, as well as some fast stretches with small rapids. Perfect for Jamaica river tubing! Sometimes our tube would want to ram into the river bank, although our hard-working guide in the water did his best to prevent that from happening. He would frantically try to stay ahead of us, pushing us into the middle of the river, sometimes running through the water, other times diving and swimming below us, whatever it took to keep us moving together as a group. Once we realized the challenge, we did our best to keep together and in the middle of the river by ourselves – A little paddling with our hands and pushing off the river bank with our feet whenever required. No Problem Mon
What a Rush!
We were moving fairly quickly downstream, yet at one point we managed to link-up the tubes and float together for a short stretch. The depth of the river was constantly changing from several feet in stretches to only a few inches over some rocks in a couple of shallow spots. We lifted our butts out of the water a couple of times in shallow water to avoid snagging on big rocks… What an awesome ride! My adrenaline was really flowing and I felt like a kid… When we were pulled out the water, I was thinking – Again – Again, Let’s do it again!
Right before the river cascaded over a small waterfall and headed towards some serious rapids, our guides helped us out of the river. That said, our wondrous tour wasn’t over yet. We walked around the waterfall drop and waded back into the river, this time without our tubes.
We were guided to a natural whirlpool at the bottom of the falls. We sat there a while, then also ventured into an area where the current was quite strong, hanging on to a rope for dear life. There was also a rock seat under one of the waterfalls, so you could comfortably dunk your head under the water – Soooo refreshing!
We really enjoyed our Jamaica river tubing experience with Yardy River Adventure Tours. Our over-all time in the water was probably around 45 minutes, with actual tubing time around 30 minutes, although it didn’t seem that long – I guess its true what they say… “time flies when you’re having fun”. Sometimes it’s good to be left wanting more – I’ll be back!
The natural landscape is constantly changing. We were told that after a heavy rainfall, the river is deeper and much faster… This would result in fewer snags on rocks, although the trip would probably be over much quicker…
In summary, this was not your typical tourist event. While it was a long drive from the resort, the river tubing tour was definitely worth it! Perhaps a bit dis-organized at the beginning, the day turned out to be one of the highlights of our vacation. We spent the day with some nice friendly folks and had a ton of fun.
If our Jamaica river rafting adventure above sounds good to you and you’re planning a trip to Jamaica, you can contact the folks at Yardy River Adventure Tours by visiting their facebook page or website (just click on a link below):
Adventurous Things to Do in Jamaica – Rivers, Links, Trails, Caves and more…
The third largest island in the Caribbean after Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti / Dominican Republic), Jamaica is located south-east of Cuba in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. The island is about 3 times the size of Long Island NY. Aptly known as the “land of wood and water”, the island is probably best known for it’s Reggae music & culture, white sand beaches, as well as it’s Rum and Coffee. Jamaica is rich with a beautiful and diverse landscape that includes mountain ranges, green valleys, wild rivers and waterfalls. Perhaps the island’s most iconic natural landmark is the Blue Mountain range, home to Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, a World Heritage Site.
To really appreciate Jamaica’s natural beauty, you need to get away from the resorts and journey into Jamaica’s forests and get active on it’s rivers and mountains. A very popular Caribbean vacation destination, Jamaica is one of the best islands to enjoy waterfalls, river rafting, hiking and golf. Our personal favourites include:
Jamaica River Rafting and Tubing
It would truly be a shame to visit Jamaica and not experience one of it’s marvelous rivers… Depending on your mood, you can enjoy a slow romantic ‘gondola’ style ride, or you can get wet on an exciting fast-moving river tube or raft. Can’t decide? No Problem Mon – You can do both!
For a relaxing and romantic rafting excursion, there are a few options to choose from. Probably the most famous rafting tour in Jamaica is on the Martha Brae, a meandering river close to Falmouth. You start at “Rafter’s Village”, six acres of grounds that include manicured lawns, Miss Martha’s Herb Garden, a picnic area, a full service bar, souvenir shops, a swimming pool and modern restrooms. From there, your personal guide will pole you and your companion down 3 miles of quiet river on a long bamboo raft. Similar bamboo rafting tours are also available on the Great River just west of Montego Bay, as well as on the Rio Grande river, just west of Port Antonio – at the east end of the island. One of the most romantic and relaxing things to do in Jamaica!
For a more adventurous river rafting experience, you can venture out into the fast moving waters of the White River, just east of Ocho Rios. You’ll love the stunning White River Valley while you’re tubing or rafting, and you’ll enjoy some bird watching on a short hike to some lovely waterfalls. If you’re staying on the other side of Ocho Rios closer to Falmouth, you’re in for a treat river rafting on the fast moving waters of the Rio Bueno River – Also known as the Jungle River, some Rio Bueno River tours include waterfalls, rapids, river pools and a private beach. Similar rafting tours are also available: At the west end of the island on the Yardy and Great Rivers; South of Falmouth at the Good Hope Estate as well as the River Bumpkin Farm; South west of Montego bay on the Great River at the Lethe Estate.
For more information about rafting, tubing and the tour operators who will get you on the water, check out our Jamaica River Rafting / Tubing page
Perhaps the best Golf destination in the Caribbean, Jamaica offers a smorgasbord of Caribbean Golf with over ten courses to choose from, including a number of Championship courses. Located mostly along the north coast between Negril and Ochos Rios at the west end of the island, here’s a small sampling of Links to wet your appetite:
The Tryall Club Resort is an 18-hole, 6,836-yard golf course designed by Ralph Plummer. The course covers land bordering the sea, and travels inland rising 180 feet (55m).
Half Moon Resort has an 18-hole / Par-72 championship course originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and later updated by Roger Rulewich. This golf course is home to PGA tournaments including the Jamaica Open and the European PGA Senior Tour.
Cinnamon Hill Golf Course at Rose Hall is an 18-hole course originally designed by Hank Smedley and later updated by Robert von Hagge/Rick Baril. This golf course features sea-side holes and a 350 foot (105m) rise from the ocean. Home to PGA tournaments including the BMW Jamaica Classic, the Latin America Tour and Annie’s Revenge ProAm. It’s 15th hole was used for a scene in the James Bond Movie ‘Live and Let Die’.
Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort (Also known as SuperClubs Golf Club at Runaway Bay) is an 18-hole / Par 72 championship golf course measuring 6,870 yards. Designed by Major John Harris, this course has hosted PGA tournaments including the Ryder Cup, The Jamaica Open, The Brinks (JA) Classic, The Heineken World Cup Qualifier, CNBC Nations Cup and numerous JGA Qualifiers.
Founded in 1865, the Manchester Golf Club is the oldest golf course in the Caribbean. This 9-hole / Par 35 course measures 2,865 yards and is set on 55 acres of rolling hills, at over 2,000 feet (610m) above sea level.
For more information on one of the most popular things to do in Jamaica, including a full list of courses along with tour operators you can get you there, click on our Jamaica Golf Vacations page
Jamaica Hiking – Several Forests to Choose From
There’s plenty of variety with the hiking trails on the island. There’s some hilly and mountainous trails as well as some short nature walks. For the serious hiker, you can enjoy some intermediate or more challenging mountainous adventures for sure.
At the east end of the island, the Blue Mountain range is 28 miles (45km) long and typically covered in a bluish cloudy mist, hence it’s name. The Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, is where you can find the highest points of the island, including Blue Mountain Peak which stands 7,402 feet (2,256 m) tall – The most iconic hiking tour in Jamaica, the Blue Mountain Sunrise Hike, ascends this peak. The trail is about 11.5 miles (18.5km) long round trip, requiring 5-8 hours. This is a great hike with epic views of the island / sea waiting for you at the top.
There’s another half dozen up-hill mountainous trails in the Park, ranging in length from 2 to 6 miles (3 to 10 km), including Middleton Mountain and Catherine’s Peak. The Holywell Recreation Area, also located in the Park has a few easier trails, each taking little more than an hour to complete.
Another dozen decent trails can be found just outside of The Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, north-east of Kingston.
While the southern portion of the Blue Mountain Range gets most of the attention, the northern part of the foothills, just south of Port Antonio offers some great hiking as well. Quiet and remote, this area will show you all the natural beauty Jamaica has to offer! There are a few trails in the Rio Grande Valley and a few more near Moore Town, three hours south of Port Antonio.
For more information about these hikes, and hiking guides that can get you on the trail, check out our Jamaica Hiking – North East page
Another hilly region of note in the north-west/central part of the island is the Dry Harbour Range with it’s lesser known and visited Cockpit Country. This is probably the wildest area left on Jamaica. The jungle landscape is wrinkled and dimpled with hundreds of limestone hills and karst caves and is home to a few hidden trails worth exploring.
Day hikes in Cockpit Country include the challenging Troy to Windsor Trail which follows the route of a British military road built in the 1700s for 10 miles (16km) one way. The Quick Step Trail is 11 miles (18km) one way running from Windsor to the village of Quick Step. There are also a couple of easier shorter hikes as well.
For more information about these hikes, and hiking guides that can get you on the trail, check out our Jamaica Hiking – Cockpit Country page
Jamaica Waterfall – Cool Off Under a Refreshing Stream of Water
One of my favourite things to do in Jamaica is to visit one of over a dozen easily accessible waterfalls on the island. This is a great way to explore the real Jamaica – Get out there and explore her rivers and natural highlights attractions like waterfalls. Excursions usually involve a short hike to the falls, where you can cool off under a soft stream of clean Caribbean water then splash around in natural river pools.
The best locations for a wet and wild waterfall experience in Jamaica include:
YS Falls – Located in the south-west part of island between Negril and Kingston, these falls feature a spectacular seven-tiered cascading waterfall. A visit there can also also include wading pools (one with a rope swing), canopy rides, river tubing and a zip-line.
Mayfield Falls can be found nestled in the Dolphin Head Mountains, on the west end of the island between Negril and Montego Bay. Take a short hike along a bamboo stairway, across manicured lawns and a wooden bridge to a Rasta village called Reggae Style Mayfield Village. From there a guide will accompany you along the snaking river so that you can enjoy a number of mineral pools, the waterfalls as well as taste local foods.
Of course, the most iconic tourist attraction in Jamaica has to be Dunn’s River Falls, just west of Ocho Rios. Although it’s always crowded with tourists, this is indeed a beautiful area where you can join hands with others and walk on it’s natural calcium carbonate based steps, part-way up the 600 feet (180m) tall gorgeous waterfalls.
Konoko Falls, just west of Ocho Rios, are a beautiful cascading waterfalls in a well maintained Park environment.
The Irie Blue Hole, also known as Secret Falls and the Cool Blue Hole, has a nice waterfall along with natural swimming pools. South-east of Ocho Rios, these falls are further away from the crowds, making it a great location to visit. Please note that the “Blue Lagoon”, from the movie with Brooke Shields, is located just west of Port Antonio.
Other less visited waterfalls can be found in the east end of Jamaica. Reach Falls are located just east of Port Antonio – This hidden gem has been featured in a couple of major movies. Somerset Falls, just west of Port Antonio are situated in a natural garden with ponds. Scatter Waterfalls are located in the Rio Grande Valley south of Port Antonio – These private grounds have several hiking trails and a campground.
For more information, along with tour guides who can help make the most of your day, check out our Jamaica Waterfalls page
Escape the sun’s rays by venturing underground to explore one of Jamaica’s dozens caves – Some are accessible by tourists, while others are for serious spelunkers. There’s tours of large caverns with bat viewing as well as remote rarely visited caves to go deep into…
For tourists looking for a cool cave tour you have a few options:
You can visit the popular Green Grotto Caves, between Falmouth and Ocho Rios. You’ll experience passageways and chambers close to 130 feet (40m) below the earth’s surface. The feature attraction is the ‘grotto’ itself – A huge limestone cave with stalactites, stalagmites, as well as a large subterranean body of water.
The Two Sisters Cave is located just south-west of Kingston and features two caves (hence the name), each with a large sink hole filled with fresh water. These caves are connected underground to a myriad of caverns extending in all directions. One cave contains a petroglyph carving of a face which is believed to be several hundred years old.
Further west of Kingston, you’ll find the Mountain River Cave. A mile long trail takes you to the cave, which is about 30 feet deep. Plenty of ancient pictographs can be seen on the cave walls, along with a few petroglyphs.
One of the more adventurous things to do in Jamaica is to go caving / spelunking in Cockpit Country or Cave Valley… What an experience!
Cockpit Country, south-east of Montego Bay, is home to hundreds of rivers, streams and caves that provide some of the best spelunking opportunities in the Caribbean. There are hundreds of caves in the area, including: Windsor Caves; Smokey Hole Cave – Which at 630 feet (193m) deep is the deepest on the island, Rock Spring Cave and the huge Quashie River Sink.
Cave Valley is located pretty much in the centre of the island. This is really cool… A river travels both under and above the ground, appearing and disappearing as it meanders through the valley. Major caving attractions include the “Noisy Water” River Cave and “Rat Bat Hole”.
For more information, as well as tour operators who will get caving, click on our Jamaica Caving page
Jamaica Mountain Biking & Cycling
Biking is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while taking-in breathtaking views of the mountainous island and Caribbean sea. Making good use of it’s natural landscape and ancient foot-paths, Jamaica has plenty of technical and just plain fun downhill mountain biking trails, as well as several flat and hilly cross-country routes to enjoy. There are scenic coastal road circuits to cycle as well. Riding through active plantations and small villages, then cooling off in a local waterfall is a great way to experience Jamaica.
If you’re looking to join an organized ride, Jamaica has three annual events: The Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival in February – Great for mountain biking enthusiasts; The Jamaica Reggae Ride in November – A 3 day escorted bike ride across the scenic coastlines of the island; and The Jamaica By Bike Ride – A long distance cycle from Kingston to Negril.
The Negril area has a number of bike trails, both in the hilly wilderness as well as along the coast. There are challenging trails for the hard-core biking enthusiasts as well as easy routes for sight-seeing.
Your need-for-speed will be satisfied on downhill MTB courses between Ocho Rios and the Blue Mountains. With names like ‘Rivers of Babylon’, ‘Jellied Eel’ and ‘Pressure Drop’ you know you need to check out these trails!
Not surprisingly, some of the island’s most challenging biking is in the Blue Mountains. Trails range in length from 1 to 11 miles (0.5 to 17 km), with most in the 1 to 4 mile (2-6km) range. Trail names like ‘Triple Bypass’ and ‘Downpipe Gully’ paint a mental picture for sure!
That said, there are also tourist focused ‘sightseeing’ rides in the Blue Mountains that everyone in the family can enjoy.
For more info on one of the funnest things to do in Jamaica, including tour operators who will get you on the saddle, check out our Jamaica Mountain Biking & Cycling page
