Another day in paradise… That’s what I was thinking as we departed our tour bus and boarded a ‘jitney’, a Jamaican term for a tractor-pulled transport wagon. The jitney took us on a short ride through the beautiful wide-open grounds of this spectacular estate on the way to the beautiful Jamaica waterfall. It was warm and sunny as we surveyed the surroundings from our wagon, which was moving at a leisurely pace. Needless to say, this area is totally different than the tourist filled beaches and the heavily forested landscape of Jamaica’s mountainous regions. It was a ‘breath of fresh air’ to view large areas of flat, grass-covered fields. Massive ‘logwood’ trees providing much needed shade for a few cows, seemingly hanging out and enjoying the good life.
The YS River flows through a former cane plantation and sugar factory. The site was also logged for it’s large trees that provided black dye to the textile industry. The estate now features this spectacular natural attraction, along with operating a horse farm, that has been breeding and raising thoroughbreds for over 60 years.
This was our second of three amazing excursions on Jamaica’s south-west coast, all part of the Black River Safari, YS Falls and the Appleton Estate 3-in-1 tour which we booked through Jamaica’s Amstar DMC and Tropical Tours.
Part 2 of 3 blog posts from the day’s adventures – This chapter focuses on the amazing Jamaica waterfall area known as YS Falls.
I can just imagine how the original natives on the island, as well as the English settlers would have felt as they explored this area. They would have heard the sounds of rustling water as they followed the milky blue-green river upstream. They would have come across a couple of modest waterfalls before realizing that there are in fact 7 different cascades all within a space of a hundred yards or so along the river. I suspect their excitement built as they waded into the deep pools of water below a few of the refreshing waterfalls. Well, that’s the way I felt on this day!
When our jitney ride through the beautiful countryside came to an end, it was just a short walk to the series of Falls. We excitedly came to view the stunning assortment of Jamaica waterfalls – Soaking it all in, we realized that the falls are comprised of multiple levels and a number of pools. There is a boardwalk at the bottom of the falls with stairs and platforms that climb the hill to the right side of the cascading river. As tourists stand in awe of the cascading river falling in front of them, local guides offer their services to assist in navigating the river and it’s sometimes slippery rocks.
We took our shirts off and put down our towels and bags in a little hut on the side of the river. Watching a few others in front of us, we ventured along the rock slabs that make up the top ridge of the lowest waterfall. From there we waded into the natural pool at the bottom of one of the larger and more spectacular falls. The rushing water falls approximately 15 feet (4.5m), across an area about twice that wide. The pool was over 6 feet (2m) deep in the middle and you can get right up under the falls if you want to.
Making our way uphill, the next waterfall’s pool was the largest of the bunch and appeared to be fairly deep in spots. This Jamaica waterfall and pool is sandwiched between much taller falls. This was clearly the play area of the natural attraction, as a couple of ropes hang from the canopy above. One of the ropes allows you a nice-and-easy swing out over the pool, where you can gently drop into the water or let momentum take you back to the rock slab that borders the pool. The other rope, which I didn’t even see at first, allows more daring folks to swing over and dive about 10 feet (3m) into the pool from a platform high up on the side of the river.
There are two other waterfalls above this pool and falls, with the top one being more of your typical tall thin variety. Climbing the stairs on the side of the river, we saw that the pool under the top cascade appeared to be fairly shallow, so we did not venture into it, choosing instead to take in the view of the river flowing down the hillside in front of us.
We noticed another wooden stairway leading up to a platform that is apparently used for zip-lining across the river and it’s falls. Our time almost up, we returned to our pick-up point. While some folks in our group used the change room, I noticed a nice relaxing park and a ‘river-fed’ man-made pool at the base of the falls. I understand that there are two more (man-made) pools as well as a garden elsewhere on the estate grounds. In case you’re wondering, YS is apparently named after the original land owners, John Yates and Richard Scott.
In summary, we really appreciated the majestic charm of the area – The fields, the trees, the park and of course the river with it’s waterfalls. Less crowded than other high profile “falls” in Jamaica, this was a laid back treat – A leisurely exploration of a natural beauty. We could have spent another hour or more on the premises, but we had another excursion to do before heading back on the long journey to the other side of the island
If this Jamaica waterfall excursion appeals to you, you can contact the friendly folks at Amstar by visiting the Amstar DMC website or their Facebook page.
Dominica Hiking – Being ‘Up a Creek’ Never Felt So Good
It was an enjoyable drive to Victoria Falls along the south-east coast of Dominica. Near the town of Delices, we followed the signs from the main road that led us down a dangerously steep narrow pathway carved into the side of a ridge. Thankfully it’s a short drive down to the local family ‘Rastarant’ (yes, a Rasta Restaurant), where one of the local Rasta guides came out to greet us.
We had heard that this was not so much a traditional hike, as an adventurous walk alongside and ‘in’ a shallow, fast-flowing river. That said, as we had never done a ‘river trail’ before, so we didn’t really know what to expect. Well, it wasn’t your typical Dominica hiking experience – It’s more of an adventure!
It was an enjoyable, but relatively short hike from the rastarant to the White River. The setting, with the eerily grey-blue mineral-rich water below us, was stunningly beautiful. Following our guide, we waded into and crossed the river to join another trail on the other side. After a short hike, we were back into the water just upstream from where we crossed. From here on, we spent most of the time walking in the river, against the current. It was fairly slow going, picking our way slowly across the rocks.
In some sections, the water flowed fairly strong, and in other areas we had to crawl over truck-sized boulders in the water. Some of the rocks were much more slippery than they looked. Unfortunately, we both slipped a couple of times. Personally, I had put too much face in technology, specifically the water shoes I was wearing, as Mother Nature gave me some tough love. We collected a few ‘souvenir’ scrapes and bruises along the way, nothing too serious – This was definitely a small price to pay for the rewarding sight that awaited us.
Wow, this was really a unique Dominica hiking experience – Our journey to the falls reminded me of stories I’ve read about the early French and English explorers travelling west in what is today Canada – via waterways as there were no roads and few trails to walk. Except here, we didn’t need canoes for our short trip. Oh, and the air and water temperature was really nice and warm 🙂
After a while, we knew we were getting close, as we could hear the roar of the waterfall getting closer and closer. Eventually, we turned a corner in the river and we could see the breathtaking Victoria waterfalls and the large blue-grey pool that it poured into. Being at the bottom of the spectacular 165 feet (50m) tall waterfalls was a truly humbling experience. The scene was like something out of a movie as we just stood in awe – You could just feel the power… Everything, from rocks to trees and shrubs, within hundreds of feet of the surrounding area was soaked from the falls’ mist.
Yup – That’s me in the blue shirt in the pool
Well, at this point I thought I would simply wade into the pool and get real up-close and personal, maybe even stick my head under and have a shower. Huh! There’s just no way… As I tried to approach the falls, the tremendously strong spray from the water crashing into the pool felt like needles… no more like nails, being shot at me. I couldn’t even get close – What power. A totally mind-blowing experience!
It was the same way back, although it seemed much easier in this direction. Perhaps it was as simple as walking with the current instead of against it, or perhaps it was now having the knowledge of what to expect. Either way, we made it back to the car fairly quickly, although I really didn’t want to leave this secluded paradise! What a unique Dominica hiking experience.
It is safe to say that our Victoria Falls hike made memories that will last a lifetime. The hike in terms of distance was fairly short, however there was so much to ‘take in’ – Travelling upstream in a wild rocky river and standing in the pool of this mighty waterfall – Time was ‘standing still’. An epic tropical nature experience for sure!
ACT Staff
* Please note that this review was done prior to Hurricane Maria in 2017 – The trail conditions/characteristics may have changed as the island recovered *
For the Victoria Falls Trail details, along with more information on traveling to Dominica, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):
Martinique Hiking – Discover the Tallest Waterfall of L’Ile aux Fleurs!
The first thing I wanted to do after arriving in Martinique was to get out for a nice casual hike. It’s a great way to unwind and introduce oneself to what the French Caribbean island, known as the “Island of Flowers” has to offer. The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre, AKA the Couleuvre River Waterfall trail was close to where we were staying just north of Saint-Pierre, and as it turned out, was great choice for a warm welcome to Martinique!
The trailhead is literally located at “the end of the road” on the northwest side of the island. The northbound D10 road ends after a wild series of twisty-turny, up-and-down sections of pavement at a small parking lot capable of holding maybe 10-15 cars. The morning we went for our hike, there were dozens of cars parked at the end of the D10, overflowing all along the sides of the road. As we were to find out, this is very characteristic of most ‘attractions’ in Martinique. Just beyond the parking lot, there is a small but clear post marking the start of the trail, along with an alternate route that leads to the beach, which I hear can be good for snorkeling on a calm day.
I knew instantly that this was going to be an awesome trail, as we were immediately surrounded by tropical rainforest plants and trees. We passed some huge trees along the trail and quickly saw tons of interesting fern-like vegetation growing on everything. Of course what really stood out were the massive vines everywhere, climbing like serpents from the ground up into the tree tops and back down again. Some of the vines seem to twist around themselves forming what appear to be large tree branches. Along with the large trunks of tropical trees there were some massive stands of bamboo that made quite an impression on us. That said, we had to keep our eye on the trail, specifically on the frequent river, or more accurately, creek crossings.
The trail took us on a constant but fairly gradual incline on the way to the falls, snaking back and forth across the Couleuvre River. Honestly, I lost track, but we must have crisscrossed the shallow creek close to ten times in each direction. The river crossings were easy to manage at the time of our hike – We didn’t even get our feet wet as we gingerly stepped across rocks that seemed conveniently spaced across the water. The stream was moving fairly fast though and I can imagine that the crossings can become much more challenging during the rainy season, or even after a big downpour perhaps. What I don’t understand is how the fish got into this shallow stream of water… Curious for sure.
The dense jungle foliage prevented much sun from penetrating the ground, so there are plenty of moss-covered rocks along the river banks and plenty of fallen logs topped with clumps of little mushrooms and other assorted fungi. I noticed some peculiar tiny white mushrooms and some more familiar-looking brown mushrooms on our walk… and Ya, it was hot and humid for us as well, although to be fair, we had just arrived from a cold part of North America, so hiking through a rainforest was a bit of a shock to our system. A welcome change, but a shock nonetheless.
While there were several people on the trail, something else that we are not used to experiencing on our Caribbean hikes prior to this trip, it was by no means congested. We still felt like we were enjoying time (nearly) alone in nature.
While we had plenty to appreciate on the journey, I did get excited as I started to hear the faint but distinct sound of a waterfall in the distance. Eventually, I caught a glimpse of some falling water through a break in the foliage. After a few short minutes of hiking, or rather climbing over a couple of boulders and scaling some steep ground, there it was – the star attraction of the hike! A thin and long stream of water appears from nowhere in the sky… then plunges about 100 feet (30m) down a near-vertical black rock cliff face surrounded by well-nourished curtains of greenery!
The trail to Martinique’s tallest waterfall is about a mile (1.6km) long or 2 miles (>3km) return. Hiking the sloped trail results in an energetic and warming walk to the beautiful falls, and a relaxing stroll with momentum on your side on the way back. Taking a leisurely, exploring pace it took us just under an hour to reach the waterfall, and about half that time to return to the parking lot. That said, the duration really depends on how nimble you are in crossing the river, and how well your cardio handles the constant gentle incline which amounts to close to an 820-foot (250m) vertical rise in just over a mile (1.6km) of ground covered.
Overall, an excellent start to our Martinique adventures – We couldn’t have asked for anything better!
For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on Martinique Hiking, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):
6 Things to do in St. Lucia – A Top Caribbean Destination for Adventure
Saint Lucia is one of the Caribbean’s ‘Windward’ islands. Found near the southern end of the Caribbean islands chain, St. Lucia is just south of Martinique with Barbados to its east. Saint Lucia is a mountainous island covered in green rain-forest and home to the iconic Gros and Petit Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very popular Caribbean vacation destination traditionally focused on romantic getaways, there are plenty of adventurous things to do in St. Lucia. Our favourite active vacation activities include:
Saint Lucia Hiking on a Diverse Assortment of Trails
There are a variety of trails on the island, offering something for everyone – From short nature walks to intermediate hikes along with a couple of challenging hikes. While no hiking trip to Saint Lucia is complete without climbing the majestic Gros Piton, the island has about half a dozen mountains above 1,500 feet (500m) tall, the tallest being Mount Gimie at just over 3,000 feet (950m). You should know that a Saint Lucia Forestry Department day-pass, along with a local guide, is officially required to hike on the island.
The best hiking trails in the south end of St. Lucia include:
Mount/Morne Gimie Trail in the Edmund Forest Reserve – Plan a full day for this fairly challenging hike covering 5-6 miles (8-10km) of occasionally extreme up and down terrain, as well as a waterfall. This diverse trail will reward you with amazing views along the way, including a really unique perspective of the island from the top
While we’re talking about it… The Edmund Forest Reserve is the final destination for a couple of ‘cross-country’ trails of note. The Des Cartiers to Edmund Trail is an approximately 5 mile (8km) long easy-to-intermediate level hike, while the Barre D’Isle to Edmund Trail is a more challenging 10 mile (16km) hike venturing across a nice ridge requiring 4-6 hours to complete.
Gros Piton Trail – This challenging hike consists of a pretty much constant climb to get to the top. While less than 3 miles (4.4km) round trip, it can take anywhere from 3-6 hours to complete. Once you catch your breath, amazing Caribbean sea views await.
Enbas Saut Falls Trail – This is an intermediate level hike with lots of rustic wooden/natural stairs to first descend, then climb on the return journey. Depending on your starting point, the hike can cover over 5 miles (9km), requiring 3-4 hours to get to and from the fun and amazing cascading waterfalls.
The best hikes in the north part of Saint Lucia include the Intermediate level Piton Flore Trail and the interesting Barre D’Isle Ridge / Mount La Combe Area Trails. On the east side of island, the Eastern Nature Trail is a fairly easy, but somewhat long trail that takes you along the remote eastern coastline of St. Lucia.
One of the funnest things to do in Saint Lucia, find more information about the trails on the island, including hiking guides who will help you get the most out of your day, click on St. Lucia Hiking
St. Lucia Snorkeling – With or without a Boat!
One of the better islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling, Saint Lucia offers half a dozen locations along the west coast of the island to explore clear blue waters full of diverse coral and colourful fish. Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and snorkel right off the beach – A unique underwater world you just can’t experience on land. One of the most enjoyable things to do in Saint Lucia, the best snorkeling sites in Saint Lucia include:
Saline Point – This small bay has a sand bottom and is protected from the wind. A reef runs parallel to the beach where plenty of fish can be seen.
Smugglers’ Cove – This large protected bay features underwater ridges which are home to a variety of crustaceans and fish. A great place for beginners…
Anse Cochon – Another large bay well protected from the wind and waves. This spot has a nice reef for exploring coral boulders along with fish, turtles, eels and more. A great location for beginners as well as more experienced snorkelers looking for underwater photography and night dives.
Anse Chastanet – This shallow reef is teeming with a rich diversity of marine life including fish and turtles. This is one of the best snorkeling sites and a favourite spot for underwater photography on the island.
Coral Gardens / Gros Piton – The island’s longest and one of it’s most popular reefs. There’s plenty of coral to explore along with a variety of fish and eels.
For those who want longer and deeper underwater exploring time, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snuba (Mask and mouthpiece with air-tube) and Sea Trek (Full face ‘helmet’ with air-tube) tours are available.
For more information on visiting the island’s underwater world, check out our St. Lucia Snorkeling page
Golf in a Warm Tropical Setting in Saint Lucia
Looking for one of the more relaxing things to do in Saint Lucia? There are two golf courses on the island, an 18 hole / par 71 and a 9 hole / par 33. The St. Lucia Golf Club is an 18-hole course that plays to 6,685 yards with great views of the island and the Caribbean Sea. Close to the capital Castries, the Sandals Regency La Toc resort has a 9-hole course that plays to 3,141 yards.
Saint Lucia Diving – Explore a Unique Underwater World
One of the better islands in the Caribbean for scuba diving, Saint Lucia offers a variety of dive sites along the western coast of the island. There are close to two dozen dive sites with reefs, wrecks and walls to explore. If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving, Saint Lucia is a great place to get started – there is a dive school on the island and a number of hotels on the island offer diving PADI certification as well. Some of the best dive sites off Saint Lucia’s coast include:
Smugglers’ Cove – This large bay is well protected from the wind and with a maximum depth around 40 feet (12m), this a great place for beginners. Underwater ridges are home to a variety of crustaceans and tropical fish.
Pigeon Island / Pigeon Point – This popular dive site includes a mixed terrain of sand, coral and boulders with a depth varying from 15 to 60 feet (5m – 18m). A variety of tropical fish, along with rays, barracuda, eels, lobster and even seahorse can be found here. A good dive site for underwater photography and night dives.
Bone Yard – A World War II era wreck can be found in about 40 feet (12m) of water. A variety of marine life, including tropical fish and lobster live in the area.
Anse La Raye Wall – This fairly deep dive site features volcanic boulders and a coral wall with a depth varying from 60 to 110 feet (18m – 34m). The wall is home to a variety of marine life, including corals and tropical fish, along with rays. A good site for wall diving and drift dives.
Lesleen M Wreck – A cargo vessel was sunk here for an artificial reef in about 65 feet (20m) of water on a sandy bottom. A variety of marine life, including reef fish, eels and lobster can be found here. This a good dive site for beginners.
Daini Koyomaru Wreck – A dredger sits on its side a mile offshore, making an artificial reef in about 244 feet (75m) of water. A variety of marine life, including tropical fish and barracuda call this place home. This deep dive site is for advanced divers only.
Fairyland – This deep dive site features boulders and coral walls with a depth varying from 40 to 200 feet (12m – 61m). A variety of corals and sponges are the main attraction, although turtles can be found here as well. This a good site for drift diving.
Superman’s Flight – In the shadow of the Petit Piton, this deep wall dive can take you to a depth of 1500 feet (460m). An assortment of corals, gorgonians and sponges, along with tropical fish and turtles can be found here. A good dive site for drift diving and deep diving.
For more detailed info on dive sites, boat operators and how you can enjoy one of the more adventurous things to do in Saint Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Diving page
Saint Lucia Cycling and Mountain Biking
Mountain biking in St. Lucia is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while gazing across jaw-dropping views of the mountainous island and Caribbean sea. There’s different terrain and trail styles to explore on St. Lucia, including some man-made courses and several nature trails that lead to waterfalls – It doesn’t get much better than this! Some local resorts also offer Mountain Biking lessons on trails made specifically for different experience levels.
You can take a leisurely Fat Bike tour around a town, through the rain-forest, or even on a beach! Other MTB tours take you on rain-forest trails that lead to gorgeous waterfalls, where you can relax and soak-in the beauty of your natural surroundings. Talking about nature… There’s even an organized tour in one of the island’s protected coastal areas.
Of course, you can also find cycling tours and bicycle rentals for taking on St. Lucia’s mountainous roads.
For more information on one of the funnest things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators and bike rental shops who will get you outfitted, check out our St. Lucia Cycling & Biking page
Saint Lucia Kayaking – Enjoy the Island From the Tops of the Waves
There’s nothing like exploring St. Lucia’s waterways and shorelines by kayak. Floating around on your single or tandem kayak, you can see the island from a unique perspective and it’s the perfect speed for sightseeing. Kayaking is something that can be enjoyed by anyone, enabling the whole family to get up close and personal with nature. You can find active or relaxing routes for vigorous or gentle paddling, it’s up to you.
There’s a number of kayak tours available in the Marigot Bay area, either along the coastline, or up a river to explore the island’s interior. Some kayak tours include short town visits with a locally prepared lunch, while others combine a relaxing fishing or bird watching experience. Kayaking is also available in the Soufriere area, below the towering Pitons, bringing new meaning to the peaks that are measured in ‘above sea level’. For a unique nature experience, kayaking is also available in the remote Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area. For the avid paddler, there are even multi-day kayak packages available ensuring an amazing and rewarding vacation experience!
For more information about one of the more adventurous things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators who will get you on the water, click on our St. Lucia Water Sports page
Have Fun!
ACT Staff
If you’re looking for more of a relaxing vacation, take a look at our St. Lucia Attractions blog
For an overview of the beautiful island of St. Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Vacations page
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
