One of the benefits of staying near Ocho Rios is easy access to Jamaica’s most popular tourist destination: Dunn’s River Falls. Visitors from all over the world travel to Jamaica regularly to ascend the famous waterfall.
We visited the waterfall during our stay at Sandals Dunn’s River and spent time walking the grounds. Some of our group even participated in a guided climb. Below, we’ll walk you through the entire process and discuss what to expect whether you want to just see the falls for yourself or if you want to go all in and climb them. Luckily, Sandals makes the entire process very simple. You can easily participate in this excursion when you’re staying at any of their Ocho Rios area resorts.
You’ll first need to decide what day you want to visit the waterfall attraction. Most experts recommend avoiding days when a cruise ship is docked at the nearby port. Naturally, Dunn’s River Falls is the most popular excursion. We were also told that it’s best to visit earlier in the day to avoid large tour groups that typically arrive by mid-morning.
Next, you’ll want to decide how to visit the falls. If you’re no stranger to traveling abroad, you might elect to go on your own. Other options include joining a land tour arranged by Sandals or a combined land and sea tour. On the land and sea tour, you leave the resort by catamaran and arrive at the base of the falls. For the record, the waterfall empties into the Caribbean Sea. That is also where you’ll start the climb.
We took a land tour by Sandals to reach Dunn’s River Falls. Our driver picked us up promptly at 9:00 a.m. We had been told it was a short drive but I don’t believe any of us were expecting to arrive so quickly. I timed our ride and it took us 4-minutes from the time we pulled out of the Sandals Dunn’s River Resort gate until we parked at the top of the falls. Our driver said that it would take about 10-15 minutes from the other Ocho Rios resorts to reach the waterfall. Those other resorts are:
- Sandals Ochi
- Sandals Royal Plantation
Once we arrived, we met up with our guide, which was included in our excursion package. Now, keep in mind that some of us opted to do the dry climb versus the waterfall climb. If you do the waterfall climb, you’ll need a guide. However, if you do the dry climb, there is no need for a guide.
Those who elect to climb the waterfall will need to either pay for a guide at the park or in advance with an excursion package. Given the extent of the falls and the nature of the climb, you would not want to attempt to climb the waterfall without some sort of assistance. This is a 600-foot long waterfall that takes an average of an hour and a half to climb from start to finish.
To prepare for your trip, we recommend the following:
- Wear appropriate swimwear (Most of the climbers had swimsuits with short bottoms. You would not want to wear anything that would be heavy or that could fall off during the climb.)
- Water Shoes
- Water-Proof Phone Case
- Money (needed for tips, snacks, water, and entrance fee)
- A change of clothes for when you’re finished.
You can rent a locker to store your items if desired. Since half of our group elected to do the dry climb, we were able to manage everything. Had we all done the wet climb, we would have needed to rent a locker.
Since we arrived at the top of the falls, our first step after entering the park was to make the descent to sea level. As mentioned above, the falls are 180-feet high and 600-feet long. So everyone has to take the stairs down to join their guided tour.
Note that if you’re doing the dry climb, these are the same stairs you’ll climb on the way back up. When we arrived on the beach, we spent a little time there, wading in the water and enjoying the view of the falls rushing into the ocean. As you can imagine, it’s incredibly beautiful and pictures don’t really justify it.
While we enjoyed the beach, the rest of our group met up with the guided tour. They all linked arms and began their ascent.
Soon after, we began our slow climb back up the long staircase to the top of the falls. This time, we took things slows and enjoyed all of the scenic views along the way.
You will want to be aware that there are numerous stairs to get to the top. But it is at your own pace. You can stop and take breaks whenever you like along the way. There is no time limit.
As far as the people in our group who climbed the falls, they were completely exhilarated. It is definitely one of those life experiences that you’ll forever cherish.
Overall, we highly recommend planning a visit to Dunn’s River Falls, and we believe that most people who are able will enjoy the climb. It was truly a highlight of our time in Jamaica.
If you’re interested in learning more about our experience at Sandals Dunn’s River, you might enjoy our resort room tour. The resort has incredibly spacious rooms with loads of amenities.
We’ve also put together an overview of our golfing excursion at the Upton Estate Golf and Country Club. Then, don’t miss our list of top tips to make the most of your stay at Sandals Dunn’s River Resort.
If you have more questions about our time at Dunn’s River Falls or you’re ready to begin the planning process, let us know. You can start by filling out our plan your trip form, and we’ll be in touch!
