A Complete List of Jamaica’s Waterfalls

Posted on

by Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle

When I visited my first waterfall in January 2016, I didn’t realize this would become the start of a new hobby (some would say obsession based on my Instagram account and I learnt recently that ‘waterfall girl’ is the name I go by in a few of my colleagues’ minds). I fell in love with Jamaica that much more, finally seeing the side of the island only tourists or the very adventurous post about.

Before we get into the article, please subscribe for new adventures from Elle. 

Also, check out my new book ‘SIGHTSEE JAMAICA’ for the best ways to explore my beautiful country.

Our Taino ancestors didn’t name  Jamaica ‘Land of Wood and Water’ for nothing, and there’s a lot to learn from our waterfalls too as I already wrote about here. Jamaica has at least three dozen waterfalls, a number which is subject to change. That’s not because Jamaica is spawning new waterfalls as we speak, but rather, many of these gems are still thankfully hidden, wild and free. Besides lists such as these, the only way you’ll ever hear about some of them is via word of mouth, or maybe social media. A few are tiny trickles while others are luxurious cascades with a large pool beneath for swimming. What can I say? Jamaican beauties come in all shapes and sizes (hehe). Do, I beg of you. If you visit an uncommercialized waterfall because you heard of it from me, don’t spoil it for successive visitors.

Kingston & St. Andrew

1. Cane River Falls in Nine Miles, Bull Bay ❤ (admission: $200, 5 minute walk through a cave down steps involved)

Cane river 2

2. Falling Edge Falls in Bowden Hill, Stony Hill (now $500 pp, tipping may be required, 15 minute walk from closest parking spot in front of Bowden Hill Primary & Junior High School).

Falling Edge Falls, Saint Andrew

3. Unnamed waterfalls in Penfield, Gordon Town (free, 10 minute walk from Penfield square).

Gordon Town Falls

4. The ones hidden along the Holywell trails (a trickle in low rainfall, about 45 minutes’ hike necessary)

waterfall-holywell
This day was a trickle.. but there’s a grander one by the Oatley trail too

5. Unnamed waterfall in Maryland, rural St. Andrew

6. Orchid, Lion, Fern Fever and Governor Falls at Pretty Close 876 in Gordon Town (located on private property).

7. RafJam B&B Waterfall in Irish Town (located on private property).

Advertisements

St. Thomas

8. Roselle Falls by well, the roadside quite literally (driven past but never stopped)

9. Reggae Falls in Hillside (free, tipping may be necessary, walk length and difficulty varies based on where you park)

reggae falls
Reggae Falls, St. Thomas

10. Sunning Hill River and Waterfall in Sunning Hill (the river which supplies this waterfall was popularized by Jamaican dancehall artiste Popcaan)

Portland

11. Fish Dunn Falls in Silver Hill (free, can drive or cycle right up to it)

fish done falls-landscape shot

12. Cascade Falls in Cascade (free, 1 hour hike from Holywell or 15 minute uphill hike from B1. Contact JCDT for details + obtaining a guide. Contact info is in my blog post)

elle at cascade

13. Scatter Falls in Berrydale (rafting along the Rio Grande is involved)

14. Reach Falls in Manchioneal (commercialized) ❤

reach falls

15. Somerset Falls in Hope Bay (commercialized) ❤

16. The waterfalls from Spanish River in Chepstowe

17. Nanny Falls in Moore Town

18. Nonsuch Falls

19. Sacred Site Falls

20. Millbank Waterfalls (10+ cascades)

21. Ceston Spring Waterfall, Comfort Castle

22. Dry River Falls, Comfort Castle

Advertisements

St. Mary

23. Tacky Falls in Islington (free, a guide is necessary so tipping may be involved, steep 15 minute trail).

another look at tacky falls

24. Kwame Falls near Robin’s Bay (free, a 2 hour hike from the community or 20 minute walk by boat if you dock at the black sand beach. Also, one of my favourite places in Jamaica).

kwame falls-near robins bay st mary

25. Johnny Falls in Highgate (free).

26. Stewart Mountain Falls (free).

Advertisements

St. Ann

27. Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios (commercialized, one of my favourite places in Jamaica) ❤

dunns river ocho rios jamaica

28. Little Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios (free).

29. Konoko Falls in Ocho Rios (commercialized, one of my favourite places in Jamaica) ❤

konoko falls-elle.jpg

30. Turtle River Falls in Ocho Rios (commercialized, currently closed).

31. Island Gully Falls (now popularly known as Blue Hole, commercialized of late).

32. Laughing Water Falls, Mammee Bay (commercialized)

Advertisements

Trelawny

33. Liberty Falls (free)

34. Joe Hut Waterfall (free)

St. James

35. Kaleechi Falls- part of Chukka Caribbean Adventure’s safari tour out of Sandy Bay (on the border of Hanover & St. James)

Hanover

36. Discovery Falls

37. 5 Finger Falls by Copper River, Maryland

38. Bayson River Falls, Pondside District

Westmoreland

39. Mayfield Falls (commercialized)

40. Benta Falls (community river and waterfall, admission $500jmd for locals, $20US for foreigners)

41. Roaring River Waterfall

Advertisements

St. Elizabeth

42. Breadnut Valley Falls (free, tipping is necessary, about 10 minutes’ walk from closest parking spot)

breadnut valley falls

43. YS Falls (commercialized, on my list of favourite Jamaican places) ❤

YS Falls

Manchester

44. Unnamed waterfall in Christiana (free)

45. Noisy River Falls (also known as the Oxford River, free)

Clarendon

46. Sanguinetti Falls (free)

47. Brae Head Falls, north Clarendon (free)

Advertisements

St. Catherine

48. Mountain River Cave Falls (free)

If the waterfall name is hyperlinked with pictures below, it means I’ve already been and you can read all about it (my experience, directions, the cost etc.) in a separate post. Check back often for updates as I visit and write about new waterfalls.

Which waterfalls have you visited from this list, and which are your favourites? Tell me below in the comments. 🙂 If I missed any waterfalls too, don’t be selfish. Drop the name of the waterfall and its location in the comments. Or keep it to yourself. I understand.

Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time. Keep nothing but memories.

-John Muir

‘Til next time. ✌🏽

❤ = favourite.

*** June 2022 Update: This list has doubled in size since the original time of writing, and I’m sure there are still other falls waiting to be discovered! Jamaica is truly a blessed and beautiful nation.

Follow Elle on all socials: Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Also, get new posts straight to your inbox by signing up below.

Now on YouTube! Please subscribe to my channel.

Special thanks to the work of other bloggers in bringing attention to many of these waterfalls, namely @downdiroadja, @simplylocal.life and @naturessweetescapes. Check them out. 🙂

Published by

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle

Adventures from Elle is a travel blog for locals & visitors who want to experience the best of Jamaica, one adventure at a time. The blog is curated by Rochelle Knight, a junior resident (M.D.) in internal medicine and published author. She began the blog in 2016 as a medical student & wants to see the world, starting with her home country. Purchase her book 'SIGHTSEE JAMAICA' on Amazon and join her in Jamaica!

53 thoughts on “A Complete List of Jamaica’s Waterfalls”

  2. There’s also another falls in Manchester. It overlooks and cascades all the way down to pepper- St. Elizabeth. It’s a trickle during the summer but during the rainy seasons it’s quite majestic. Totally untouched. You’d need a guide from the area.

    Like

  3. Love your post, wish you wrote it earlier 🤣 We are adding a couple more waterfalls to our list. Thank you 🙂 btw, there is one more waterfall, not far from Ocho Rios. Secret falls, also called Blue hole. You can find out more info in our new post 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha, that’s great. Even this list is still a work in progress as I’ve learnt of at least 3 more off-the-beaten-path waterfalls since publishing. I’ll get around to updating it soon. I know of Blue Hole and mentioned it with the name Island Gully Falls. I didn’t know it also goes by the name Secret Falls, but I guess it’s not so secret anymore. 😂 I see pictures of it on my Instagram feed ever so often. Thanks for reading & commenting by the way! Hope it will come in handy (and be even more relevant/updated by time you need it 🙂 ). Take care!

      Like

  4. It’s always a delight to see water bodies especially the water falls. You have written it very well and the picture are just wow. I have also written some blogs on waterfalls, would you mind giving your feedback?

    Like

    1. Oh gosh hunny, you home-sick 😂😂 Hush! (I actually mean this genuinely) Hopefully you can come back soon and spend more time exploring Ja. Or explore your own turf as I know you’re great at doing, that’s what Seth and (forgot the name of the car) are for! There’s nothing here to be green-eyed about 🤣

      Like

    2. Seth is the name of my car, so you remembered perfectly haha. Seth Jr is the bike. 🙃

      I am terribly homesick, even after coming home in November. I’m planning to head back this year too, but I’m also saving up to purchase a house, so travel is on a back burner for the time being.

      Wish me luck!

      Like

    4. Haha, yup! I bought the bike to match the car, so it’s father and son 😂😆

      Thanks. Banks are giving me the run-around because of my green card, but I’ll find a way just like I did with the car!

      Doh bodda show off too hard in the meantime. Do me a beg you. 😭

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow, can’t believe I forgot Nanny Falls because I actually know that one even if I haven’t been yet. Thanks for the others! I knew of Nonsuch Caves but didn’t know it had a waterfall, and the St. Andrew one.. well I understand lol. Can you drop the parish for Benta Falls and Sacred Site Falls too though? 🙂

      And I know right! What bad advice lol.

      Liked by 1 person

Enjoyed this post? Add your thoughts.

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s