Dunn's River Falls

[Wahoo]

One view of Dunn's River Falls. Not too shabby a pic considering I took it with a disposable camera.

[Rose21]

Nice picture...Wahoo did you went up the falls?

[Wahoo]

The short answer is "no," but it's a long story. Remind me to tell it to you sometime after a few Jamaican Rum Punches.

[Wahoo]

...and it's a crying shame, too, 'cause I was itching to show them Jamaican guides how an ex-Marine can climb them falls!

[Rose21]

The short answer is "no," but it's a long story. Remind me to tell it to you sometime after a few Jamaican Rum Punches.

Let me know when your about to have the Rum Punchs so i can remind you..should be interesting!

[ECO]

Lol wahoo, are you going to tell them about climbing them in Nam with a 50 cal in one hand and a RPG in the other?

Not to be negative about the falls but I have no interest in seeing them with a bunch of other tourists. I don't want to hold a strangers hand or pretend to care when someone falls and dies

[Wahoo]

I feel the same way about the hand-holding ritual...that is, unless I'd be holding hands with the winner and runner-up of the Miss Jamaica contest.

[Wahoo]

This is where we all hold hands.

[Wahoo]

I was going to strip down to my loincloth and swing thru the jungle canopy on vines like Tarzan, but that sign on the tree says "No Loincloths Allowed."

[Dancing Susan]

The pictures look very nice, how much does it cost to go to the falls and how long does the tour take?

[Wahoo]

Good questions, Dancing Susan. (And welcome to JAB.) And since it's been 4-plus years (April 2005) since my trip to the falls, I was interested in the answers to those questions myself. I checked my notes from my April 2005 trip and found that I spent $47 for the Dunn's River Falls tour from Montego Bay thru JTL Jamaican Tours, but that was for an all-day tour that included stops at The Ruins for lunch (another $14) and at the Taj Mahal Shopping Centre in Ocho Rios, plus a few other sight-seeing stops along the north coast between Ochi and Mobay. Tips not included in those prices (and Wahoo does tip generously).

From what I can determine, the current entrance rates for Dunn's River Falls & Park (effective April 1, 2009) are:

Non-Resident Adults - US$15
Non-Resident Children (2-11 years) - US$12

Resident Adults - J$600
Resident Children (2-11 years) - J$300

As for how long it takes to climb the 600 feet, some people prefer to linger in the pools along the ascent and savor the moment and the scenery, so it depends on the individual. I think that most climbers who keep it moving along take about an hour and a half to ascend the falls. An ex-Marine such as myself could probably leap those falls two at a time and knock it off in half the time.

[ECO]

Wahoo, do you keep logs of how much everything costs on all of your trips? If so it seems like a good idea in case your memory goes wacky.

[Wahoo]

Wahoo, do you keep logs of how much everything costs on all of your trips? If so it seems like a good idea in case your memory goes wacky.

That boat's already sailed, Eco. It's distressing. I can remember many events that occurred 30 or 40 years ago with crystal clarity, down to the smallest detail, yet I often walk into another room and find myself scratching my head wondering why I came into that room. Or I'll open the refrigerator door and frantically scan the items in the fridge, having already forgotten why I opened the fridge door and hoping I'll see what it was I wanted from the fridge.

No, I'm not anal enough to keep logs of how much everything costs on trips, but I do keep receipts of purchases (esp. credit card receipts) and I maintain a record of monthly expenses to keep track of those bills I've paid and those I haven't paid. It's the only way I can stay organized.

[Dancing Susan]

From what I can determine, the current entrance rates for Dunn's River Falls & Park (effective April 1, 2009) are:

Non-Resident Adults - US$15
Non-Resident Children (2-11 years) - US$12

Resident Adults - J$600
Resident Children (2-11 years) - J$300

As for how long it takes to climb the 600 feet, some people prefer to linger in the pools along the ascent and savor the moment and the scenery, so it depends on the individual. I think that most climbers who keep it moving along take about an hour and a half to ascend the falls. An ex-Marine such as myself could probably leap those falls two at a time and knock it off in half the time.

Thanks, those prices are within my budget. Does everyone bring throw away cameras or is it safe to bring my digital camera?

[Wahoo]

Thanks, those prices are within my budget. Does everyone bring throw away cameras or is it safe to bring my digital camera?

Take your digital camera, though you might check into one of those waterproof cases for your camera (in case you pull a Wahoo and take a dunking). I don't know whether those waterproof cases actually work, though (and they're expensive). Besides, I'm more concerned about keeping my stash dry in case of accidental dunkings. Some of those disposable cameras take very good photos, but I used a waterproof disposable camera on one trip, and most of the pics turned out shitty--a total waste of my hard-earned wages.