Secret Falls vs. Dunn Falls

Let's talk, we have been to Dunn Falls, never Secret Falls.

Who has been to both and will you share your thoughts please? We have 6 first timers to Jamaica and we want to do a Falls climb with them.

Thanks.

Let's talk, we have been to Dunn Falls, never Secret Falls.

 

Who has been to both and will you share your thoughts please? We have 6 first timers to Jamaica and we want to do a Falls climb with them.

 

Thanks.

I have done both and I preferred Secret Falls 1000X over Dunns. It is less crowded and very private. The cruise line does not offer a tour to Secret Falls, so you can do this on your own which we did. We just sailed on Allure of the Seas last month and did this tour with LIBERTY TOURS JAMAICA. (LTJ) Pre arranging a tour with Liberty Tours Jamaica is the way to go!!

When I did Dunn's River years ago with Carnival, it was very crowded, we spent alot of time waiting for the bus to load and unload with ship passengers and were pressured to buy crafts from the locals... they even came on our bus that was a ship tour! I will never do a SHIP TOUR AGAIN!

I met a fellow cruiser on our roll call who arranged the tour with LTJ and let me tell you it was the HIGHLIGHT of our cruise. She had emailed other companies and found LTJ had the best price and gave us better personalized service.

Ricardo was our driver who met us inside the port then escorted us to his spotless clean Toyota Minivan. LTJ will email you promptly then call you to arrange exactly what you want to do for the day. We went to Secret Falls 1st, then sight seeing in Ocho Rios and then Scotchies for lunch for the BEST jerk chicken and $2 Red Stripe beer! I would DEFINATELY do this again with LTJ! They are fantastic. We had such a memorable day. Secret Falls was amazingly beautiful. Ricardo is a native of Jamaica and will tell you all about the Island customs and history on your journey to the Falls.

I can't say enough about the terrific day we had in Jamaica with Ricardo!

Can't wait to go back!!!

I can send you pictures via email,pls email me at my screen name above @msn.com

also here is a email for LTJ

libertytoursja@yahoo.com

Let's talk, we have been to Dunn Falls, never Secret Falls.

 

Who has been to both and will you share your thoughts please? We have 6 first timers to Jamaica and we want to do a Falls climb with them.

 

Thanks.

BTW-- I have been to the Kutztown fair when I was a kid!!!!!

Let's talk, we have been to Dunn Falls, never Secret Falls.

 

Who has been to both and will you share your thoughts please? We have 6 first timers to Jamaica and we want to do a Falls climb with them.

 

Thanks.

We have been to both Dunns River and the Irie Blue Hole/Secret Falls. Last month, we visited Dunns River, went River Tubing and explored the Irie Blue Hole as part of our day in Ocho Rios with Peat Taylor Tours (they were amazing!). What makes Dunns River Falls so fascinating is the fact you can actually climb up 600 feet of cool, cascading waters. We have climbed Dunns River Falls 5 times over the past 26 years--and have always enjoyed it, however this time around, we did not enjoy it as much. Dunns River is a popular tourist attraction, so even though we were there on a non-cruise ship day, the falls was a busy place. In fact, it was so busy the day we were there, we ended up waiting 50 minutes for a guide. Once a guide was ready for us, he then rushed us up the falls and we completed the climb within 30 minutes. We felt we wasted a good 50 minutes of our time waiting for a guide, when we could have been enjoying the ocean waters beneath the falls and experiencing the actual falls itself. Overall we felt really rushed and because of that, we were not fully able to enjoy the falls as much as we had in the past. If we ever go back to Dunns again, we will likely go up without a guide so that we can explore the falls and its beautiful surroundings at a more leisurely pace without the rush.

Later that day, Peat Taylor Tours took us to the Irie Blue Hole, which we found simply amazing. You cannot climb up the falls here like you can at Dunns, but if you love adventure, than this is the place for you. The Irie Blue Hole features beautiful turquoise waters, hidden caves, thrilling cliff jumps and exciting plunges off a Tarzan rope swing. Rather than waiting for a guide and then being rushed up the falls like we were at Dunns, we had a full 1 1/2 hours to enjoy this secluded piece of paradise with guides who very attentive and treated us like V.I.P.'s. Moreover, there were no crowds of people here either!

Dunns River is a famous tourist attraction and one of Jamaica's top landmark's. If you have never been to Jamaica before, and really would like to experience the excitement of climbing up a falls, than this is something worth doing. However, if you would like to experience something more secluded that offers more thrilling adventure, than the Irie Blue Hole is perfect for that. Between these two spots and based on our recent experiences, our family much preferred our time at the Irie Blue Hole. In fact, our visit to the Irie Blue Hole was the highlight of our Jamaican vacation!

Making the climb up Dunns River Falls

Taking the plunge at Dunns River

Irie Blue Hole: Taking on an unknown adventure by climbing backwards through a hole in the side of the waterfalls

Exploring new heights at the Irie Blue Hole

After reading the recommendation of secret falls with Ricardo, I decided to check out LTJ's website today as we will be in Jamaica in January. Ricardo emailed back very promptly and answered every question I had. Ended up booking a tour with him today. Thank you so much for the info you posted about him & LTJ! Can't wait for January now!!!

We have booked with Ricardo as well. Sounds like a wonderful day...thanks all for the photos

Just in case you need more convincing:

This is me with Ricardo.... He does really exist. :)

Where was your ship docked for this excursion?

We'll be on Coral Princess, docking at Ocho Rios from 9am-4pm. Is this a possible shore excursion from there?

Where was your ship docked for this excursion?

 

We'll be on Coral Princess, docking at Ocho Rios from 9am-4pm. Is this a possible shore excursion from there?

I was in Falmouth. My timings were from 10am to 6pm. 2 hours (approx) travelling time. You can do it quite easily. The one place I wanted to see was the firewater. If you have time, go and see it and report back if you can on what you think.

You used to be able to see that in Cleveland, Ohio ("the river is burning")...

You used to be able to see that in Cleveland, Ohio ("the river is burning")...

Fair enough. :-).

You used to be able to see that in Cleveland, Ohio ("the river is burning")...

BTW. The Secret Falls isn't far from the Ocho Rios port. Another party had joined the tour at Ocho Rios. This was the exception rather than the rule.... and I was happy for more people to join me.

Thanks. It looks like we can get either Liberty or Peat Taylor to do a combo tour with Dunn's River, Secret Falls, and lunch -- and no shopping, unlike all ship tours...

After reading the recommendation of secret falls with Ricardo, I decided to check out LTJ's website today as we will be in Jamaica in January. Ricardo emailed back very promptly and answered every question I had. Ended up booking a tour with him today. Thank you so much for the info you posted about him & LTJ! Can't wait for January now!!!

That's GREAT!! You will have the BEST time!! I still think about that tour we took with him last month and have wonderful memories! I really wish I could go back there soon!! Have FUN!!!

Thanks. It looks like we can get either Liberty or Peat Taylor to do a combo tour with Dunn's River, Secret Falls, and lunch -- and no shopping, unlike all ship tours...

Liberty Tours Jamaica will do that too!! Plus give you more personalized service at a fraction of the cost! Check them out!

We have booked with Ricardo as well. Sounds like a wonderful day...thanks all for the photos

Happy for you!! It was the highlight of our cruise!!!! Will definately be booking LTJ and Ricardo in the near future ourselves!!!