Dunn's River Falls with Box Lunch

[Lisas mom]

Has anyone done this excursion? I have a friend who would like to visit the Falls, but does not care to climb up the stairs. Does the excursion end at the top of the stairs or does the tour come back down and can a person who did not climb the stairs re-join their group? Princess told her that if she does not climb the stairs, she cannot regroup with the tour. Is this true?

[1 HappyCruiser]

The answer sounds foolish because anyone who goes on the tour does not have to climb the falls & can walk up the trail right along side it. It also provides an opportunity for that person to take pictures of their friends at different points along the trail which would not possible. Your friend can walk very slowly and then meet you at the top of the falls. The only thing bad about doing so is that they'll be hounded to death to buy stuff from the vendors while she's waiting for you and they are very persistent to say the least and she'll probably be glad to leave once you're finished.

[Lisas mom]

Thanks so much.

[vmom]

The answer sounds foolish because anyone who goes on the tour does not have to climb the falls & can walk up the trail right along side it. It also provides an opportunity for that person to take pictures of their friends at different points along the trail which would not possible. Your friend can walk very slowly and then meet you at the top of the falls. The only thing bad about doing so is that they'll be hounded to death to buy stuff from the vendors while she's waiting for you and they are very persistent to say the least and she'll probably be glad to leave once you're finished.

 

 

Not quite....there are many stairs on the trail that goes along side the falls. My family went and they climbed the falls and I did the "trail" along side. Its really not a trail, but a combination of stairs, ramps, and inclined sidewalk.

 

When you arrive you are at the level of the top of the falls where people climb out. So to climb the falls, everyone has to first go to the bottom of the falls where the beach area is. The group climbing the falls will climb up while the rest will go up the path along the falls. The path does have many stairs, although since the people climbing up the falls take a while, there is plenty of time and areas to rest along the way.

 

Your friend can just wait at the top and join up with the group with no problem and then she can avoid the stairs or any climbing completely. There is a certain area that everyone gets off at and she can wait there. Its not hard to meet up with the group as long as you go to where everyone climbs out.

[Carolyn R]

Even if your friend doesn't want to climb the falls, if they are able, it is really worth it to take the path/steps to the bottom to where the falls climb starts. It is so beautiful with clear aqua water and gentle waves washing up on the shore. You have a view of the falls pouring into the ocean and can then slowly and leisurely climb back up the path and meet the climbers at the top. For anyone who is not able to climb down and back up along the path, the price of the excursion would not be worth it. There are only aggressive sellers at the various booths at the top and nothing worthwhile seeing. The better excursion for that person would be one to the falls by boat instead of by land.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Sure there are a few steps & steep parts to the trail so if you have trouble walking without assistance it would present some problems.

There are some trips to the fall by bus where you enter from the top (walk past all the vendors) then down the trail & start the climb. The vendors aren't aggressive at that point because they know you're going to climb the falls but on the way back - good luck. Another trip goes by catamaran to the dock at the bottom & you start climbing first & walk back down to the catamaran waiting at the dock. This trip avoids the notorious vendor shacks located at the top area but there are still a few that wander around trying to scam a buck.

[iancal]

Makes no sense to me. We did a private tour. It was half the price and we only had about 10 people on the tour. We went up the falls first thing to beat the cruise line bus tours, then did another smallish tour.

[vmom]

Makes no sense to me. We did a private tour. It was half the price and we only had about 10 people on the tour. We went up the falls first thing to beat the cruise line bus tours, then did another smallish tour.

 

I agree on this one. The ports section of the boards, under Jamaca have quite a few posts on private tour operators who include the falls as part of the tour. Its half the price and not nearly as crowded.

[Go-Bucks!]

Has anyone done this excursion? I have a friend who would like to visit the Falls' date=' but does not care to climb up the stairs. Does the excursion end at the top of the stairs or does the tour come back down and can a person who did not climb the stairs re-join their group? Princess told her that if she does not climb the stairs, she cannot regroup with the tour. Is this true?[/quote']

 

 

If your friend doesn't want to climb any stairs, then she'll have to stay at the "top" of the falls where you will start your walk down to the beach and end your climb up the falls. But she will be waiting in the midst of the very aggressive vendors - not safe for a woman alone! And where is Princess planning to have a "boxed lunch?" Hopefully not in this area at the top of the falls! Can't imagine any worse place to eat.