However, most tourists stick to visiting well-known Dunn’s River Falls. It’s beautiful, but hundreds of tourists climb it daily, and it always feels a bit crowded. Fortunately, travelers can beat the crowds at these lesser-visited but equally unmissable waterfalls in Jamaica. Some are easy to find, while others will take travelers deep into the lush greenery and humble villages of the island’s interior. And pack accordingly in terms of water and snacks: there are very few concession stands at these stunning waterfalls.
Note that the hiking distances below are estimates, as there can be multiple trails to different areas of each waterfall, and the exact route may chance seasonally.
Penfield Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Penfield Falls
- Swimmable? Yes
- Hike to falls: .4 miles
Penfield Waterfall is in Gordon Town, a semi-rural district at the foot of the Blue Mountains near Kingston. This waterfall is three cascades that create three neat swimming pools. There’s a rope swing for jumping into the second pool, usually occupied by local children with no fear as they make impressive jumps into the water. An afternoon swim in the cold refreshing water at Penfield Falls is the perfect way to escape the heat of the city, especially as it’s only about half an hour from Kingston.
From the trailhead, take the trail to the left, which crosses two footbridges over the course of about a 15-minute walk.
Benta Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Benta Falls
- Swimmable?Yes
- Hike to falls: None
Benta Falls is on the verdant outskirts of the resort town of Negril. It’s where you’ll find not just one of the best waterfalls in Jamaica, but seven. All seven cascades flow under a canopy of tall bamboo stalks, ferns, coconut trees, and other tropical plants.
Visitors can swim and jump into the falls or take a nature walk winding along the river to admire the greenery and surroundings. Very little has been done to modify Benta Falls, and the few surrounding buildings and staircases are eco-friendly. That said, it’s still $20 per person to visit.
Falling Edge Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Falling Edge Falls
- Swimmable? Yes
- Hike to falls: .6 miles
In the semi-rural community of Stony Hill, Falling Edge Falls is another one of the waterfalls in Jamaica still somewhat unknown to most tourists. It’s on the outskirts of Kingston but in the opposite direction of Penfield Waterfall.
Falling Edge Falls is accessible via a short, gentle hike through a lush rainforest of ferns and other tropical plants. This area of Jamaica experiences a high level of annual rainfall, which means it can have a lot of mosquitos. Make sure you pack the repellent.
The hike starts off Airy Castle Road just behind the Bowden Hill Primary School. There’s usually a fee of around $5 to visit, which goes toward trail maintenance. Oh, and it’s also called “Bowden Hill Falls,” depending on who you ask.
Fish Done Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Fish Done Falls
- Swimmable?Yes
- Hike to falls: None
Fish Done Falls is next to the B1 road in the Blue Mountains. It’s the scenic, winding main road connecting the major towns of Kingston and Port Antonio, but it’s primarily one of Jamaica’s main cycling roads.
Fish Done is one of the prettiest waterfalls in Jamaica and is sometimes spelled as Fish Dunn Falls – and yes, there are some harmless fish scuttling around here and there in the deep blue water. You can swim here, but the water is a bit cold, and the falls can be strong, so use caution if you swim near or under the cascade. While there’s no hiking to get to the falls, there are lush surrounds that will remind you you’re deep into the island’s interior.
Mayfield Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Mayfield Falls
- Swimmable?Yes
- Hike to falls: Roughly 1 mile through the river
Another waterfall on the outskirts of Negril is Mayfield Falls. Mayfield Falls consists of 21 cascades on the Mayfield River, a tributary of the larger Cabarita River. Visitors need to cross a rustic bamboo footbridge to reach the falls, creating a beautiful photo backdrop.
Mayfield Falls is one of the few waterfalls in Jamaica on this list that does have a few amenities, including lockers, a small info stand where you can rent water shoes or hire a guide, and occasionally someone selling fresh fruit drinks. There’s also an entrance fee of $20 US.
This waterfall is both climbable and swimmable, and if you hire a guide, you may even get treated to a complimentary foot massage or scrub with clay from the river banks. Mayfield Falls deserves a place in your next Jamaica itinerary if you’re anywhere remotely close.
Noisy River Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Noisy River Falls
- Swimmable?Yes
- Hike to falls:None
Noisy River Falls is in Manchester, one of Jamaica’s south-central parishes. Tourists seldom visit southern Jamaica, but these parishes are teeming with history, quaint towns, and secret swimming holes.
This waterfall is next to the B10 road in the remote district of Oxford. It gets crowded with locals on the weekend, and there are occasionally street parties taking place on the river on public holidays. While in the area, look at the old Oxford Bridge, built in 1869.
Nonsuch Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Nonsuch Falls
- Swimmable? Yes
- Hike to falls: 5 miles (to bottom)
Okay, this is one of the few waterfalls in Jamaica you may find listed here and there in guidebooks, but for good reason: Nonsuch Falls is Jamaica’s tallest waterfall at 290 feet high.
It’s an adventurous hike to reach the falls as it’s in the thick Portland jungle near Jamaica’s north coast. A shorter trail leads to the top, but you can only appreciate the full grandeur of this waterfall from its base.
On the hike, travelers will usually spot endemic Jamaican birds, and if you go with a guide, expect to learn about the area’s rich Maroon and natural history. The Maroon people are proud descendants of runaway enslaved Africans who have lived in the rugged mountains for more than 300 years. Going to the bottom of the falls is only possible on a guided tour, which costs about $45 per person and should be booked online in advance.
Reach Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Reach Falls
- Swimmable?Yes
- Hike to falls:None
Reach Falls is in the montane forest of the Blue and John Crow Mountains in east Portland. It’s fed by the nearby Drivers River and is wider than it is tall. There are numerous swimming spots and underwater caverns at this waterfall, including a popular spot upstream known as the Rabbit Hole. You can also stand behind or under the main waterfall as it’s not too powerful.
There’s no hike to get to Reach Falls – only a staircase from the parking lot to the falls, winding through lush vegetation (and a $10 entrance fee). While there, it’s sometimes possible to spot wild boars charging through the hills if you’re lucky. Related: it’s said that this is also where Jamaica’s jerk style of cooking, often made with pork, originated.
Milbank Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Millbank Falls
- Swimmable?Yes
- Hike to falls: 3 miles
The falls in Millbank are the most remote waterfalls on this list and possibly in all of Jamaica.
Millbank is one of the secluded Maroon villages deep in the Upper Rio Grande Valley near Portland. This section of the Rio Grande river has twelve waterfalls, many of which are at least an hour’s hike apart and visited almost exclusively by Millbank residents and, occasionally, very adventurous tourists. You’ll probably want to find a guide online in advance since the hike is rather uphill and not always well marked. (I’ve used On the Edge Adventure Tours.)
Millbank is a great spot for birdwatching and you’ll likely pass places to try new tropical fruits (such as Otaheite apples) that grow wild on this side of Jamaica. Millbank is a beautiful part of the island, containing one of Jamaica’s last remaining untouched rainforests.
Cascade Falls
Photo: Rochelle Knight
- Map: Cascade Falls
- Swimmable? No
- Hike to falls:.8 miles
There’s no false advertising with the name of this community. The village of Cascade is home to numerous waterfalls, several of which are visible from the B1 road. The largest waterfall, also known as One Drop Waterfall, is 100 feet tall and accessible via a 20-minute hike from the main road.
Alternatively, you can also reach Cascade Falls via the nature trail from the nearby Holywell mountain park. And if you get hungry, no problem: you’ll find temperate fruits such as peaches and strawberries growing wild at this higher altitude. 
Food + DrinkJamaica's Jerk and Festival Bread Is the Ultimate Caribbean PairingMore like this
FAQs
What is the most famous waterfall in Jamaica? ›
The most popular waterfalls in Jamaica, Mayfield Falls and Dunn's River Falls, offer lots of different activities all in one place.
How many waterfalls does Jamaica have? ›That name is quite fitting today because there are nearly 100 rivers and at least 50 waterfalls in Jamaica scattered across the Caribbean island's mountainous interior. However, most tourists stick to visiting well-known Dunn's River Falls.
What is the name of the falls in Jamaica? ›Dunn's River Falls is one of Jamaica's national treasures. Globally, it is as well-known as Reggae and equally stimulating.
What is the largest waterfall in Jamaica? ›The Chuck Norris Secret Falls, also known as the Irie Blue Hole or Island Gully Falls, is a beautiful cenote located high in the hills of Jamaica between the parishes of St. Ann and St. Mary.
What is the best waterfall to climb in Jamaica? ›1. Dunn's River Falls and Park. Climbing Dunn's River Falls was the highlight of our first trip to Jamaica!!!
What is the 4 largest waterfall in the world? ›Situated on the gorgeous Hawaiian island of Molokai, Olo'upena Falls (sometimes referred to as Oloupena Falls) is the fourth highest waterfall in the world behind Angel Falls, Tugela Falls (South Africa) and Cataratas las Tres Hermanas (Peru).
Where is the biggest waterfall ever? ›Indeed, the world's largest waterfall lies beneath the Denmark Strait, which separates Iceland and Greenland. At the bottom of the strait are a series of cataracts that begin 2,000 feet under the strait's surface and plunge to a depth of 10,000 feet at the southern tip of Greenland—nearly a two-mile drop.
What is the largest waterfall on land? ›Angel Falls in Venezuela, the tallest waterfall on land, is 3 times shorter than the Denmark Strait cataract, and Niagara Falls carries 2,000 times less water, even during peak flows. Image via beautifulworld.com.
What's Angel Falls? ›Angel Falls or Salto Ángel (indigenous name: Kerepakupay Vená) is the world's highest free-falling waterfall at 3,212 feet with an uninterrupted drop of 2,648 feet lying in the Canaima National Park, Venezuela. It is situated on the Churún River, an affluent of the Carrao.
Where are Angel Falls? ›
Angel Falls, Spanish Salto Ángel, also called Salto Churún Merú, waterfall in the Guiana Highlands in Bolívar state, southeastern Venezuela, on the Churún River, a tributary of the Caroní, 160 miles (260 km) southeast of Ciudad Bolívar.
What city is Angel Falls? ›| Angel Falls | |
|---|---|
| Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap | |
| Location | Auyán-tepui, Canaima National Park, Bolívar State, Venezuela |
| Coordinates | 5°58′03″N 62°32′08″W |
| Type | Plunges |
Iguazu Falls is a broken waterfall that is comprised of as many as 275 such cascades fed by the nearby Iguazu River. This makes Iguazu Falls the largest broken waterfall in the world and also the largest waterfall system in the universe.
What is the largest single waterfall? ›When visiting Blue Hole, you'll have to pay an admission fee of US$25 per adult and $15 per child. If you're visiting as part of a tour or excursion, the entry fee will likely be included in the package cost.
Can you swim in Secret Falls? ›Secret Falls (also known as Uluwehi Falls) is among one of the most unique waterfalls in Kauai to visit since you can swim under it.
Are there two blue holes in Jamaica? ›Well, we're here to tell you that there are actually five blue hole spots in Jamaica that are all well worth visiting. A visit to any one of Jamaica's blue hole hangouts will feel like a time freeze. There's just so much to engage in.
What do you do at Angel Falls? ›Once you're there, your tour leader will take you to explore caves, go hiking, check out wildlife, and swim in the park's rivers. Keep in mind that boats can only reach Angel Falls in the rainy season from June to December.
What is the fastest moving waterfall? ›Niagara Falls Has the World's Highest Flow Rate
About 28 million liters, or about 700,000 gallons, of water travel down Niagara Falls every second. It is thought to be the world's fastest-moving waterfall.
The highest or tallest waterfall in the world is generally agreed to be Angel Falls, or Kerepakupai Merú, meaning 'waterfall of the deepest place', in Venezuela, which drop a reported 979 metres. The Victoria Falls, with its maximum drop of 105 metres, does not even make the top 100.
What is the 2 largest waterfall in the world? ›
Tugela Falls, South Africa
There lies Tugela Falls, second on the list of 10 of the world's tallest waterfalls, with a combined total drop of 948 meters.
Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America (2,450 feet) and 5th highest in the world - Picture of Yosemite National Park, California - Tripadvisor.
What is the largest waterfall in the US called? ›At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest, and indeed one of the tallest in the country; it's composed of multiple plunges and cascades, mightiest of which is the 1,430-foot Upper Yosemite Fall.
What is the most powerful waterfall in America? ›Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by flow rate. Niagara Falls is famed for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power.
What is the most famous waterfall called? ›Niagara Falls, USA/Canada
Undoubtedly one of most famous waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls sits on the border between the United States and Canada meaning that the thundering attraction can be viewed from either country – though the vantage point from the Canadian side is often cited as being the best.
If you want a pretty and classic tourist spot, then Dunn River Falls is worth it. Blue Hole is better if you want a little adventure on your visit to Ocho Rios.
What is the angel waterfall named after? ›The falls, first sighted by outsiders in the 1930s, were named for James Angel, an American adventurer who crash-landed his plane on a nearby mesa in 1937. In late 2009 Venezuelan Pres. Hugo Chávez declared that the falls should be referred to as Kerepakupai Merú, an indigenous name.
What's the most powerful waterfall in the world? ›Murchison Falls National Park is famously known for having the most powerful waterfall in the world, where the longest river in the world squeezes through a 7-meter gap and then drops down 45 meters.
What is the 1 biggest waterfall in the world? ›1. Angel Falls, Venezuela. Angel Falls in Venezuela is considered the highest waterfall in the world, featuring a plunge of more than 800 meters.
What movie was filmed at Dunn's River falls? ›Did you know that Dunn's River Falls was featured in the James Bond Movie “Dr. No”?
Where is the Blue Lagoon in Jamaica? ›
Blue Lagoon is located in Port Antonio and is a wildly popular travel destination for families and honeymooners. With glistening, turquoise blue waters surrounded by lush greenery, Blue Lagoon is a vision of beauty.
Can you swim in Angel Falls? ›You can take a swim at Angel Falls. You can hike to Angel Falls in an hour. In a dense rainforest you walk to the base of Angel Falls. The path is flat until you get to the waterfall.
Where is the widest waterfall in the world? ›Khone Falls is the widest waterfall in the world, spanning 10 kilometres from side to side. They are on the Mekong river in southern Laos, near the border with Cambodia.
What is the tallest waterfall in the US? ›What's Special About Yosemite Falls? Yosemite Falls is North America's tallest waterfall at 2,425 feet.
What is the most aggressive waterfall? ›Angel Falls – Venezuela: This magnificent waterfall is 979 meters high and flows over a jagged rock wall. Victoria Falls – Zambia Zimbabwe Border: At the edge of Victoria Falls, in this well-liked tourist destination, is the Devil's Pool.