Ocho Rios and 5.5yo

[averysmama]

Hey guys... we are cruising in 2 weeks and want to visit Dunns River Falls in Ocho Rios... I've read you have to be 6 to climb the falls-- is it work going to see with my 5.5 year old just to see and take pictures? What's the best excursion you could recommend??

[novicetraveller]

Hey guys... we are cruising in 2 weeks and want to visit Dunns River Falls in Ocho Rios... I've read you have to be 6 to climb the falls-- is it work going to see with my 5.5 year old just to see and take pictures? What's the best excursion you could recommend??

 

I would take your kid to see the Turtle Waterfalls and Gardens instead. It's a lot safer than the Dunns River Falls. Normally I would recommend Irie Blue Hole (aka The Secret Falls), however, I don't know if it is recommended for young kids.

 

I would recommend getting in touch with Ricardo Riley of Liberty Tours Jamaica.

[Capt_BJ]

DRF is a park and the admission is simply an admission fee to THE PARK with an adult rate and a child rate

 

any 'minimum age' imposed for a cruise excursion is imposed by the cruise/tour operator, NOT THE PARK.

 

from their FAQ:

 

Q: What are your operating hours and cost?

 

A: The entrance fees to the property are as follows:

 

Adult – US$20.00 per person

 

Child – US$12.00 per person

 

This cost is for entrance only and gives you access to the property to explore, use the beach, sunbathe, sight see or climb the falls.

 

http://www.dunnsriverfallsja.com/index.php

 

anticipating the next question .. also from FAQ:

 

Q: Are we allowed to climb the falls alone or is there a guide? Is there enough time to climb the entire falls?

 

A: While it is optional to have a guide for your climb, we strongly recommend that you utilize the Guides who work at the falls as they are trained to escort visitors safely on the climb and are aware of emergency procedures to deal with different situations, should the need arise. {most times I do not use a guide, but I have 20 plus visits since 1986; when I have newbies with me, I might use a guide}

 

Please note that the falls climb takes between 45 minutes and one hour

 

Finally, as a park, you do NOT pay for one climb. You pay for one day's admission. I stay all day and climb several times . . .

 

folk on the left are using the stairs as part of a ship excursion ... scampering to meet their bus and continue on . .

 

 

we on the other hand go up the middle . . GUIDES? We don't need no stinkin' guides . . .

 

 

this last pic' shows one of the several pools at intermediate levels along the climb. You CAN walk down steps {dry steps, outside the river} with a child and enter these pools via steps and enjoy the falls, without CLIMBING the falls . . that line of people holding hands? That is a ship excursion. The people having fun and being crazy? HELLO!