I am typically a DIY excursion kind of a girl. I’ve been known to research for hours, rent my own vehicles in ports and becoming Tour Guide Barbie to whomever was with me. When it comes to Jamaica I prefer to use a planned excursion in this port. I’ve done stops in both Ochos Rios and Falmouth multiple times. This post will include the best Excursions in Jamaica whether you are at a resort or there on a cruise ship.
The first thing we need to discuss is safety. I love DIY but Jamaica is a country where I do not recommend doing this. For me as a mother and a concerned friend, there are too many wild cards in play from crime to unrest. This port is not a high danger zone or else cruises would not be coming here. You just need to exercise caution and use a trusted tour company.
Recommendations for Excursions
I’m not a fan of using cruise ship excursions as I don’t want to be stuck in a group of 60 people when I’m on vacation. I did a lot of research prior to my trip and found a local tour company, Liberty Tours. They have tons of fantastic reviews and a great variety of excursions. This company provides transfers and customizable itineraries as well.
My Excursion of Choice
My experience with them was amazing when I did a port day in Falmouth. They recommended picking us up (Group of 6) right when the ship docked at 7:30 since we selected the Blue Hole and River Tubing Excursion (these locations are closer to Ochos Rios). We ended up being the first group at the Blue Hole Waterfall and had it all to ourselves! Our driver assigned us to a guide who took us through the little waterfalls and allowed us to jump off the big waterfall with their guidance. There were also opportunities to rope swing and cliff jump into the lagoon. This is location is what you think of when you think of Jamaica!
After we finished at the Blue Hole our driver took us over to the White River Tubing stop. This was about a 20 minute drive from where we were. We joined up with a couple small groups (estimated 15 people total) and linked up in our tubes on the White River. The water is very shallow and relaxing. The tubing guides were a lot of fun. They played and sang with us the whole way down the river. Check out the video below!
After these excursions we worked up an appetite. Our driver was kind enough to honor our request and took us to her favorite jerk joint, Scotchie’s. This place was mind blowing. The six of us bought a few rounds of beer and rum punch, multiple pounds of different jerked meats and sides. The total was $100 USD with tip! I cannot begin to describe how good the food was here. About a year or two ago I actually saw this restaurant featured on Cooking Channel’s Man, Fire, Food show!
Conclusion:
I have been to Jamaica a few times. I’ve been on an excursion through the cruise lines with my parents to Dunn’s River Falls and snorkeling. I’ve also tried to create a walk around option for Falmouth. I recommend Liberty Tours because it is tried and true. I’ve done it and have had many readers try it and agree with me. It makes me feel good supporting true local businesses like them and Scotchie’s. All the reasons I mentioned are why I think Liberty has the best excursions in Jamaica.
Don’t forget to save the guide above. I created it as a photo file so that you can save it to your phone for when you are traveling without access to cellular or WiFi. There are phone numbers for the US Embassy, Ochos Rios and Falmouth Port Authorities, Liberty Tours and Scotchies!
Check Out my latest guide for Cruise Ship Formal Nights
Jamaica is such a beautiful place! Although we were not there as part of a cruise, I absolutely loved Dunn’s River Falls. It was amazing!