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Black River
Black River, St. Elizabeth
The Basics
Adventure travelers visit the Black River and its natural swamp environment, which boasts the greatest biodiversity in the Caribbean, by tube, canoe, or kayak. Upriver at the YS Falls, one of the largest and prettiest waterfalls in Jamaica, water rushes over three levels of rocks landing in pools perfect for a refreshing dip.
A range of operators is available at the mouth of the river to set up a river tour or a crocodile safari to spot one of the hundreds of these large creatures who inhabit the mangroves.
Black River Safari & YS Falls Guided Tour with Lunch & Admission from Negril
$145.00 per adult
Traveler Favorite
Worth the time and money
Clive (the driver) was fun and knowledgeable and even stopped for us to be able to buy some sunscreen from a local place and avoid the resort prices, although the cheapest sunscreen was actually at YS Falls' gift shop. The drive from Negril was roughly 1.5 hours and you get to see a lot of the island. There are tour guides when you get to the falls, they try to keep you moving to avoid groups getting bunched up and crowding the various pools, try to go early in the day to avoid the crowds. The lower pools are fine for enjoying the experience so you can get through the upper pools first and relax later. There is also interesting wild life and scenery to explore as it is very much like a public park in the States. The lunch at the Black River tour was great. Fried chicken with pineapple sauce, red peas and rice, and curried goat are served buffet style belong side Papaya juice and water. You only get one trip but they serve you enough that you won't need another. The tour is fun and you'll see some crocodiles and fish and birds, the more questions you ask, the better it will be.
Luke_K, Apr 2024
Things to Know Before You Go
The Black River is suitable for solo travelers, couples, families with children, and nature lovers of all kinds.
Most boats can only travel a few miles upstream due to a low bridge obstructing the way, but some boats are able to pass under the bridge for deeper exploration. Ask your captain before you set off.
The river gets its name from its dark peat riverbed; the water is clear and clean and only appears black.
Remember sun protection and swimwear.
How to Get There
The Black River is easily accessible from Negril by both taxi and rental car. Ask your hotel about the best transport to the mouth of the river where the tour operators are stationed.
When to Get There
Any time during the year is a good time to enjoy the river; however, there are some things to take into consideration when planning: July and August are the hottest months, and the rainiest months are typically May, June, September, and October.
The Historical Town of Black River
Don’t miss the seaport town of Black River, one of the island’s oldest. Declared a Protected National Heritage District, the town has lavish wooden and stone houses of Victorian, Georgian, British colonial, and Jamaican vernacular architectural styles that flourished during the island’s lucrative logwood trade and rum and pimento booms. The Invercauld Great House, now a hotel, is just one of the fantastic buildings on High Street.
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