Visiting Blue Hole Jamaica (Island Gully Falls): The Insiders Guide

The Blue Hole Jamaica is a unique slice of paradise. With electric-blue water and a pristine jungle setting, it’s one of the best natural attractions on the island of Jamaica.

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It can be a little tricky to work out the best way to get there, how much it costs, and what to do while you are there. This guide explains all of the above and more. There have also been some health concerns at the location over the last couple of years. We will look at what that actually means.

Please note that the Blue Hole Jamaica has been renamed Island Gully Falls. However, you may also find it being referred to as Irie Blue Hole and Secret Falls in Jamaica.

Where Is Blue Hole Jamaica?

Blue Hole is in the mountains behind Ocho Rios (approximately 15 to 20 minute drive from the Ocho Rios town). The road leading up to the Blue Hole is not very well marked, but the Google pin location will take you right to the location (if you are driving yourself). There is a sign saying “Island Gully Falls” at the entrance.

Please note that this is different from the Blue Hole Mineral Spring, which is located southeast of Negril, Westmoreland, Jamaica.

How To Get To Blue Hole Jamaica

There are several ways that you can get to the Blue Hole, but if you are not going on an organised tour, it is easy to make your own way by car.

Blue Hole by Car

The road leading up to the Blue Hole is steep and not well marked, but it is also relatively quiet and cars drive slowly. So, it is quite easy to get to on your own.

• From Ocho Rios – Approximately 15-25 minute drive
• From Falmouth – Approximately 1 hour drive
• From Montego Bay – Approximately 2 hours drive

Follow the Google Maps pin and the directions will take you to the right spot (even if it looks like it’s not). The road gets a little tight towards the end and there is no real organised carpark. There are a few local guys who will try and direct you to park on the side of the road. They’re looking for tips and not necessarily connected with the Blue Hole spot.

Blue Hole by Shuttle Bus

You can organise a private shuttle bus to pick you up from your resort or from the cruise ship terminal. The shuttle is operated by the same organisation that runs the on-site tours (Cool Blue Hole).

Shuttle Bus Cost

The shuttle bus requires a minimum of 4 people and can take up to 20 people. The costs are as follows:

• Shuttle From Ocho Rios Port = USD$25
• Shuttle From Montego Bay =USD$50
• Shuttle From Negril  = Call for price  (1 876 530 7897)

To book your shuttle online, click here.

History Of Blue Hole Jamaica

The original Blue Hole Jamaica is a different location, now known as “The Blue Lagoon“. The Blue Lagoon’s name was changed after the Brook Shields movie “The Blue Lagoon” was filmed there and became popular in 1980.

Since then, the new Blue Hole (also known as Island Gully Falls or Secret Falls) has been commercialized and become one of Jamaica’s most popular natural tourist attractions. This is due to its stunning location and surroundings and its close proximity to the Ocho Rios cruise ship terminal (around 15 minutes by car).

Local owned and run

While the destination receives large volumes of tourists each year, it is still very much a small-scale, family owned and run business. There are actually a group of families that own the land through which the Blue Hole waterfalls and river runs.

They have banded together to create an organised and accessible natural attraction unique to the island. While this is a popular tourist destination, it is also a popular local hangout for Jamaicans living nearby (and for the local tourism market).

If you visit the Blue Hole Jamaica on the weekend, you will likely see groups of locals through the area enjoying their weekend “lime” (get-together).

General Information For Visiting Blue Hole

The Blue Hole Jamaica is a natural series of waterfalls and swimming holes. While there are some small facilities (bathroom, little shop, a few handrails) it is very much an outdoor adventure. So, be prepared to get wet and walk through the jungle.

Cost of the Blue Hole

• There is an entrance fee of USD$10
• You have to have a guide with you (as a foreigner) this is an additional cost

Do you need a guide?

Getting from the entrance to the actual Blue Hole waterfall is about a 15-minute walk through the jungle. So, they require guests (at least foreigners or locals that have not been before) to take a guide.

The guide is an additional fee on top of the entry (tip).

Typical “tours” go for around 1 to 2 hours. For this, you can tip however much you like, but the normal rate seemed to be another USD$10 per person.

Our guide (Andre) held onto our belongings for the entire tour and took photos with our iPhone (and videos). He knew where to stand and where to jump for the best shots.

What are the amenities?

• Street parking
• A bathroom
• Life jackets for hire
• A couple of handrails for walk tracks
• Floating inner-tubes

When is it open?

• Open from 9am – 5pm
• Closed Saturdays

Do you need water shoes?

There are a lot of references to wearing water shoes when visiting the Blue Hole Jamaica.

Are they mandatory? No. Are they useful? Yes.

You will be walking through flowing water streams and up dirt trails to get to the bigger waterfall area. If you are comfortable walking barefoot, or happy to take off your sandals when crossing the streams, that works too.

What To See & Do At Blue Hole Jamaica

Blue Hole Jamaica is truly a beautiful place. And while it can get busy (if you are not with a cruise ship group – it’s best to look up if a ship is in town – otherwise it is pretty quiet), it is well worth the trip. Here are some of the things you can see and do at the Blue Hole.

Get a photo with the bluest water you’ve ever seen

Once you pay your entry fee and make your way down to the river it is a blinding sense of wonder. The little flowing river is so blue it is almost glowing. This is due to the natural minerals found in the water that comes from upstream.

Be sure to get plenty of photos (note that the potential of dropping your camera/phone into the water is high). Your guide can also take photos for you (be sure to tip at the end).

Float on the inner tubes

If you’re looking to kick back and relax, there are some floating tubes that you can lay in to absorb the beautiful jungle surrounding.

Jump from a few different heights into the pools

Once you arrive that the main waterfall/pools area (around a 15 minute walk from the entry up jungle pathways), there are a series of jumping locations.

There are a couple of natural rock shelves – be sure to follow the instructions of the guide on where to climb and where to jump as there have been incidences of tourists injuring themselves jumping into waters unknowingly.

There is also a high (6m/20ft) concrete diving board with stairs to reach it. From here you can jump into a deep pool, but be sure to make sure that the area below is clear before leaping. There are a lot of people cliff jumping and the guides keep their eyes on what’s going on but you still need to be aware.

Try the rope swing

There is a rope swing that arcs out over one of the pools (it is not high and your feet will drag along the water if you don’t lift them). But it is a fun experience – be sure to let go when you swing out!

Enjoy a cold drink by the falls

Whether you want to partake in the jumping and swimming or not, you can always sit by the pools and enjoy a cold beverage. There is a small bar (wooden shack) located by the base of the main falls and a few seating areas where you can watch the action.

Photos Of Blue Hole Jamaica

The Blue Hole Jamaica is one of the most photogenic places on the island. The extreme blue water and overhanging jungle is a tropical combination unlike anywhere else.

Here are some photos of the Blue Hole to inspire your trip.

Useful Tips for Visiting Blue Hole Jamaica

Here are a few useful tips when planning your trip to the Blue Hole:

• Wear your swimwear & don’t bring anything you can’t carry – while there is a small bathroom/changing room, there are no lockers. When walking around, swimming, jumping, etc. there is not really a place you can leave your valuables. So take as little as possible
  • If you do bring a bag of things, bring one that is waterproof
  • The guide can carry it for you – but be sure to tip
• Check the color of the water or ask the guides before you swim – a case of bacterial infection (Leptospirosis) came up in 2018. The water recorded on the day of the incident was brown, which means that it was flowing heavily with mud from upstream. The Blue Hole is notorious for being bright blue. This kind of check should be done when swimming in any freshwater source.
• Be careful when walking up waterfalls and jumping into pools – listen to the guides and jump only where they say it’s deep enough
• Be aware of your environmental footprint – be an eco traveller and pack eco friendly products for your trip.
• Avoid days when cruise ships arrive if you are trying to avoid crowds – you can see the schedule of cruise ships arriving in Ocho Rios, here.

Where To Stay In Ocho Rios

If you are looking for unique accommodation near the Blue Hole, there are plenty of options to choose from. The most popular choice is to stay in Ocho Rios, only a 20-minute drive to Blue Hole. There are many beachside hotels on offer, but if you would like a more eco friendly option, there are plenty of Airbnb’s to choose from. 

Alternatively, located only 30 minutes away from Blue Hole is the beach side town, of Oracabessa. This beautiful destination is most popularly known for the James Bond beach and the luxurious Golden Eye Resort, however it is also home to some great cliffside Airbnbs (for a fraction of the cost).

Things To Do Nearby

Jamaica is full of natural beauty. Here are some of the other natural attractions worth visiting while in the area:

• The Blue Lagoon Jamaica – if you like blue water, the Blue Lagoon is a naturally occurring saltwater version of the Blue Hole. Situated around 2.5 hours (drive) from Ocho Rios, this beautiful destination is worth a visit
• Frenchman’s Cove Jamaica – only minutes away from the Blue Lagoon is this stunning, little cove. The white sand beach, clear freshwater stream, and jungle make it one of the best beaches in Jamaica.
• Reach Falls – this series of blue waterfalls are similar to those of the Blue Hole, however, they are much less busy. It is likely that you can have a whole area of waterfalls and swimming pools by yourself. This is approx 3.5 hours away from Ocho Rios so you will want to stay overnight in the Portland Parish. A great way is to rent a car and drive yourself around Jamaica.
• Kaz Kreol Beach (White River Entrance) is where the water from the Blue Hole flows into the sea. Here you can take a bamboo boat along the White River for a unique experience.

A little further away in Jamaica

If you have more time in Jamaica and are looking for other points of interest some of the best includes:

• Lime Cay – the little island that you can walk around in 25 minutes and have to yourself for the day!
• The Rockhouse Negril – this amazing cliff-front resort is a Jamaican icon. Not only for its eco resort status but also for its beauty and rock and roll history. If you’re in Negril, it’s worth visiting the restaurant just to see the amazing property.

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