Somerset Falls, Jamaica

Portland is easily my favourite part of Jamaica. Tucked away from the busy tourist areas of the north coast, Portie, as it is affectionately known, is always lush, tranquil and the unspoilt natural beauty takes your breath away. We packed up the kids, our 7 and 1-year-old sons, and headed out for a Sunday day trip to Portie.

Somerset Falls is located on the main road between Annotto Bay and Port Antonia in Hope Bay. Travelling from Kingston we arrived in about two hours. The property was lovely, with a large pool at the front, a little kiddie “zoo” with parrots and small animals and a restaurant. As we followed the signs on the property to the falls, it's impossible not to notice how cool you feel, and when you look up you are covered overhead by a lush, thick canopy, like a tropical rainforest. This makes for a cool quick trek up to the falls. We climbed a few steps and at the top there was a beautiful cascading waterfall and a great shallow area for the family to do some swimming and playing on the rocks. The water was a little cold, though, as the Daniel’s River flows down into the falls. Beauty wa all around, from the vines hanging down, the waterfalls, the natural stones and rocks, it was just beautiful.

I soon noticed a canoe with people coming toward us...hmm what’s this about? I soon realized there was more to see. This area was just the beginning. Little had I known this wasn’t really “The Falls”...yet! The boat ride was included in the entrance fee. We had an awesome guide, who asked if we wanted a “wet or dry trip.” As I was holding our 1-year-old baby, I wasn’t quite sure, but figured “hey, why not?” so we opted for the “wet” trip. I later found out the wet trip takes you into and under the falls, and the dry trip only allows you to watch.

The guide was very particular with how he placed his passengers. I guess he was making sure we didn’t capsize (good thing), then we were off to discover the “Hidden Falls.” As we journeyed to the “Hidden Falls” each scene outdid the previous. As we turned the corner we saw the cave. Once you are in the cave and look up, there it is—the “Hidden Falls.” Magnificent! You just have to sit there for a bit and take it all in. Looking up, you see what could be a “wonder of the world”...water appearing to be coming from the sky through an opening above. I couldn’t stop looking at the water rushing down. So amazing, beautiful, you are speechless. If you wanted to you could get off the boat here and swim around under the falls and climb the rocks.

Baby and I stayed in the boat, but of course the invincible 7-year-old couldn’t wait to get off and experience it all. Trying to take everything around me in, I noticed the walls of the cave looked a little different from what I would have expected. They were smooth and hard and a yellowish stone colour, with grooves that made intricate patterns along the entire inside of the cave. It was so polished and perfect that I figured it was manmade, to “dress up” the caves. I wondered why would they interfere with the natural beauty and add this fake stone-like covering to the cave? I was happy and relieved to hear from the guide that this was all natural limestone. Breathtaking!

Somerset Falls is a definite must-see with the kids and family. If you live in Jamaica, just pack up the kids for a day trip. It's only about two hours from Kingston so there’s no excuse. If you’re travelling to Jamaica, put Somerset Falls on your list of trips and tours. Most of the hotels will offer trips to Somerset Falls. See another side of Jamaica; see something outside of the resorts. It’s not as busy as Dunn’s River Falls, but still quite an impressive experience. Enjoy the experience, the verdant countryside, the tropical rainforest canopy and the exhilarating waters of Somerset Falls.

Don’t forget, you can’t visit Portie without a visit to world renowned Boston Bay, for the famous ‘Boston Jerk.’ Enjoy chicken, fish, pork and sausage all jerked outside in authentic jerk pits. Somerset Falls is open every day from 9am-5pm.

For more information on Somerset Falls visit their website.