Westmoreland’s Mayfield Falls - A True Jamaican Nature Experience Awaits

The ease and freedom of being out in nature is something you can look forward to in Jamaica. This island is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, and it’s known for its gorgeous beaches, lush mountains, rainforests, and spectacular waterfalls like Mayfield Falls in Westmoreland, Jamaica.

If you’re traveling to Jamaica, Mayfield Falls is definitely one of the natural attractions worth visiting. Aside from its hard-to-miss beauty, Mayfield Falls is appealing because of its peaceful ambiance. No gimmicks or excessive promotion is necessary — this stunning waterfall location is enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.

Whether you want to visit Mayfield Falls for a few hours or for a half-day adventure, here’s what you need to know about this popular Jamaican attraction:

Reasons to visit Mayfield Falls

Mayfield Falls is one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in the Caribbean. This waterfall might be on the smaller side when compared to others on the island like Dunn's River Falls, but it is still quite popular and an overall relaxing place to spend a couple of hours. Your Mayfield Falls experience will be all about immersing yourself in the beauty of nature and finding true rejuvenation. At this location, you'll find not only mesmerizing waterfalls but also rivers and natural pools that you can dip into.

The Mayfield Falls experience includes a river walk, which is necessary to get to the waterfalls. This will be an exciting and scenic experience as there are lots of things to see along the way. The guides at Mayfield Falls are as knowledgeable as they are personable, and during your tour there, they’ll fill you in on the history of the falls and the surrounding area. The guides will also do everything in their power to ensure that your tour is one to remember!

Expert tip: Want to try something new? How about visiting a Caribbean waterpark resort with the whole family? This can be an amazing experience especially if you get familiar with the best time to go to Jamaica and plan your trip accordingly.

Things to do at Mayfield Falls

At Mayfield Falls, there are many offerings that can make the whole experience feel quite exciting. Whether you spend just a couple of hours here or most of your day, you’ll never tire of the amazing views. Here are some of the most interesting things you can do while at Mayfield Falls:

Visit the welcome center and take the river walk

A refreshing taste of coconut water could be your first introduction to Mayfield Falls! When you get to the top of the hill, marking your arrival at this location, there are often coconut vendors selling coconut water straight out of the shell. A sip of this delicious liquid gives an introduction to what you're in for at the falls - a completely rejuvenating experience. Don’t forget to scoop and eat the jelly inside your coconut if you have some time!

After that, it will be on to the welcome center at Mayfield Falls. You're likely to meet guides here and get set for your waterfall excursion. In the welcome center, you’ll receive information about the Mayfield Falls experience and the guides will share what to expect. Then, your tour guide will show you to the start-off point of the river walk. That’s where the real adventure begins.

The river walk takes about one hour, but you’ll hardly notice the time fly by. There are lots of interesting sights along the way and the guides are usually entertaining as well. If you pay attention, you’ll learn about the various trees and plants found in this area including cocoa, turmeric, and the mimosa pudica plant, which closes its delicate leaves when you touch them. You’ll also learn some of the uses of the various plants as you go along.

The walk isn’t too challenging, but it does get steeper in some places. Young children or people with mobility difficulties might have a harder time getting past some of these areas. If you ask, your guide can usually tailor the trail they'll take you on according to the needs of those included in your tour group.

Cool off with a swim in natural pools

After the river walk, a cool and refreshing swim will be in order. With the Jamaican sun beaming down (definitely wear a hat!) on you, you’ll be happy to jump into any cool and clear body of water by the end of your walk. The natural pools of Mayfield Falls will serve this purpose well. Fed by the water coming down from the falls, these natural pools are calm, and most are deep enough to jump into safely. There are also spots where you can relax beneath the water as it cascades into the pools below. Most tours allot about 1-2 hours to relax and enjoy swimming and lounging in the natural pools.

Take a short hike up to stunning views

If you're still in the mood for some walking, you can hike some more or try rock scrambling. Rock scrambling refers to climbing up the rocks using your hands and feet — this can be worth trying just to see the amazing views from the top. You can also hike around the mountain to see spectacular views of the falls. This hike is relatively short. Bring your camera as there are lots of angles you won't want to miss out on capturing.

Discover underwater caves and natural jacuzzis

The fun continues at Mayfield Falls with underwater caves and natural jacuzzis. You’ll need to go with a guide to see these. The underwater caves can be accessed even if you have no diving experience. Your guide will also be on hand to help. You can swim through some of the caves as part of the tour, particularly the cave that is five feet long.

Your tour guide will also be able to take you to the natural jacuzzis at Mayfield Falls. There are 21 of these natural pools in all. A couple of these are close to the tallest waterfall at Mayfield Falls, known as the “Washing Machine” (9.8ft). The name is a fairly accurate way of depicting the sort of experience you’ll have in the natural pool below. The churning water beneath the “Washing Machine” tends to be slightly warmer because of the sun's rays. This experience can be as relaxing as being in a jacuzzi, but don’t expect the heat of a man-made whirlpool though!

Expert tip: At the “Washing Machine”, there are secret spaces behind the waterfall that you can explore! When you’re done at Mayfield Falls, you can check out other interesting things to do in Negril.

How to get to Mayfield Falls

Mayfield Falls is in the parish of Westmoreland in western Jamaica. This attraction is about midway between the northern and southern coasts. From Negril and Montego Bay, Mayfield Falls is about a one-hour drive away. From Ocho Rios, it’ll take about three hours to get to Mayfield Falls. While in Jamaica, you can take a taxi or rent a car to get to Mayfield Falls. If you are staying at a resort, the staff there might be able to help you arrange a taxi. By car, it’s relatively easy to make your way to Mayfield Falls with the proper directions.

You can also get to Mayfield Falls by booking a tour like the Island Routes Mayfield Falls River Walk or the 4x4 Jeep Adventure to Mayfield Falls. The experience can be more fun with a tour than it would be just exploring on your own because the guides often share cultural and historical information and other points of interest. With most tour operators, you can choose between half-day and full-day tours to Mayfield Falls. You can visit just Mayfield Falls or do a combination tour with another attraction or excursion.

Overall, it won’t be hard to book a tour to Mayfield Falls while in Jamaica as there are quite a few tour companies who offer tours to this attraction.

Things to know before you go to Mayfield Falls

If you’re planning on visiting Mayfield Falls during your Jamaica vacation, there are a few things you need to know first, especially if you’ll be going there by rented car or taxi:

● Mayfield Falls is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM.

● You’ll need to pay an entrance fee of $20 USD upon arrival at Mayfield Falls. If you’ll be going on a tour, you won’t normally have to worry about this fee as it’s typically included in the cost of your tour. If you're not sure about whether the fee is included, ask before booking.

● You’ll be able to find parking on-site at Mayfield Falls, which is useful if you decide to drive there.

● There are changing rooms, bathrooms, a restaurant, and a gift shop at the welcome center of Mayfield Falls. You can also choose to rent a locker to store your belongings (anything you don’t want to get wet) while you're there. This will cost $6 USD.

● Water shoes (highly recommended) are available to rent at Mayfield Falls for $6-8 USD if you don’t have your own.

What to take with you

● Swimwear - It’s hard to spend time at Mayfield Falls without taking a dip in one of the refreshing natural pools. Even if you're not sure whether or not you want to get into the water, pack a swimsuit and towel anyway. You can also wear your swimsuit underneath a casual, comfortable outfit.

● Water shoes - These will be useful for the river walk. If you don’t have any, you can wear comfortable and sturdy shoes that are waterproof or rent a pair when you arrive. Shoes that you’ll also be able to wear for hiking are ideal.

● Snacks, water, towels - Bring snacks and water for everyone you'll be going with, particularly if you're traveling with kids. Towels will be necessary too as you’ll want to dry off before going back to your resort.

● Sunscreen - Things can get really hot in Jamaica, so you should do whatever you can to protect your skin. At Mayfield Falls, there are a lot of shady spots that can help you beat the heat. Sunscreen is still essential, especially if you'll be visiting more than one location on that day.

● Sunglasses - These are not a must but they can be useful on sunny days. Grab a few pairs for you and the kids. They’ll protect your eyes and look cool in your vacation photos!

Insider tip: The all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, including resorts in Ocho Rios, can be ideal for a group or family getaway. There will be something to do for everyone, and you’ll get to spend lots of time enjoying the sunshine together as well.

Places to visit near Mayfield Falls

After visiting Mayfield Falls, you will likely have been bitten by the adventure bug! If you’re looking for more interesting things to do in Jamaica, check out these other nearby attractions. You might even be able to combine some of them with your Mayfield Falls experience.

YS Falls

Aside from Mayfield Falls, other famous falls in Jamaica include Dunns River Falls, Konoko Falls, and YS Falls. The latter of these is just an hour and a half away from Mayfield Falls. At YS Falls, there’s a series of waterfalls - seven in all. These waterfalls cascade beautifully into natural pools creating the most mesmerizing scene. You can bathe in the natural pools at YS Falls and even stand beneath the cascades if you want to feel their power.

Blue Hole Mineral Spring

The Blue Hole Mineral Spring is an attraction that you’ll hear quite a lot about while in Jamaica. This attraction is not the same as the Ocho Rios Blue Hole, also known as the “Cool” Blue Hole. Rather, the Blue Hole Mineral Spring is a different swimming cave about 20 minutes from Negril, heading toward the south coast of Jamaica. It’ll take about one hour to drive to the Blue Hole Mineral Spring from Mayfield Falls. As such, this can be a good option for a second tour if you’ll be returning to a Negril resort afterward.

At the Blue Hole Mineral Spring, there's a natural spring that is about 24 feet underground within a limestone cave. The spring itself is about 35 feet deep. Once you arrive here, you can jump in or use a ladder to make your way into the cool and clear water. There's also a bar at the Blue Hole Mineral Spring, so you can have some ice-cold drinks with the most amazing views. There's lots of room to relax around the spring as well.

Prepare for the ultimate Mayfield Falls adventure

Nature lovers will appreciate the way you can sink completely into the beauty and bliss of Mayfield Falls. The best way to enjoy a visit to this location is to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Getting to the falls is part of the fun, and once you arrive, you’ll be able to enjoy an attraction that speaks to the beauty and simplicity of Jamaica.

Mayfield Falls is best explored with a half-day tour - that way you can visit another location you're interested in on the same day, or simply return to the pleasures of your all-inclusive resort. If you’ll be staying at Beaches Resorts, after your day out, you can do even more relaxing around the pool, spend time in the waterpark with the kids, and enjoy all the other family-friendly amenities this resort has to offer!

Expert tip: There are lots of things to do in Negril including spending time at the best family-friendly resorts in Negril. With waterparks, kids camps, land and water sports, and kid-friendly entertainment day and night, Jamaica resorts in Negril will be fun for the whole family.