Dunn's River Falls

Terraced limestone falls that flow straight into the Caribbean, which visitors can climb.

It is one of the very few travertine waterfalls in the world that empty directly into the sea. The falls spill onto the western end of a white-sand beach on the Caribbean. Visitors can climb up the wet rocks, often holding hands in a human chain led by a guide. The falls are lined with lush green plants that shade the climb and keep everyone cool.

A waterfall that builds itself

Dunn's River is a short stream that falls only 55 metres from its source to the sea. Its spring water is rich in calcium carbonate, a mineral that gets left behind as the water flows over rock. Over time that deposit hardens into stone terraces called travertine or tufa. Geologists call such waterfalls a living phenomenon, because the rock is rebuilt continuously from the sediment in the water.

Climbing and history

The climb takes about one to one and a half hours with breaks for photos. People who prefer to stay dry can use stairs beside the falls. The park also has a zip line and a splash pad for children. In 1657 the Battle of Las Chorreras was fought near the falls, when the British defeated a Spanish force from Cuba. A plaque at the bottom marks it, and the falls appeared in the 1988 film Cocktail.

On the globe

The model shows terraced limestone steps with water flowing down toward the Caribbean.