YS Falls and Floyd’s Pelican Bar with Reggae Tours

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One of my favorite days in Jamaica was when we took a day trip to YS Falls and Floyd’s Pelican Bar with Reggae Tours! I chose YS Falls for my group over the more popular Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios as YS was much closer for us (we were staying in Negril at Sunset at the Palms) and I knew it would be a lot less crowded. Ocho Rios is the cruise port stop in Jamaica, so that area receives a lot more visitors.

Since crowds are definitely not our style, and we were looking for a more laid-back trip, YS Falls was perfect. Alternatively, you can also look into tours that take you to Mayfield Falls that offer a similar experience (no zip line though).

Truth be told, I was actually looking for a combination tour with both YS Falls and the Appleton Rum Estate (because, rum…) but the estate was closed for renovations during our time there. So, I located the next best boozy activity I could – Floyd’s Pelican Bar! No regrets here.

If you’re interested in taking a YS Falls and Pelican Bar tour with Reggae Tours, here’s the rundown of how our day trip went!

Our Reggae Tours Guides

I’m just going to start this post off with mentioning one of the best parts of the tour – our guides. Yes, friends, this is one of those examples where a well-organized tour and good tour guides really round out the whole experience.

I say guides (plural) because we were fortunate enough to have two. Ricardo was our main tour guide, with Clinton for a ride-along as a guide in training. Extra guides = extra conversation, including jokes, history of Jamaica, and a lesson or two in Patois, which is a local Creole Jamaican dialect. Spending time in a tour van doesn’t have to mean awkward silence, and you definitely won’t get that with either one of these two! They are extremely engaging, asking questions about you personally and answering anything you may throw at them.

Want to learn more about the Jamaican lifestyle from locals? Curious to know their thoughts on if the best reggae artist to come from Jamaica really is Bob Marley? Ask your guides! They are very open and receptive. You definitely cannot go wrong with either of them at the helm of your day tour.

Ride to YS Falls

Ricardo and Clinton arrived promptly, just before our scheduled pick up time of 8:00 a.m., in a lovely air-conditioned, private tour van. The ride to YS Falls (which is located in St. Elizabeth Parish) took approximately an hour and a half to two hours (I can’t quite remember exactly). Average travel time, depending on the route your guides take, is about that. It was a bit of a long ride, but we were thoroughly entertained the whole time with conversation and the beautiful views along the way.

Checking in at YS Falls

When you arrive at the YS Falls the parking area, there is a small shop and counter area where you’ll either purchase tickets or pick up pre-purchased tickets. Booking with Reggae Tours, our guides got us checked in and got our tickets sorted for us. If you’ve booked the option with the zip line, be sure to confirm you have everything you need before you head up to the falls area.

If you’re on a tour that does not include the cost of the entrance fees to YS Falls, here’s the breakdown:

• YS Falls Entry: $21 USD PP (as of 2023)
• Zip Line Canopy Tour: Additional $49 PP USD
• Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays

While your guides are getting your tickets taken care of, this spot is perfect for a bathroom break, snack break, and admiring the surrounding scenery. Just look at all the beautiful…ahem…greenery!

The final leg of getting up to the falls involves taking a jitney/tractor up to the actual spot, which is another 10 minute or so ride. The landscape is so beautiful though. Such a lush and green part of the island! It really reminded me of being back home in Hawaii.

Clinton and Ricardo both rode up with us to the falls area as well. While the guides don’t go with you up to the actual waterfalls, they will hang around in the immediate area, ready to take you back to the van when you are done.

The YS Falls Experience

The grounds up at the falls are simply stunning – a real tropical oasis. There are several pools to swim in and relax at if getting in the water at the falls is not your thing. Micah and I took advantage of the pools after we were done with our time at the waterfalls, as we had to wait for our friends to finish up their zip line and waterfall adventure.

YS Falls Zip Line

Our friends opted for the zip line canopy tour, and what an amazing view they had! The zip line takes you right over all the falls and pools. We actually saw our friends zoom past us from above when we were getting into the water at the falls.

Just as a reminder, it is an extra $49 US per person to do the canopy zip line, and there are age and weight restrictions. You will need to be able to hike to the top of the waterfalls in order to get to the starting point of the zip line as well. Safety is important here and you will be fitted with appropriate harnesses and helmets. They also send a guide down the line with you to take photos, and ensure your journey across the falls is a safe and pleasant one.

Don’t forget to bring your Go Pro or other action camera to take video of your adventure!

Navigating the Falls

Because the water can be rushing and the rocks can be slippery, guides/lifeguards are available to take you across the falls and the pools. They will guide you every step of the way. Seriously…they actually point to the exact spot of where to place your feet so you don’t slip and fall. They then proceed to take photos with your camera, placing you in different posing positions to maximize your trip photos. These guys are pros. Just give them a nice tip at the end when you’re finished!

In the photo below, you can see one of the guides above us guiding another couple across the falls. You can also see us making funny faces at the cold and very exhilarating rushing water! Make sure you hold onto your swimsuits ladies…

If you happen to visit during the rainy months, the water may be flowing a bit too much for you to enter the water to just be aware of that. Safety first people! They did have some signs up at one of the pools regarding no swimming, but we were able to get into the water at other points. Trust the experts.

Lunch at YS Chilln’ Grill

On this tour, lunch is not included with the cost. However, there are two options that you can choose from to ensure you have a delicious meal:

• Option 1: Eat at the little grill at YS Falls called YS Chilln’ Grill. We chose this option for a few reasons. Firstly, we were really hungry right then and there. Secondly, it was more affordable than Option 2. Lastly, we had a few more options available to choose from here.
• Option 2: Your guide will call ahead to Floyd’s Pelican Bar on the way from YS Falls and have them prep a meal for you out on the ocean of fresh fish or lobster (and maybe some veggies or rice and peas/beans). Cost was about $20 USD per person when we visited in 2017 (likely a bit more now).

Micah got the jerk chicken with rice and peas (really, they are beans), and he said that it was the best jerk chicken he had while visiting Jamaica! And I mean really, $4.50 US for a lunch is a steal. I got the smoked marlin salad which turned out to be pretty tasty! And of course we couldn’t resist a giant bottle of rum punch to share. When in Jamaica, you drink the rum! So, for less than $20 US, we both had a delicious lunch and shared a large rum punch. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

After spending a couple of hours at the falls, you’ll meet back up with your guides and make your way back to the main parking lot in the jitney.

Fruit Stand Detour

Ricardo promised that we would stop back at a little roadside stand for a spicy treat when we were on our way to the falls. So, on our way to the Pelican Bar, we stopped for a bag of spicy crayfish. I’m a bit of a wuss so I only ate the meat from the body (and not the head) but they were really nice and spicy if you like that sort of thing.

I also took a June plum to go, which the nice lady at the stand peeled for me. They are a bit difficult to eat as there is a pokey spine throughout the fruit, but it’s nice and sour – almost like an unripe mango crossed with a sour plum. Delicious!

Floyd’s Pelican Bar

Our final stop on the tour was a trip out to Floyd’s Pelican Bar near the town of Black River – one of the most unique bars you’ll ever get to experience! It’s about a mile offshore and made completely out of wood. The original Pelican Bar was destroyed when Hurricane Ivan hit back in 2004, but Floyd rebuilt within a month with the help of wood donations from a hotel and the locals.

If you’re wanting to visit the Pelican Bar without a guided tour, there are several areas along the beach and in Black River where you can hire a boat to transport you with varying costs of up to $20 US per person. According to Ricardo, the owner of Reggae Tours is friends with Floyd and likes to make sure his employees and the bar itself are supported by making sure the hired boats are from Floyd’s crew.

Things to do while at the Pelican Bar

There’s definitely no shortage of things to do during your visit to the bar. You could probably spend a good couple of hours there, depending on what activities you choose to do.

• Swim or snorkel: The water really is quite shallow, calm, and very clear (on a good weather day of course)! You can even stand up in the water close to the bar and cool off with a drink in hand!

• Play some dominoes with the locals or fellow travelers

• Have lunch: Be sure to call ahead or have your guide/your boat driver call ahead for you as it can take a bit to prep your meal.
• Shop: Believe it or not there are a few little stands on one end of the dock selling trinkets and shirts.
• Admire the view: Check out the pelicans resting on the shallow part of the reef, gaze out at the beautiful Caribbean sea, and take in the island views.

• Carve your name or a message in the wood, if you can find space! They will charge you a few bucks per person to do this.

• Have a drink: It is a bar after all! I think we paid about $5.00 US for a rum and coke.

The visit to Floyd’s was truly a unique experience. Where else in the world can you visit a bar like this? (Seriously, if you know of any other places like this, please let us know!)

The Ride Home

The ride home was equally as scenic, passing by a hundreds-year old church (St. Johns Parish Church) and the Victorian-era Waterloo Guest House, which was originally owned by the Shakespeare family (possibly related to the great Shakespeare himself). There is actually quite a bit of history in the little town of Black River, being the first town in Jamaica to have electricity, cars, and telephones!

What to Bring

• Waterproof/Dry Bag: A waterproof dry bag for this trip is a good idea to keep your things nice and dry while you are spending your time at the falls, and even for your boat trip/time on the Pelican Bar. I took this 10L bag that I got on Amazon.
• Water Shoes: We wore water shoes for walking on the slippery rocks at the waterfalls; although, our friends did it barefoot just fine too. These would also be good to have for getting in the boat on the beach for the Pelican Bar, and walking around at the bar itself.
• Sunscreen: Protect your skin! I bought this one (Sun Bum) for our Jamaica trip.
• Waterproof Action Camera: Definitely either bring your Go Pro or other waterproof action camera with you. I got this cheaper one on Amazon and totally forgot to take it with me while in the water at the falls, but did use it when we went out to the Pelican Bar.
• Bottled Water: You’re going to be gone all day on this tour, so make sure you bring water with you!

Pertinent Info

• Booking: https://reggaetoursjamaica.com/activities/ys-falls-adventure-the-pelican-bar-2/
• Cost: $357 per couple (as of 2023); however, if you book in a larger group, the cost is more beneficial (i.e. a group of 4 would cost $528 USD plus taxes). It’s definitely worth your money to gather a larger group!
• Extras: The zip line tickets are not included, but can be for an additional $50 USD per person
• Departure Time: Tours are available at 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. This is an all-day tour so I would suggest starting off as early as possible at 8:00 a.m.
• Mondays: Note that YS Falls is closed on Mondays
• What’s Included: Private transportation services, entrance fees to YS Falls and boat ride over to the Pelican Bar

We loved this day trip so much! We would 100% recommend Reggae Tours and their guides Ricardo and Clinton. It is totally worth it to pay to do tours on Jamaica since navigating the roads in a rental car can be a little tricky if you are not experienced with driving there (they drive on the left, and very fast). You can let your stresses melt away while someone else does the driving, and you will have great company and stories to tell from your experience riding with a guide!

If you want to see more, check out our vlog from the tour!

Have you ever been on a trip to YS Falls or Floyd’s Pelican Bar? If so, how did you enjoy your time there?

Read Next:

• Snorkeling in Negril with Juju Tours
• Sunset at the Palms – A Jamaican Gem (Hotel Review)