Mayfield Falls

Mayfield is not one waterfall but a stretch of river with twenty-one small drops and pools along it, and the visit is a walk upstream in the water rather than a look at a single cascade. Guides lead groups from pool to pool over about a kilometre, pointing out where to step, where the water is deep enough to swim and where a small chute can be slid down; two of the pools have underwater openings between them, the Washing Machine and the Bubble Bath among the named spots. The setting is proper interior Jamaica, bamboo and forest with smallholdings above, and the drive in through the hills is half the day.

The landscape

• The upstream walk - a kilometre of river with twenty-one small falls.
• The named pools - Washing Machine, Bubble Bath and the rest.
• The underwater passages - short openings between two of the pools.
• The drive in - hill country and bamboo behind the coast.

When to go

December to April is drier and the water clearest. Heavy rain closes the river walk. Mornings are quieter, before excursion buses from the resorts arrive. Water shoes are essential and can be rented on site.

Good to know

The river bed is sharp, uneven and slippery, and going without water shoes is a mistake. Two competing operations sit on the same river with similar names, which causes confusion, and only one has the developed trail. The road in is rough and long for the distance. Guides expect tips and the sell for photos and drinks is persistent.

Nearby

Negril is ninety minutes west; Savanna-la-Mar is on the coast below.

Key facts