3 weeks ago
16
Jamaica is home to over one hundred rivers, and it’s my favourite hobby to explore them as often as I can. Most Jamaicans are only aware of the popular ones so it’s quite an adventure getting to the not-so-popular ones. Directions to off-the-beaten-path rivers are often unclear, and paths are quickly swallowed up by heavy rainfall, thick overgrowth and disuse. That being said, I like the challenge. Last December, my partner and I drove to the general vicinity of one waterfall and did what we sometimes do– stop and ask community people for directions. This time we went as far as to show a local a picture of the waterfall we were seeking, yet he led us to somewhere completely different. Was this deliberate? The world may never know, but I’m not mad about finding Mad River at all.
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How to Find Mad River
Mad River is located in the district of Sand Hill, St. Mary parish. The drive from Kingston led us past the Castleton Botanical Gardens along the winding Junction A3 main road. We plugged in the Sun Valley Estate map marker in Google Maps to lead us to the general area with the intent on finding a waterfall in the vicinity. However, as the road grew more remote we stopped and asked questions. On the way, we drove through Trinity and passed its international private Christian boarding school, the Youth of Vision Academy. The next landmark we passed was the Tamarind Great House. Originally built in the 1700s and meticulously restored after a fire in 1987, this great-house-turned-boutique-hotel fuses old world charm with modern amenities on a 13-acre estate and working farm.
Overall drive time from Kingston to Mad River’s entrance took just under 2 hours. We weren’t surprised to find a single caretaker and no patrons since it was a weekday. A blue & white “Yes, We are Open” sign beckoned us inside but I later came to understand that Mad River has been closed to the public for several months. It’s evident that a lot of work and thought went into creating this complex so it’s a shame to have it closed. That being said, we spoke to the caretaker, paid the admission fee and got to enjoy the property for an hour before moving on to our final destination. Before they closed, admission costed JM$800/US$5 for adults and JM$200 for children, with large group discounts available. A rustic bar, changing rooms and restrooms are available.
Enjoying the River
We loved the tranquility of this spot! Manmade pools supplied by natural river water were thoughtfully sculpted from stone and concrete, flowing gracefully under the thick jungle-like canopy. These pools ranged in depth from 2 to at least 10 feet deep, carefully crafted to suit the entire family and all swimming abilities. The water was just what we needed after a hot dusty road trip– ice-cold and refreshing. The red ginger lilies beautifully contrasted with the azure pools and lush green rainforest. I can’t believe we had this place all to ourselves. What a start to my partner’s birthday trip and what turned out to be an engagement moon. 😉 I’m a huge fan of this alternative “moon” culture– after all, it’s a great excuse to travel (not like I needed one)!
Wrap Up
Have you ever heard of Mad River before? Will you be first in line if when they reopen? Sound off in the comments section below. Also, if you know why they named it Mad River, let me know. Seems like a misnomer if you ask me!
On a personal note, when I announced in my last blog post that I’d be writing less for 2025, I never imagined to be away for seven weeks. What I didn’t share at the time is that my dad has been ill. After months of suffering, he passed away last week. As such, my 2025 has been off to a rough start but I’m so grateful to have strong support. I have two more adventures to write about then I’ll be M.I.A. with new articles and on socials until summer. But, I already have an exciting bucket list trip lined up for then. Brighter days are ahead. ❤ In other news, Adventures from Elle crossed 950,000 lifetime reads yesterday! The one million reads milestone is just around the corner.
If you liked this post, you would also enjoy:
- Tacky Falls, St. Mary
- Johnny Falls, St. Mary
- 4 Great North Coast Eats
- White River Rafting & Tubing in St. Mary
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English (US) ·