YS Falls and Floyds Pelican Bar

The best part of this South Coast day is the sharp change of scene: first, you are swimming in freshwater pools beneath seven tiers of YS Falls, then you are offshore at a rough wooden bar reached by fishing boat. It is a full Jamaican day, not just a quick photo stop.

I like the private transport, which gives your group room to set the pace, and I like the contrast between the rainforest falls and Floyd’s simple sandbar setting. The main drawback is the long road time from Montego Bay, Negril, or Falmouth, so this is a big day rather than a light afternoon outing.

Key points to know before booking

• YS Falls includes two hours at a seven-tier waterfall, with lifeguarded swimming pools, a Tarzan rope, and an optional zipline.
• Floyd’s Pelican Bar sits a quarter mile offshore, reached by a fishing boat included in the price.
• Pickup is available from Montego Bay, Negril, Grand Palladium Resort, and Falmouth, with round-trip transport.
• The private format gives you more control, including the chance to spend extra time at YS Falls if the day allows.
• The $215.49 price covers major transport costs, including the air-conditioned vehicle, boat ride, fees, and taxes.
• Bring a towel, sunblock, cash, camera, and dry clothes, since you will be swimming at both stops.

A long South Coast day with two very different stops

This tour works because the two main stops feel nothing alike. YS Falls is green, cool, and active. Floyd’s Pelican Bar is low-key, salty, and exposed to the sea.

The drive is part of the day. From your hotel, you pass through farming villages and mountainous country while hearing about Jamaica’s past and present. I would not choose this trip if you want to stay close to Montego Bay, but I would choose it if you want to see more of the island than a resort district.

The full outing takes about eight to ten hours. That includes hotel pickup, the drive across Jamaica’s South Coast, roughly two hours at YS Falls, about an hour and a half at the Pelican Bar, and the return trip.

Because this is a private activity, only your group participates. That matters on a long day. You are not tied to the mood or pace of a large bus group, and you have more room to ask questions or adjust your time at a stop.

The tour provider is Jamaica Mesmerizing Tours Limited. The supplied feedback specifically praises a driver named Renardo, with one person noting that he allowed plenty of time at YS Falls rather than rushing the group through it.

The road to YS Falls through Jamaica’s farming country

Pickup is offered from hotels in Montego Bay, Negril, the Grand Palladium Resort, and Falmouth. You ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with private transportation included, a useful comfort on a full-day route.

The drive takes you into St. Elizabeth Parish. Along the way, you pass traditional communities and farming villages in the mountains. The value here is not just getting from one attraction to another. You get a look at parts of Jamaica that are easy to miss if you spend your entire holiday near the coast.

The drive can also be the tiring part. Exact travel times are not provided, and the tour lasts up to ten hours, so you should expect a substantial amount of time in the vehicle. If you are staying in Negril or Montego Bay, the South Coast route is worth it for the falls and the bar, but it is not a quick transfer.

Your driver can make a big difference. Renardo is singled out in the feedback for excellent driving and for giving the group freedom at YS Falls. That flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to consider the private version of this trip.

Arriving at YS Falls by tractor-led jitney

Once you reach YS Falls, you do not simply walk from a parking area to the water. A tractor-led jitney carries you for about ten minutes through the rainforest to the waterfall area.

That short ride adds a pleasant rural touch and keeps the arrival from feeling like a standard roadside attraction. You move through the trees before reaching the seven-tiered falls, so the setting unfolds in stages rather than all at once.

You have about two hours here, and admission is included. That is enough time to see the cascades, swim in the natural pools, and relax without treating the stop as a rushed photo break.

The pools are watched by lifeguards, which is important if you plan to swim. You should still bring a towel and a change of clothes, because the water portion is central to the stop rather than an optional extra.

The falls offer more than one way to spend your time:

• Swim in the natural pools beneath the cascades.
• Relax beside the water and take photographs.
• Try the Tarzan rope swing.
• Pay extra for the zipline canopy.

The zipline is not included in the tour price. That is worth noting when you compare the advertised cost with your likely spending for the day. The waterfall admission is covered, but the canopy activity requires an additional payment.

The supplied feedback gives YS Falls especially strong weight. One person said the falls were not crowded at that time of year and appreciated being able to spend a lot of time there. That does not guarantee quiet conditions on your date, but it does show why the private format can help. If the site is calm, you may have time to swim and try an activity. If it is busier, you still have a fixed stop of roughly two hours rather than a rushed visit.

What makes YS Falls worth the long drive

YS Falls is the active half of the tour. You can get wet, move around, and choose how much energy to spend.

The seven-tiered shape is the visual draw, but the practical appeal is the mix of swimming and simple adventure. You are not limited to looking at the water from a platform. The pools, rope swing, and optional zipline give you choices.

I also like that the stop suits mixed groups. One person can swim while another relaxes. Someone seeking a little more action can pay for the zipline, while someone who prefers a slower visit can stay near the pools.

There are limits. Two hours sounds generous, but it can pass quickly if you want to swim, take pictures, use the rope swing, and try the zipline. Keep an eye on your own schedule, especially if your group plans to eat, change clothes, or spend time browsing at the site.

The tour information does not list a meal at YS Falls. Bring the items you need for the water and carry cash for personal expenses. The included cost covers admission, but not every optional activity or purchase along the way.

Taking the fishing boat to Floyd’s Pelican Bar

After YS Falls, the day shifts from rainforest to open water. Between Treasure Beach and Black River, you take a fishing boat about a quarter mile offshore to Floyd’s Pelican Bar.

The boat ride is included, and it is a key part of the experience. The bar is not beside a regular road or a marina promenade. You reach it across the sea, which gives the stop its character before you even arrive.

Floyd Forbes built the original bar as a dream of a place set out on the water. The structure rests on stilts over a sandbar, and wooden planks were carried out by fishing boat. The bar was completed in 2001 and named for the pelicans that rested on the sandbank.

The setting is rustic by design. Do not expect a polished beach club or a large entertainment complex. You get a wooden bar out at sea, a simple place to sit, drink, eat, swim, and watch the water.

You have about an hour and a half here, with admission included. That is enough for a drink, a plate of fresh fried fish, a swim, and some unhurried time on the sandbar, though food and drinks are not listed as included in the tour price.

The stop can also be a good place for pictures. You may watch the sunset if weather permits, but sunset viewing is not guaranteed and depends on the day’s conditions and timing.

What to expect at the Pelican Bar

The Pelican Bar is more about atmosphere than a long list of activities. You can sunbathe, drink beer or cocktails, eat seafood, swim, and take pictures from a very unusual setting.

The bar’s offshore position makes it memorable, but it also means you are exposed to the weather. There is no promise of a sunset, and the tour requires good weather. If conditions are poor, the experience may be moved to another date or canceled with a full refund.

I would bring cash because personal food and drink purchases are not included in the stated tour price. The information also recommends a camera, sunblock, towel, and dry clothes. Pack the camera carefully around the water and keep a dry change ready for the return ride.

You must be at least 18 to drink alcohol. That rule is simple, but it matters for groups with younger adults or families. Everyone can enjoy the boat ride and setting, but alcoholic drinks are restricted to those 18 and older.

One point to keep in mind is the limited time. An hour and a half is enough to see the bar and enjoy the water, but not enough for a long, lazy beach day. The Pelican Bar works best as a distinctive final stop, not as the sole reason to book a full-day tour.

Is $215.49 a fair price?

At $215.49 per person, this is not a budget outing. The value depends heavily on your group size and how much you value private transport.

The price includes round-trip hotel transfers, an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, the boat ride, admission, fees, and taxes. You are paying for two attractions plus the convenience of having your own vehicle and boat transfer arranged.

That can be good value for a group that wants a full day without organizing separate taxis, entrance arrangements, and the boat trip. Group discounts are also listed, so the final cost may work better for more than one person.

The price does not include gratuities, personal food and drinks, or the optional zipline. You should budget for those separately. The tour data does not state that meals are included, so do not assume lunch comes with the booking.

A private tour also changes how you judge the price. With a large shared excursion, the main appeal is often the lower per-person cost. Here, the benefit is flexibility, privacy, and less concern about strangers setting the pace. That is particularly useful at YS Falls, where one person may want to swim while another wants to relax.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want two major experiences in one day and do not mind a long drive.

It is a good fit for:

• Couples who want a private day with swimming, scenery, and a distinctive bar.
• Families with adults and older children who can handle a full day.
• Small groups that want to split the cost of private transportation.
• People who want to see more of Jamaica beyond their resort area.
• Anyone interested in both freshwater waterfalls and a simple offshore setting.

It is less suitable if you want a slow beach day, dislike road travel, or prefer an outing with meals included. The tour is active but not nonstop. Much of the day is spent moving between the two stops, and the water activities require you to pack accordingly.

The private setup is also valuable for groups with different interests. One person can choose the zipline while another stays by the pools. At the Pelican Bar, some of your group can swim while others sit with a drink or take photos.

What to bring and how to plan the day

Pack as if you are visiting two swimming locations, because you are. A towel, sunblock, camera, cash, and a change of clothes are specifically recommended.

Wear something practical for the falls and boat ride. You will want clothing that can get wet and a dry option for the ride back to your hotel. Since food and drinks are not included in the listed price, carry money for purchases at the Pelican Bar.

If you want the zipline, allow for its separate cost. Admission to YS Falls is included, but the zipline canopy is an optional extra.

Ask about timing at the beginning of the day, especially if sunset at the Pelican Bar matters to you. Sunset is weather-dependent, and the total outing can last eight to ten hours.

The booking is confirmed at the time of purchase. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and the experience may be rescheduled or fully refunded if bad weather causes cancellation.

My call: book it if you want variety, not convenience

I would book this tour if I wanted one private day that combines Jamaica’s inland scenery, a proper waterfall swim, a boat ride, and an unusual seafood bar offshore.

The strongest reasons are the flexible private format, the included boat ride, and the time at YS Falls. Renardo’s reported willingness to avoid rushing the falls is exactly the sort of service that helps on a long day.

I would skip it if your priority is a nearby excursion, a guaranteed sunset, or an all-inclusive meal plan. The drive is long, the final cost can rise with drinks and the zipline, and the weather can affect the Pelican Bar portion.

For the right group, this is a memorable South Coast combination: active at YS Falls, relaxed at the Pelican Bar, and broad enough to show you more of Jamaica than a resort transfer ever will.

FAQ

Where does this tour pick up passengers?

Pickup is offered from hotels in Montego Bay, Negril, Grand Palladium Resort, and Falmouth.

How long does the full experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight to ten hours, including transportation and both stops.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Round-trip private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included.

Is the boat ride to Floyd’s Pelican Bar included?

Yes. The boat ride to the offshore bar is included in the tour price.

How much time do you spend at YS Falls?

The planned stop at YS Falls lasts about two hours.

Is the zipline included?

No. The zipline canopy is available at an additional cost. Admission to YS Falls is included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.