I have just returned from a 40+ day stay in rural Westmoreland near Williamsfield off the Principal Road. I went for rest, relaxation and some therapy from a caretaker lady whom I met three years ago in Negril. She convinced me last year that I should just stay at her house with her family instead of her commuting back and forth to Negril. It was a little bit of a "leap of faith" as I didn't really know what to expect but I will be eternally grateful to her and her extended family for the experience. More about this later in a separate post. Now, I just want to recommend a wonderful river experience that was part of my therapy. Benta River Falls.
Benta River Falls is on the way to Mayfield Falls on the left side just before Williamsfield. There is a sign at the entrance.
Here is a link to their Web Site for those who are interested. https://bentariverfallsjamaica.com/
There is a confluence of three rivers although not everyone can seem to remember all three. One comes from Mayfield Falls and is locally called the Mayfield River. Another is the Cabarita River and a third, I can't seem to recall but it has a local name which is long and hard to spell! If anyone knows the name and spelling, I will be interested to know. This confluence is collectively known as the Benta River by locals.
It was at least a twice a week practice to go to a local's spot outside the park where I was given therapy for my legs in the form of muscle exercise and a mud bath to clear up a skin condition on both legs. I must admit that my skin now is softer and less dry which could also be the result of the very cold water that my therapist insisted I sit in each session for nearly an hour. A picture of an example of the yellowish mud bath is on their web page.
The most intriguing thing about this experience was listening to folklore stories about mermaids in the river and an outrageous story of a golden table that came up from the depths and a farmer tied a cow to it only to have the table go back down into the river dragging the wildly mooing cow down with it. Separating facts from fiction has always been part of my digging into the history of any spot in Jamaica and this was more challenging than most.
I went to the park at Benta River Falls a couple of times with the brother of my caretaker to enjoy the jacuzzi effect of the pools below the numerous waterfalls. At one particular spot, I was surprised and delighted to learn there was a cavern behind one particular fall that traversed the width of the river. The opening was too small for me to enter but a small person who was there during one visit did go across the expanse.
Sundays are the days to go if you want to enjoy a party atmosphere with music and dancing which I could hear over a mile away at the caretaker's house. I enjoy the solitude of nature and made it a point not to go when a lot of people were at the park. There are several good, clean bathrooms and a refreshment stand for visitor's convenience.
Prices are on the Web Site but can be a little "flexible" depending on the day and time you visit and if a local well known to the owner and his manager accompanies you. Regardless of the price you pay, having unfettered access to such a beautiful spot for the day with easy access to the numerous waterfalls and pools makes it, in my opinion, a better or just as good experience as Mayfield Falls and is much closer.
When I get the time and inclination, I might write another thread about my trip and experiences but since it doesn't include Negril, will post it elsewhere but leave a link to it here on this thread.
I recommend you choose Benta River Falls for a future daytrip out on the island.
Peace and Guidance
