Where To Go Cliff Jumping For The Ultimate Adventure Vacation

Discover the Best Cliff Jumping Spots at these Iconic Destinations.

By Chantae Reden | Published on April 12, 2022

I gazed down at my feet which were planted firmly on the edge of a cliff on Ka Lae, the southernmost point of Hawaii. My eyes drifted ahead to the dark teal waters of the Pacific Ocean where a dark shape of schooling fish morphed into a sphere in the distance. A line of bathing-suit-clad thrill-seekers eager to go cliff jumping snaked behind me, waiting to hurl themselves off the safety of terra firma and into the depths below.

"On the count of three, just send it." My friend commanded.

I nodded.

"One … "

"Two … "

I closed my eyes and leaped. For a moment, I was free-falling between land and sea, in a place where worries couldn't reach me. The cool sensation on my skin as I hit the water gave me energy. Hair tangled, swimsuit askew, and skin covered in goosebumps, I clamored up the cliff to join the queue and jump again.

If your sense of wonder has been stirred by the idea of jumping off a cliff, come along as I dive into the history of the sport, the best places in the world to try it on an adventure vacation, and some tips for jumping safely.

The History Of The Thrill

It's unclear exactly when or where the sport of cliff jumping began. Humans, with their penchant for adventure, have been seeking the thrill of free-falling over open water for millennia.

The sport was first documented in Hawaii during the late 1700s. King Kahekili II, who reigned over Maui, would test his warriors' bravery by challenging them to leap off the cliffs of Lanai's south shore. When King Kahekili II jumped, the most loyal of his men would follow. The sport evolved into competitive cliff diving, called "lele kawa" in Hawaiian, with each competitor judged for their prowess and lack of splash.

Kaanapali Beach from Black Rock. Maui, Hawaii
Kaanapali Beach from Black Rock. Maui, Hawaii
Diving from high platforms gained international popularity by the late 1800s. While divers practiced their feats off bridges and cliffs, competition organizers and diving clubs soon helped the sport become more popular by holding official events and building platforms. By the early 1900s, diving from a 10-meter platform was a feature in the Olympics. In the late 1930s, travelers flocked to Acapulco, Mexico, to catch a glimpse of the famed La Quebrada Cliff Divers.
Viewing people cliff diving in Mexico
Viewing people cliff diving in Mexico
Since then, the sport has grown boundlessly. And anyone can participate — from first-time hoppers who leap from just a few feet above the water to professionals who perform acrobatic dives from dizzying heights of over 60 feet in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series — all you need is a cliff.

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The Best Places To Cliff Jump Around The World

Wherever there's a platform over deep water free of currents, rocks, and debris, thrill-seekers will likely throw themselves off of it. But if you want to jump off the most iconic cliffs around the world, these are the spots that'll have you yelling "Cowabunga!"

Cliff Jumping In Hawaii

Boy Jumping off a cliff into the ocean at Waimea Bay. Hawaii
Boy Jumping off a cliff into the ocean at Waimea Bay. Hawaii
There's no shortage of excellent jumping spots around the islands of Hawaii, though some are more famous than others. When traveling in Oahu, signs warn tourists not to jump off the rock at Waimea Bay, though it's rare to see the rock without cliff jumpers on a calm day during high tide. Laie Point is another scenic spot — featured in the rom-com "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" — where you can leap from 20 feet into aquarium clear water below. Elsewhere, Maui's Kaanapali Beach hosts a cliff of lava where jumps can be adapted to height preference. On Hawaii Island, you can jump from the southernmost point in the archipelago at Ka Lae or into the cool pool of Kapena Falls.

Cliff Jumping In The Bahamas

Cliff jumping location of glass window bridge on Eleuthera island. Bahamas.
Cliff jumping location of glass window bridge on Eleuthera island. Bahamas.
With over 700 islands and 2,400 cays within its borders, the Bahamas is an ocean adventure paradise. Eleuthera is the most popular island for cliff jumping, where limestone cliffs jutting 40 feet over the ocean offer prime potential at Glass Window Bridge. Or, for the less experienced, leap from the 20-foot jump point near Rainbow Bay.

Cliff Jumping In Jamaica

If you're traveling with a group of cliff jumpers and spectators, head to Rick's Cafe in Negril, Jamaica where lively music, food and drinks are served atop a 35-foot cliff prime for jumping off. During sunset, the sea mist wafts up into the pink sky above from the splashes below, sparkling against the cotton candy clouds. If you brave this jump, an ice-cold pina colada is a well-deserved treat after conquering the feat.

Cliff Jumping In Mexico

Couple on their Cruise Vacation Inside of a Cenote, Cozumel, Mexico
Couple on their Cruise Vacation Inside of a Cenote, Cozumel, Mexico
In taking a vacation to Mexico you will see that it holds no shortage of cliff diving spots. If you want to witness some of the world's best cliff divers twirl and flip with precision, admire the divers of Acapulco, who dive from cliffs over 130 feet high. The skyscraping cliffs of Mazatlan and the iconic arch of Cabo San Lucas are also best left to the professionals. To jump yourself, venture to the Yucatan region where over 6,000 cenotes await. Limestone ledges and platforms throughout this lush, vine-laden landscape — like the cenotes of Ik Kil, Dos Ojos, Cristalino and Jardin del Eden — are idyllic places to dive and relax.

Cliff Jumping In Portugal

Viewing Beach Carvalho of Algarve, Portugal
Viewing Beach Carvalho of Algarve, Portugal
As you visit Portugal you may want to take note of the intriguing cliffs of the Algarve, notably at Praia do Carvalho, are rife with arches and caves, prime for jumping off. Days can easily be spent jumping, rock climbing and swimming from one jump spot to the next, all with trusted guides who offer coasteering tours. Thrills can also be found near Lisbon in Arrabida National Park and in lesser-known spots of the remote Azores islands, where the guidance of a local is essential.
Cliff jumping is one of the best ways to feel unbound freedom as you travel. The sheer act of it forces you to be keenly aware of your surroundings, urges you to live in the moment, and gives you confidence in yourself.
Sea arch in Praia da Marinha beach in Algarve. Portugal.
Sea arch in Praia da Marinha beach in Algarve. Portugal.

Taking Cliff Jumping Safely

Like any adventure vacation activity, cliff jumping is inherently risky, and injury is possible even when you take precautions. However, there are many ways to lower your risk so long as you keep a sharp sense of your surroundings and only jump at spots suitable for your skill level.

It's safest to go with a guide or local who knows the cliff jump area well. If you don't have a guide, it's best to jump where there's already an active scene rather than finding a launch point to yourself. Local cliff jumpers will tell you where to jump from, if you need to be aware of any tree branches or rocky points to clear, and how to get out of the water. Jumping with a friend means you'll have someone to help you should anything happen.

Some spots require cliff jumpers to rock climb, use a rope ladder, or swim a long distance to get to dry land, which could take more strength than expected.

Weather and ocean conditions are also factors when it comes to safe jumping. Most ocean cliff jump spots are only safe to explore during calm days when there are little-to-no ocean swells, currents, wind, tides and rain to contend with. Only jump over deep, clear, calm water, and check for debris or submerged rocks below before you commit. Wear lightweight clothes, ideally swimwear, that won't weigh you down once you get wet. Reef booties are a good idea at jump spots with sharp rocks and ledges.

Once you take the leap, stay as upright as possible and keep your legs closed. The smaller the surface area you have to hit the water, the more comfortable the jump will be. Rotate too far forward or backward and you'll be heading home with pink skin courtesy of a painful flop.

I've spent years trying to tame my fear of falling. I've bungee-jumped from a bridge over the Zambezi River, skydived over the wild coastline of San Diego in California, and jumped from tens of cliffs around the world. I hope to never conquer the fear completely, as it's an essential ingredient in the excitement of it all.

The lingering fear I do have of heights is why I always jump on the count of two, not three. Fear loves to fester and the longer you wait to jump, the more afraid you'll become.

South Point on the Big Island overlooking the Pacific Ocean from steep cliffs. Hawaii.
South Point on the Big Island overlooking the Pacific Ocean from steep cliffs. Hawaii.
Cliff jumping is one of the best ways to feel unbound freedom as you travel. The sheer act of it forces you to be keenly aware of your surroundings, urges you to live in the moment, and gives you confidence in yourself.

Written By
CHANTAE REDEN

Chantae Reden is an adventure writer and photographer who rarely strays far from the coastline. She is a freediver, surfer, scuba diver, and has a mild obsession with sharks. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Escape, ScubaDiving.com and she's a guidebook author for Moon Travel Guides. Discover more of her stories on her travel website, TheSaltSirens.com.

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