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Mineral spring · Ocho Rios

Firewater Mineral Spring (Windsor), St Ann: a local's guide

By Michael RainfordBorn and raised in JamaicaPrices & hours checked Sources
Flame burning on the water's surface at the Firewater Mineral Spring
On this page
  1. My local take
  2. How to get there
  3. What to expect
  4. Local tips
  5. Before you go
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

My local take

Firewater is the Windsor Mineral Spring, a small warm pool in the community of Windsor, just inland from St Ann’s Bay. Its fame is simple: a guide holds a flame to the water and it catches fire, which is put down to the sulfur and natural gas in the spring. It is not a park. It is a community-run spot, looked after by people from Windsor, and that is the whole point of going.

My take: it suits people who like Jamaica off the brochure, who are happy with a rough road, a simple enclosure and a cash payment to the guides. If you want changing rooms, a gift shop and a schedule, do Dunn’s River or Green Grotto instead. Locals swear by the water for aches and pains, so enjoy the soak. For the island’s other mineral baths, including Rockfort in Kingston, see my guide to mineral baths and hot springs in Jamaica.

Pair it with a nearby stop: the Green Grotto Caves near Runaway Bay or Dunn’s River Falls. For the wider area, see where to stay in Ocho Rios.

How to get there

From Ocho Rios, head west toward St Ann’s Bay and take the left turn toward Windsor before you enter the town. It is about a 20-minute drive. There is little signage and the road is potholed, so a driver who knows the way helps a lot. From the Mammee Bay resorts, such as Sandals Dunn’s River, it is even closer.

From Montego Bay, allow roughly an hour and a half to two hours east along the north coast highway. Some Ocho Rios tour operators include Firewater on half-day trips with transport.

Without a car: Take a licensed JUTA taxi or a tour from Ocho Rios and agree the round-trip fare and waiting time before you leave, since Windsor is off the main road.

What to expect

Local guides meet you and take you to the spring: a small sunken pool inside an enclosure of painted cement walls and bamboo. The water is lukewarm and, as the guides describe it, salty and bitter. The main event is the guide lighting the surface so the pool burns.

You can soak in the pool, and guides offer a “fire massage”, where a towel is dipped in the flames and used to massage your face, arms and legs. The guides also cook over the burning water to show how steady the flame is.

The story the family tells is that a girl, the current operator’s great-grandmother, found the fire by accident while burning out a wasp nest, and ran home saying there were duppies in the pool. Long before that, the spring was known locally for healing, and it later drew interest from people searching for oil and gas in Jamaica.

Local tips

  • Agree the price for each part (seeing it lit, soaking, the fire massage) before anything starts, and bring cash in small bills.

  • Wear a swimsuit under your clothes and bring a towel and a change; don’t expect proper changing rooms.

  • Keep jewelry off in the water; sulfur springs can tarnish silver.

Before you go

  • The latest operator update I can find is from November 2025, after the 2025 hurricane: the spring still lights, but the area around the pool needed repair. Confirm it is receiving visitors before you go.
  • Facilities are basic, with no formal ticket office or published prices.
  • The fire is real. Keep children close and follow the guide’s lead around the flames.
  • Healing claims are local tradition, not medical advice; check with your doctor if you have a health condition.

Questions people ask

Where is the Firewater spring in Jamaica?

It is in Windsor, a small community just inland from St Ann’s Bay in St Ann. It is about a 20-minute drive west of Ocho Rios, with a left turn toward Windsor before you reach St Ann’s Bay.

Why does the water at Firewater catch fire?

The flames are put down to the sulfur and natural gas that come up with the spring water. The guides light it with a flame, and the surface burns for long enough to cook over.

Is Firewater open?

The latest operator update I found, from November 2025, said the spring still lights but the area around the pool needed repair. Check with the operators or your tour desk before you go.

Can you swim in Firewater?

Yes. You can soak in the small, lukewarm pool. Guides also offer a fire massage. Agree the price first.

Is Firewater the same as Windsor Mineral Spring?

Yes. Windsor Mineral Spring is the formal name; most Jamaicans just call it Firewater.

Sources & updates

Update log

  • — Rewritten as a researched guide; facts re-checked. Added post-hurricane status; removed unsourced claims.
  • — Link refresh: Swapped Hotel Riu Ocho Rios link for Sandals Dunn's River (also Mammee Bay).
  • — Removed repeated advice
  • — Trimmed hurricane references to where they change the advice

Spotted something out of date? Tell me and I’ll check it.

Where to stay nearby

Where to stay in Ocho Rios