Craighton Estate: A Blue Mountain Coffee Tour Near Kingston

Nestled in the rolling hills overlooking Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica, lies the Craighton Estate in Irish Town. Craighton Estate is a perfect half day-trip from Kingston for travelers who want history, scenery, coffee and a little mystery rolled into one visit. Whether you’re a coffee lover or simply someone who loves wandering through old great houses and plantation grounds, Craighton delivers a peaceful, authentic Jamaican experience without the crowds. Here’s how to reserve this bean-to-cup coffee tour and what to expect.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle5 Comments

2025 Year in Review

Today, Adventures from Elle turns NINE years old! It’s been nine years of intentionally exploring and documenting Jamaica on the Internet for the world to see, and now I have written about travels in eight countries and counting too. Adventures from Elle has been with me through many milestones, triumphs and sorrows. I’ve had pauses in writing for weeks at a time, but I’ve never given up on my passion. My current writing streak is 26 consecutive Fridays, so let’s see if I’ll eventually beat my longest writing streak of 81 weeks. In today’s bonus post, let’s talk about the year that was and my 2026 goals.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle21 Comments

96 Hours in Houston, Texas

Founded in 1836 on the banks of Buffalo Bayou, Houston evolved from a modest trading post into one of America’s most dynamic and influential cities, propelled by the oil boom of the early 1900s. Today, Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States, and is one of its most diverse with over 145 languages spoken and communities from nearly every corner of the globe. Houston has a lot to offer: world-class museums, a thriving food scene, a skyline that reflects its boundless ambition and even the NASA Space Centre, earning it the nickname of “Space City.” I visited Houston in November 2025 to present a research poster at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN)’s Kidney Week conference, but of course, I made time to explore. Here’s what I got up to with four days in Houston.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle11 Comments

Treasure Beach, Jamaica Reopens with Strength & Heart

After weathering the passage of Hurricane Melissa, I’m proud to announce that Jamaica is open once more! Treasure Beach has always held a special place in my heart because it represents the quieter, authentic side of Jamaica where community, resilience and simplicity shines bright. I love its laid-back energy, the warmth of the people, the sense of safety, and the way life there feels unhurried and deeply connected to the land and sea. Seeing Treasure Beach reopen to tourism after Hurricane Melissa fills me with genuine happiness and pride, because this South Coast community has weathered hardship with resilience and grace. With that said, I’ve teamed up with these Treasure Beach locals to share where’s open and why their community ought to be on your travel radar.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

Cockpit Country: Historic Hike from Troy to Windsor

When most people think of Jamaica, they picture white sand beaches but 50% of the island is rugged and mountainous. Jamaica’s largest mountain range is the Cockpit Country which is three times the size of the Blue & John Crow Mountains, spanning 780km2 and five parishes. Cockpit Country got its name from its unusual karst landscape, where steep-sided limestone hills and deep valleys create a terrain that looks like the cockpits of old ships, or an upturned egg carton if you will. Before this hike, the closest I’d come to visiting the Cockpit Country was to Accompong, a Maroon village located on its outskirts. Why? The Cockpit Country is one of the most inhospitable places in the world. However, when an invitation came to hike the forgotten Troy to Windsor trail which traverses the Cockpit Country, I accepted. Here’s how this adventure went.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle8 Comments

Catherine’s Peak: St. Andrew’s Highest Point

Catherine’s Peak, located in the Jamaican Blue Mountains, is the highest point in the parish of St. Andrew. This peak is named after Catherine Long, the wife of Sir Henry Moore who served as the Governor of Jamaica in the mid-1700s, as she is believed to be the first white woman to climb the 5,050-foot-high peak in 1760. Catherine’s Peak is an easy trail– perfect for beginner hikers, and starts at Newcastle, the JDF military base nestled in the Blue Mountains. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking to Catherine’s Peak.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle5 Comments

One Week in Guatemala: Itinerary & Budget

Known as the Land of Eternal Spring thanks to its mild year-round climate, Guatemala is an exciting travel destination for thrill-seekers and history lovers. This Central American country is home to 37 volcanoes, one of the world’s most beautiful lakes and ancient ruins like Tikal, one of the largest Mayan cities ever uncovered. Antigua, Guatemala’s 500-year-old colonial city, is perfectly preserved in time with ancient architecture, cobblestone streets and courtyards. Guatemala has a lot to offer; one week isn’t enough time to see everything but you can visit quite a few spots if you plan properly. With that said, here’s how I spent 7 days in Guatemala and how much everything costed.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle18 Comments

Hobbitenango, Guatemala: Explore a Fantasy World

Hobbitenango is a whimsical theme park located in Vuelta Grande, 30 minutes from Antigua, Guatemala. Inspired by the popular fantasy book & film series: The Hobbit, Hobbitenango opened to the public in 2015 and seamlessly blends nature and fun. The word “Hobbitenango” conjured visions of rolling hills and quirky round doors in my mind, and I wasn’t left disappointed. With that said, here’s how my visit to Hobbitenango went and why I think it’s one of the best day trips from Antigua.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle21 Comments

The Ultimate Day Trip to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

One of the highlights of my trip to Guatemala was spending a full day at Lake Atitlán. Surrounded by three volcanoes and lined with traditional Mayan villages, this lake is often regarded as the most beautiful in the world, and I can see why. Not only is Lake Atitlán visually stunning, but it also holds the records for largest and deepest lake in Central America. I booked a guided tour to visit multiple villages around the lake, and it was the perfect way to experience its culture, scenery and local life all in one day. If you’re short on time, a day trip like this gives you a real taste of what makes Lake Atitlán so unforgettable. Here’s how to plan the best day trip ever to Lake Atitlán.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle13 Comments

Bent, Not Broken: Hurricane Melissa

I write this article with a heavy heart. My beautiful Jamaica suffered a hurricane on October 28 with maximum sustained winds of 185mph (298kmh), the most intense Atlantic hurricane to ever make landfall in history. The confirmed death toll in Jamaica so far from Hurricane Melissa is 32, and we fear it may climb as search and rescue operations continue, and connectivity is restored. Thousands of people have lost everything– their homes, furniture, clothes, cars, everything. Five hospitals have been severely damaged, as well as dozens of schools, businesses, churches, roads and other vital infrastructure. The current estimated damage is US$7 billion, one-third of Jamaica’s GDP.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle29 Comments