Here’s How To Join A Baby Sea Turtle Release In Oracabessa, Jamaica

Oracabessa, a Jamaican coastal town and Ian Fleming’s favourite getaway, has become a focal point in Caribbean sea turtle conservation. Through the efforts of the Oracabessa Bay Sea Turtle Project, the survival rate of hawksbill sea turtle nests has increased from 37% in 2005 to an impressive 80% today by providing protection from predators and human interference. Each year, between 12,000 to 20,000 hatchlings are released into the Caribbean Sea, contributing to the recovery of this critically endangered species. I finally had the rare opportunity to join a baby sea turtle release earlier this month, so here’s how to enjoy a similar experience and support the work of the Oracabessa Bay Sea Turtle Project.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle10 Comments

Crescent Falls: A Hidden Waterfall in St. Mary

Sorry TLC, but “Don’t go chasing waterfalls” is advice I’ll never take! I’m fascinated by waterfalls, and am pleased to report that I’ve now visited 30 of Jamaica’s 50+ waterfalls. My thirtieth Jamaican waterfall was another hidden gem: the Crescent Falls in Geddes Town, St. Mary. Here’s how my amusing adventure to Crescent Falls went and what to expect at this off-the-beaten-path treasure.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Couples Tower Isle: Elle’s Review

Couples is a local family-run resort chain founded by Abe Issa in 1949, and its Tower Isle location in St. Mary on Jamaica’s north coast serves as their flagship resort. In 1978, Couples Tower Isle became Jamaica’s first all-inclusive hotel and to this day, it’s still super all-inclusive with all meals, drinks, excursions and watersports included in one upfront fee. Couples Tower Isle has undergone numerous renovations over its 76 years in operation, but still preserves its older charm and warm casual atmosphere. As such, I ran into many guests who proudly declared that they were on their umpteenth vacation at this spot as they refuse to visit anywhere else– I think the longest I heard was 27 visits! With that said, here’s my experience and why vacationers at Couples Tower Isle keep coming back.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle24 Comments

Mad River, St. Mary: A Surprise Find

Jamaica is home to over one hundred rivers, and it’s my favourite hobby to explore them as often as I can. Most Jamaicans are only aware of the popular ones so it’s quite an adventure getting to the not-so-popular ones. Directions to off-the-beaten-path rivers are often unclear, and paths are quickly swallowed up by heavy rainfall, thick overgrowth and disuse. That being said, I like the challenge. Last December, my partner and I drove to the general vicinity of one waterfall and did what we sometimes do– stop and ask community people for directions. This time we went as far as to show a local a picture of the waterfall we were seeking, yet he led us to somewhere completely different. Was this deliberate? The world may never know, but I’m not mad about finding Mad River at all.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle40 Comments

River Rendezvous at Tapioca Getaway, St. Mary

The best adventures are spontaneous ones. With summer coming to a close and finally having a mutual day-off with my partner, we decided that a river trip was a must. Deciding on Tapioca was easy because they answered the phone on my first try, and pleasantly confirmed that walk-ins were indeed welcome! Even better, Tapioca was super easy to find along the Junction main road (A3) in St. Mary. Here’s how this adventure went + why you should add Tapioca Getaway to your Jamaican bucket list.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

16 Photos Showcasing the Beauty of St. Mary, Jamaica

The St. Mary parish is located on Jamaica’s northeastern coast. You may know the parish for Port Maria, Annotto Bay, Oracabessa or Jamaica’s third international airport named for Ian Fleming. St. Mary has a long history and was one of the parishes inhabited by Tainos. Its parish capital, Port Maria, was the second town built by the Spanish in Jamaica. Many pieces of history lie in St. Mary such as the Rio Nuevo Battle Site which was the site of the final battle between the British and Spaniards for control of Jamaica in 1658. In 1760, Tacky led the most serious rebellion against slavery in the Caribbean at that time. You can visit the waterfalls named for Tacky and his fellow warrior Kwame today. After Emancipation, free villages were formed in St. Mary. As the price for sugar dropped, banana cultivation replaced sugarcane in the 1900s which explains why St. Mary is now known as Jamaica’s banana parish. Nonetheless, St. Mary is a very beautiful parish with several attractions and places to visit such as free rivers, beaches, historic forts, churches and even a maroon town (Scott’s Hall). Here are 16 photos to showcase the attractions and things to do in St. Mary.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle35 Comments

Galina Lighthouse, Saint Mary

The only time it’s acceptable to combine business with pleasure is on a business trip, of course. St. Mary is home to several beaches, waterfalls, swimming holes and historic sites. I visited the parish recently for a practical reason, but stopped at the Galina Lighthouse on my way home. Jamaica is home to eleven lighthouses, nine on land and two offshore. These lighthouses are all operational, and maintained by the Port Authority of Jamaica. Lighthouses are erected close to navigable waters in order to guide incoming sea and aircraft. They serve as visual guides based on their physical characteristics in the day, then deliver characteristic flashes of light by night.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle17 Comments

Discover Johnny Falls: A Hidden Gem in St. Mary

There’s this waterfall hidden in Palmetto Grove, St. Mary called Johnny Falls which I heard of years ago on Facebook. There were no directions on how to find it anywhere, so I added it to my list of Jamaican waterfalls to visit and moved on. Last year my interest in visiting Johnny Falls piqued again with Grove Swimmers, a fearless group of youngsters who perform admirable dives into the river which runs through their district, headed by 17-year-old Nathan Douglas. They have taken to Instagram and YouTube to showcase their talent, and have even been featured in national newspapers. Thus, I happily tagged along with a group of avid explorers and friends to cross this enigmatic and twenty-second Jamaican waterfall from my list with Nathan as my unofficial tour guide.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle13 Comments

Kwame Falls, Saint Mary

Kwame Falls is a free river and waterfall in Jamaica near the rural district of Robin’s Bay in St. Mary. It is said that the falls are named for Kwame, one of the warriors who fought alongside Tacky in 1760. This was the most successful rebellion against enslavement in Jamaica before that of Samuel Sharpe 71 years later. It is significant that the fall named for Kwame is smaller and less powerful than Tacky Falls, also in St. Mary, as Tacky was a more courageous and fiercer leader than he. I haven’t found a written record of any general Kwame or Kwaamen, however, one source made mention of Kwaw as one of Tacky’s conspirators. With the distortion of oral history throughout the years, it’s very likely that Kwaw became “Kwame.” That aside, this was a memorable adventure with a 4-hour roundtrip hike involved. Here’s how it went:

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

James Bond Beach: Ian Fleming’s Favourite Getaway in Jamaica

I’ve never read nor watched a James Bond book or movie but living in Jamaica, the character is familiar because of locations like this beach immortalizing his name. James Bond Beach is found along Jamaica’s northeastern coast in the quaint scenic town of Oracabessa, St. Mary. This beach is part of the late Ian Fleming’s estate, writer of 007. He lived nearby in Goldeneye, now an exclusive luxury resort, so James Bond Beach was one of his frequented swimming spots. The beach keeps its affiliation to Fleming and his series rather low-key but for true fans, swimming where your idol once did should be thrilling enough.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle38 Comments