A Dreamy Day at the Strawberry Hill Resort

The Jamaican Blue Mountains are my favourite place on Earth– a tranquil highland escape of cool rolling mist, lush greenery, breathtaking views and rich history. Perched high in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains lies the Strawberry Hill Resort— the sort of escape that feels a world away from the bustling city of Kingston, although it’s only 20km away from the city centre. Strawberry Hill is a cozy boutique hotel consisting of white-washed cottages clustered across 26 acres. This mountainside retreat is part of Island Outpost, a collection of luxury Jamaican hotels and villas owned by Chris Blackwell, the former record producer behind Bob Marley’s breakout success. With that said, here’s how my recent day trip to the Strawberry Hill Resort went, and what to expect.

Continue reading “A Dreamy Day at the Strawberry Hill Resort” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle17 Comments

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.

Continue reading “Craighton Estate: A Blue Mountain Coffee Tour Near Kingston” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle18 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.

Continue reading “Cockpit Country: Historic Hike from Troy to Windsor” →

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.

Continue reading “Catherine’s Peak: St. Andrew’s Highest Point” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle5 Comments
Log cabin at Gourie Forest Reserve Jamaica

Gourie Forest Reserve: A Hike & Caving Guide

Tucked away in the mountains of north central Jamaica lies the Gourie Forest Reserve near Coleyville, Manchester. This beautiful mountain park falls under the auspices of the Forestry Department, a public agency responsible for Jamaica’s forest resources. Lying on 265 acres of montane land at 2000 feet above sea level, the Gourie Forest Reserve is also home to the Gourie Caves, Jamaica’s longest cave system. I’m pleased to report that Gourie is once again open to the public for visits, and who better to visit Gourie with than Trekkers Adventures Jamaica! Here’s how this adventure went + everything to know about visiting the Gourie Cave and Nature Reserve.

Continue reading “Gourie Forest Reserve: A Hike & Caving Guide” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Into The Hills: A Hike To Hermitage Dam

Some gems are hidden in your own backyard! I first visited the Hermitage Dam in 2016 after I took a wrong trail to the Falling Edge Falls. Eight years later, my return visit was intentional. The Hermitage Dam and Reservoir is a concrete gravity dam on the Wag Water River located in Hermitage, a small district of Stony Hill in the St. Andrew parish. The Hermitage Dam is owned by the National Water Commission of Jamaica, and was built in 1924 then commissioned in 1927 with the sole purpose of providing municipal water to the Kingston & St. Andrew parishes. Unlike the Mona Reservoir, Kingston Metropolitan Area’s larger source of municipal water, Hermitage is not designed nor promoted for recreational use but I hope that’ll change one day as the surrounding area is quite beautiful and holds much potential.

Continue reading “Into The Hills: A Hike To Hermitage Dam” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle17 Comments

Cinchona Botanical Garden, Saint Andrew

Nestled in the Blue Mountains, Jamaica’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, this beautiful botanical garden is named for its cinchona trees which were first planted in 1868. Cinchona trees are used to make quinine, a medicine used in the treatment of malaria, the serious mosquito-borne illness which has been eradicated from Jamaica since 1965. Located at between 4500 and 5500 feet above sea level, Cinchona Botanical Gardens boasts the record of Highest Botanical Garden in the Western Hemisphere. For these reasons, Cinchona has long been on my Jamaican bucket list but visits require either a 4×4 or hiking with an experienced guide. As such, I finally accomplished the trek with the illustrious company of Trekkers Adventures JA. Here’s how this adventure went + why you should visit!

Continue reading “Cinchona Botanical Garden, Saint Andrew” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle23 Comments

The 10 Best Hiking Trails in Jamaica

Did you know that the Caribbean island of Jamaica is 50% mountain? The island is often associated with reggae music and relaxing on the sand, but its diverse terrain makes Jamaica good for hiking too. From misty mountains to cascading waterfalls, Jamaica’s hiking trails offer an unforgettable adventure for nature enthusiasts and explorers. Even better, hiking in Jamaica is safe as we have no venomous snakes or dangerous animals in our montane forests. Here are the 10 best hiking trails in Jamaica, each promising unique vistas and unforgettable experiences. These are my tried and true experiences on the island to date in no particular order.

Continue reading “The 10 Best Hiking Trails in Jamaica” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Hiking the Cunha Cunha Pass in St. Thomas

Have you ever done a hike which you know will forever be etched in your memory? I first heard about the Cunha Cunha Pass trail in high school history classes, as it’s an important Maroon trail filled with rich history. I’ve had it on my list to visit for years, but my compact car is not built for the treacherous roads which lead to Hayfield, St. Thomas– the start-point of this hike. That being said, the opportunity to visit Cunha Cunha Pass with Trekkers Adventures Jamaica knocked on Emancipation Day last month, and I answered the call! Here’s how it went + everything to know about this Jamaican national monument.

Continue reading “Hiking the Cunha Cunha Pass in St. Thomas” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle26 Comments
Hiking trail with 3 cows and 2 people

Bull Head Mountain, Clarendon

The Bull Head Mountains is a 545-acre mountain range located in north Clarendon. The mountain is named for its shape of a bull head when seen out from sea. Bull Head Mountain Peak is located at 3600 feet (1097m) above sea level, and the gentle trail which leads to it is one of the best hiking trails in Jamaica. The Rio Minho, Jamaica’s longest river, originates in the Bull Head Mountains and its natural spring water is bottled straight from the source. What’s even cooler about these mountains is that they contain the geographical centre of Jamaica and there’s a marker to prove it. This post covers how to find the geographical centre of Jamaica and the Bull Head Mountain Peak.

Continue reading “Bull Head Mountain, Clarendon” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle23 Comments