Girl jumping with Jamaican flag at Sacsayhuaman

Do You Have A Favourite Place Visited? Here’s Mine.

Today’s WordPress prompt asks: do you have a favourite place that you’ve visited? I love my island home of Kingston, Jamaica very much as it’s warm and vibrant and filled with lots of spots for great food, live reggae music, mountain views and even has nearby beaches, rivers and waterfalls: all of my favourite things! Kingston is fast becoming a melting pot of cultures too, with influences from China, India, Latin America, the Middle East and more. Tourism drives the physical development and entertainment options available in the city too, which is great. While Jamaica will always hold the #1 spot in my heart, and I haven’t been outside the country a lot (yet), here’s why Peru is the favourite place I’ve visited (so far). Note: I visited in May 2022.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle34 Comments

Is Jamaica Safe for Tourists?

Derived from an Arawakan word which means “Land of Wood and Water,” Jamaica is a popular Caribbean destination known for its beautiful rivers, lush rainforests, stunning beaches, vibrant culture and warm hospitality. While Jamaica is a tourist hotspot, like any other travel destination, it’s essential to be mindful of safety concerns in order to ensure a secure and enjoyable trip, especially if you’re traveling solo! With that said, today I sat down with solo traveler Amanda of Amanda’s 876 Adventures to find out if Jamaica is safe for tourists + get some great tips for tourists traveling to Jamaica.

TL;DR: Yes, Jamaica is safe for tourists with a 0.01% chance of visitors ever experiencing any crime here!

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

Unearth Taino History at These 5 Sites in Jamaica

If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you’ll realize that I love history. I’m very fascinated by ancient civilizations, especially the people who lived in the Americas before Columbus changed World History forever in 1492. This explains why visiting the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu was high on my bucket list. Another group of people who fascinate me just as much are the Tainos, one of Jamaica’s first people. That being said, today I’ll talk about the Tainos and five Taino sites which still exist in Jamaica today.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

Five Enchanting Places for Bamboo Rafting in Jamaica

Rafting showcases the resourcefulness of Jamaicans, symbolized by the black on our flag’s saltire of black, green and gold. The main kind of rafts in Jamaica are made from 30-foot bamboo poles lashed together with wire, and are as beautiful as they are functional and buoyant. Rafting was once the only way possible to move goods from our deep mountainous interior to the coast for export, but it soon became a tourist activity as there is no better feeling than floating down Jamaica’s tranquil rivers while surrounded by lush greenery. Bamboo rafting provides a serene and immersive way to connect with Jamaica’s natural beauty and unwind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In this guide, we will explore five of the most enchanting places to go bamboo rafting in Jamaica. I’m happy to have visited all five, so I’ll add my own commentary and comparisons as we go along.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

No Passport Needed to Fly With A.S.W.I. in Kingston

From the beginning of time, humans have been fascinated by air. Since we have no wings, we’ve used our well-developed frontal cortices to create our own way to fly and in 1903, the Wright brothers executed the world’s first successful airplane flight. One century later, airplanes are now the modus operandi for moving goods and people, and gets the task done in hours instead of days by land or sea. Within Jamaica, however, land transport reigns supreme on a dense road network of over 20,000km. Nonetheless, Jamaica has three international and three domestic airports, which makes it possible to fly within Jamaica without needing a passport! Here’s how I took a recreational flight with the Aeronautical School of the West Indies (A.S.W.I.) in Kingston recently, and how you can too.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Salt River, Clarendon

Salt River is a free public mineral bath located in a community by the same name near the coast of Clarendon, one of Jamaica’s south central parishes. Jamaica’s south coast isn’t popular with tourists because this part of the country isn’t marketed nor developed for tourism. Nonetheless, there are several gems here worth visiting and I aim to visit and write about as many as I can. Here’s how my family trip to Salt River went, updated for 2026. If you need a hotel in this side of Jamaica, browse here.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle41 Comments

A Local’s Guide to Spanish River in Portland

Oh Portland, my favourite parish! I recently celebrated my birthday by rafting on the Rio Grande, followed by a weekend stay at the Orange Bay Camp Ground. Before visiting, I’d scanned the area for hidden gems I could combine with this trip and realized that the Spanish River would be in close proximity. A section of it which we wanted to visit is now unfortunately commercialized and closed to the public unless previously reserved and in groups of 20+ persons. However, by local tip I discovered this inexpensive section at the mouth of the Spanish River where it meets the sea. Here’s how it went.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle26 Comments

Rafting on the Rio Grande in Portland, Jamaica

Rio Grande was the final river to complete my Jamaican bamboo rafting bucket list. This rafting experience is the most meaningful, as the Rio Grande is the birthplace of rafting in Jamaica. Originally designed to transport bananas from deep inland to the coast for export, these bamboo rafts were made popular by Errol Flynn in the early 1900s for recreation. The Rio Grande is one of Jamaica’s largest rivers at 3034km and lies in a beautiful valley. Rio Grande was named by early Spanish settlers in the 1500s, and rafting down a 10-km stretch of it is now one of Jamaica’s top tourist attractions. Here’s how my birthday rafting trip to the Rio Grande went.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle36 Comments

Culinary Delights on Jamaica’s North Coast

Although I seldom visit because I’m too busy discovering gems closer to home, Jamaica’s north coast is lovely! Our north coast has breathtaking white sand beaches, beautiful waterfalls cascading through lush rainforests and also a vibrant culinary scene. With a rich blend of flavours influenced by indigenous ingredients, our African heritage, European legacy and Asian fusion cuisines, the North Coast offers a gastronomic journey like no other. In this article, I’ll take you on a culinary tour of four restaurants on Jamaica’s North Coast. Each of these establishments brings a unique perspective to the island’s culinary offerings, celebrating local ingredients and traditions while also introducing innovative twists. The atmosphere at these four restaurants is also a treat.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle26 Comments

Unwind at Lowe’s Camping Ground in Portland

Picture this: you escape to warm, sunny Jamaica with your loved ones to unwind for a few days. Would you want an unforgettable camping experience surrounded by the beauty of nature or to stay at your private villa in the countryside with all the modern amenities at your convenience? Wouldn’t it be great if no one had to compromise on their travel taste because one property offered both options? Exactly. Welcome to the Lowe’s Camping Ground & Retreat (formerly Orange Bay Camping Ground) in Portland, Jamaica, which offers a diverse range of accommodations in paradise.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle22 Comments