Kayaking in Jamaica: A Unique Way to Experience the Island’s Beauty

Jamaica is a popular tourist destination for anyone wanting to enjoy clear blue waters and white sands, and for the active traveler who likes to explore. Before the pandemic hit, Jamaica welcomed 4.2 million visitors in 2019, but Covid had a searing effect on tourism. In 2020, Jamaica saw just 1.33 million arrivals, and this deeply impacted one of the country’s major industries. However, the pandemic helped to drive up the popularity of many outdoor activities including kayaking. In some areas, sales of kayaks increased by 50% as people grew tired of lockdowns and sought to enjoy the outdoors more. Now that travel restrictions have been lifted, Jamaica is once again a destination for watersports lovers. If you ever want to relax and have someone else do the sailing though, check out this weekly catamaran tour from Kingston.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle34 Comments

Stewart Castle, Trelawny

The sightseeing detours on a road trip are almost as exciting as the destination itself. On the drive home from my weekend getaway at Animal Farm, my partner and I made two sightseeing detours. Our first was the Persian Water Wheel in Falmouth which I covered in January; Stewart Castle was the second. Present-day Stewart Castle lies in ruin but was once an impressive cut stone mansion, built in the 1760s by enslaved Africans. Here’s everything you need to know about Stewart Castle near Duncans, Trelawny.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle21 Comments

Reggae Month in Jamaica

Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?

February around the world is a special time for people of African descent, such as myself. We celebrate the achievements of our race and our rich heritage, while pausing to reflect on the atrocities of chattel slavery which our ancestors endured and which interrupted our history for three centuries. However, in Jamaica, February has much more special meaning.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle38 Comments

15 Pros and Cons of Taking a Credit Card with You on a Trip Around the World

Cashless transactions are growing significantly on a global level. Countries like South Korea are leading the change with 77 percent of its citizens preferring cashless payments. Even those that are slower in adoption are already seeing a big uptick, with the Philippines seeing 33 percent of its citizens leaning towards cashless payments. With how feasible it is to get a credit card now or set up a digital wallet, it’s worth considering how practical this is when going on a trip around the world. As global travel continues to grow in the wake of the pandemic, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of travelling with a credit card.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle31 Comments

Discovering Houston, TX with Kids: Adventures and Activities for All Ages

Today, let’s take a break from the tropics to explore Houston, Texas. Houston is the USA’s fourth-largest metropolis and offers endless opportunities for adventure and excitement. Whether it’s soaking up the history and culture of the city or having fun in the sun, Houston has it all. This article will highlight the best adventures and activities for kids in Houston, Texas. Whether you’re looking for outdoor excitement or indoor adventures, this article covers you.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle14 Comments

Mountain River Cave & Falls, Saint Catherine

If at first you don’t succeed, try again, right? I tried visiting this waterfall one lazy afternoon in November 2022, but my travel partner and I were warned by three different residents in Cudjoe Hill that the river “come down” (was swollen) after recent heavy rainfall so that wouldn’t be a good idea. We heeded their warning and went home feeling despondent that we didn’t get to cross this one off the list. One month later we returned mid-morning and achieved success! Thus, now I can tell you all about the Mountain River Cave and Cudjoe Falls in St. Catherine. There’s some interesting Taino (Amerindian) history behind this one.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle36 Comments

Everything To Know About Driving In Jamaica

The best way to experience Jamaica is by car at your own pace. Jamaica has a wide variety of landscapes ranging from reef-lined beaches, hot dusty plains, cool rugged mountains and sweeping river valleys. This landscape diversity makes the island perfect for road trips. Jamaica has over 17,000 kilometers of road networks which connect all major towns and cities. There is always something to see out the window such as colorful urban murals, street markets, omnipresent mountains and remnants of the island’s rich colonial past such as centuries-old churches, aqueducts and courthouses. You may even pass waterfalls flowing right next to the road. Self-driving in Jamaica gives you the independence to stop as you please and absorb everything.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle42 Comments

Persian Water Wheel, Trelawny

On the drive home from my weekend getaway at Animal Farm, my partner and I made a sightseeing detour– something which has become our norm. We had both passed signs to the Persian Water Wheel before on different occasions but never stopped. The Persian Water Wheel was built in 1798 to provide water from the Martha Brae river to the town of Falmouth in Trelawny on Jamaica’s north coast. In 2008, it was restored using many of the original parts. It still turns to this day once the river’s water level is high enough, such as after recent rainfall. The water wheel now lies on private property which is used to host events such as weddings, but thankfully we came at the end of a function and were able to view the wheel without interrupting. Here’s how this excursion went.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

Experience Life Off the Grid at Animal Farm

Nestled in the Montpelier Hills near Montego Bay, Jamaica lies the alluring Animal Farm and Nature Reserve. This 40-acre sanctuary sits in a lush rainforest valley which is supplied by the Great River, one of Jamaica’s fastest flowing rivers. Dr. Geoffrey Williams, the owner of Animal Farm, acquired the thickly wooded land in the 1990s and transformed it into a beautiful off-the-grid farm. Animal Farm is solar-powered, harvests water from the Great River and uses bio-gas for refrigeration and cooking. Animal Farm opened to guests in 2000 and quickly became a naturalist and ecotourist’s paradise, teeming with ferns, towering trees, flowering plants and beautiful exotic birds. Today, one can escape the hustle and bustle of city life with a stay in one of the farm’s eco-cottages, or enjoy an edutaining farm tour, hiking, birdwatching, bamboo rafting excursion or even a self-guided tour through the farm at one’s own pace. In this article, I recap my weekend getaway and share why Animal Farm deserves a spot on your Jamaican bucket list.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

Jamaica Coffee 101: Is It Worth The Price Tag?

Coffee is the world’s most popular hot drink, prepared from roasted coffee beans. According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world after oil, with consumption listed at half a trillion cups per year. Humans have been drinking coffee for its stimulant properties for over one thousand years. Coffee beans were first introduced to Jamaica in 1728, and since then has had a long and intricate relationship with Jamaica’s culture and economy. Today we take a look at Jamaica’s coffee industry and figure out if Jamaican coffee is worth the price tag or not.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle22 Comments