22 Photos Which Show Why Portland is Jamaica’s Most Beautiful Parish

Portland is easily Jamaica’s most beautiful parish with a great diversity in landscapes ranging from Jamaica’s highest mountain peak at a chilly 7,402 feet and dipping as low as to sea level with warm tropical breezes wafting in from the Caribbean Sea. What’s even lovelier is that this parish is untouched from the droves of tourists which flock our major three tourist cities and towns, so it’s possible you’ll find many of these gems 100% empty (and uncommercialized) if you visit. Portland attracts a more ecotourist laidback vibe so it’s no wonder yoga and wellness resorts have been growing in popularity in this side of the island. I’ll let the pictures do the talking– here’s why Portland is my favourite ❤ and Jamaica’s most beautiful parish.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle39 Comments

Why I Won’t Swim With Dolphins in Jamaica.. Or Anywhere

Dolphins are the number three top tourist attraction in Jamaica. Swimming with dolphins is a bucket list item for many and these adorable smiling ads make it easy to see why. Regarded as some of Earth’s most intelligent animals, dolphins are as smart as apes with brains surprisingly similar to that of humans. They are very social mammals living in matrilineal groups that hunt and play together with as many as 1,000 members. Each pod has its own language, every individual has a name and survival and nurturing skills are taught. Their language is highly complex and to date has scarcely been deciphered by humans. They can swim 100 miles in a day and have been recorded to dive to 1,000 feet. Their hearing is better than adult humans and their sense of touch and sight is well-developed. Their biggest threat though? Man.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle67 Comments

Puerto Seco Beach, Saint Ann

Puerto Seco is a white sand beach located along Jamaica’s north coast in the historic town of Discovery Bay, St. Ann. Christopher Columbus is believed to have first landed in Jamaica on this beach with his three ships Santa Maria, Pinta and Niña in 1494. For this same reason, a park named after him lies just five minutes’ drive away. Recently leased and refurbished by the Guardsman Group security company, Puerto Seco is one of Jamaica’s most iconic beaches and was renovated to highlight that historic charm.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

Fish Dunn Falls, Portland

Last month I decided to see what lies beyond the road to Holywell and what awaited was a pleasant surprise. I’d intended to visit at least one more waterfall from the parish of Portland going by this list of all the waterfalls in Jamaica, but ended up seeing three: Cascade waterfall, an unnamed pair and this mesmerizing beauty named Fish Dunn/Done Falls in the community of Silver Hill.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle32 Comments

Cascade Falls, Portland

Jamaicans are so matter-of-fact when it comes to naming places. Cascade waterfall, also called One Drop Falls, is located in a tiny rural district by the name of– you guessed it– Cascade. What Cascade lacks in breadth it makes up for in height measuring over 100 feet tall! The waterfall is visible from the main road and that seems to be where most people are content with getting their view of this beauty. Of course, that wouldn’t be adequate for an adventurous soul like myself.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

Reach Falls, Portland

Well well well, if it isn’t more of my favourite parish in the whole of Jamaica! Portland is an ecotourist’s haven with idyllic beaches, cool forests, relaxing rafting on the Rio Grande, nature resorts, sanctuaries and close to a dozen majestic waterfalls, both named and unnamed. The elysian Reach Falls in Manchioneal is a series of delightful cascades along the Driver’s River. It was first discovered centuries ago by runaway slaves from plantations in the neighbouring parish of St. Thomas who sought refuge in the John Crow Mountains.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle28 Comments

Boston Beach, Portland

I’m convinced that Portland has Jamaica’s best beaches! Boston Beach was a long drive from Kingston but that was quickly forgotten by time I arrived. Although it was my first time visiting this beach, I was always aware it existed because just next to it is the Boston Jerk Centre, home to Jamaica’s most famous jerk chicken and pork, a place of which I’ve always heard but never visited.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Romantic Things to Do in Jamaica for Couples

These date ideas don’t include your average dinner and a movie, although that’s a classic date night combination for a reason and I’m not knocking it. I think my romantic life is interesting enough but I often hear it said that there aren’t enough romantic things for couples to do in  Jamaica! When setting those friends and acquaintances straight, I often find myself getting stuck after listing three or four activities. Thus, I decided to think really hard, hit my friends up and create the ultimate list of 30+ romantic ideas for Jamaican couples in Kingston and beyond, separated by fun day-trips and date nights. All prices are listed in JMD and ranked from cheapest to most expensive, including the activity cost for two (updated for 2026!).

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Guide To The Blue Mountains of Jamaica

My favourite corner of Jamaica is the Blue Mountains. This commanding mountain range spans four parishes in the eastern end of the island and was recognized as Jamaica’s first UNESCO world heritage site in 2015. The Blue Mountains are an ecotourist’s paradise with an abundance of conifers, ferns, bromeliads and endemic birds not seen in most other parts of the country. There’s also quite a lot to see, taste and do in these rugged hillsides, so let Adventures from Elle be your guide to this magnetic Jamaican destination which is still relatively unexplored in comparison to the island’s resort towns.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle22 Comments

Dead End Beach, Saint James

Jamaicans are unpretentious when it comes to place names. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this beach gets its name from being located at the end of a dead end street in Montego Bay, St. James parish. When I started this blog back in December 2016, I said I’d make it my point of duty to highlight free beaches across Jamaica since I resent the privatization of our best pieces of coastline and the need to pay for enjoying the natural resources of sun, sand and sea. My two beach posts in 2018, namely Frenchman’s Cove and James Bond Beach, strayed from that commitment but here I am, back in 2019 with the free beach link!

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle39 Comments