The Olympia Art Gallery in Saint Andrew

Nestled in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica’s capital city, the Olympia Gallery stands as a testament to the island’s rich artistic heritage and its thriving contemporary art scene. What’s interesting about this gallery is that it is housed inside a residential complex, designed and built in the mid-1970s by Jamaican civil engineer A.D. Scott. As an avid art patron and sometime sculptor, he wanted to create a residential hotel within a centre for the arts. Forty years later, his vision still lives on. Here’s why you should pay a visit to this free art gallery in Kingston, Jamaica: the Olympia Gallery.

Continue reading “The Olympia Art Gallery in Saint Andrew” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle24 Comments

Abeokuta Paradise Nature Park, Westmoreland

Abeokuta Paradise Nature Park is the closest I’ll get to visiting Nigeria for a bit. When the first indentured Nigerian labourers were taken to Westmoreland, Jamaica after Emancipation, they noticed the similarities of their plantation to the beautiful plains and highlands of Abeokuta in southern Nigeria. Thus, when the Abeokuta Paradise Nature Park was officially opened on January 5, 2003 by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, it was renamed to honour its resilient ancestors. Located in Dean’s Valley/Water Works, Westmoreland, the park occupies 15 acres of land and possesses the oldest swimming pool in Jamaica which is nearly 500 years old! In fact, this is possibly one of the world’s oldest infinity pools and nears Olympic pool dimensions at an astounding 71 feet long and 47 feet wide, ranging from 4 to 10 feet in depth. Here’s what to expect at this hidden gem and historic slice of paradise.

Continue reading “Abeokuta Paradise Nature Park, Westmoreland” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle30 Comments

Festive Menus to Try This Christmas in Jamaica

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As such, I’ve written many articles about Christmas in Jamaica, including one about our unique Christmas carols and another about the interesting phenomenon of Christmas breeze. Most of those articles were written in 2020 for Blogmas when I had had more time to spare. Nonetheless, I think it’s time for a sequel to my 2020 article on festive eats as so many other restaurants and bars have hopped on the seasonal menu bandwagon and I’m here for it!

Continue reading “Festive Menus to Try This Christmas in Jamaica” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

Connect to Nature at Casas de Tierra in Runaway Bay

When do you take a break? Is it after working hard until you wear yourself thin, or do you schedule regular periods of rest? I’d say I fall into the latter group, but even I often struggle with achieving work-life balance. After working hard for several consecutive weeks, I got some much needed R&R and the best sleep I’d had in ages at the Casas de Tierra in Runaway Bay, St. Ann. With that said, today I’m here to recount my recent weekend experience at the beautiful adobe-style poolside Cattleya Cottage, and share why you should consider a stay at Casas de Tierra the next time you need to reconnect with nature.

Continue reading “Connect to Nature at Casas de Tierra in Runaway Bay” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle9 Comments
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.

Continue reading “Do You Have A Favourite Place Visited? Here’s Mine.” →

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!

Continue reading “Is Jamaica Safe for Tourists?” →

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.

Continue reading “Unearth Taino History at These 5 Sites in Jamaica” →

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.

Continue reading “Five Enchanting Places for Bamboo Rafting in Jamaica” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

Where to Use PayPal in Jamaica: Useful for Freelancers!

In an era of digital payments and online shopping, PayPal has emerged as a convenient and secure way to send and receive money worldwide. In fact, as a part-time freelance writer myself, PayPal is often the only method by which I can accept online payments in Jamaica. That being said, it can be difficult to access that income in Jamaica because we can’t simply withdraw to a local bank account (third world problems!). Sure, you can request a cheque but that will take weeks to arrive by mail and foreign cheques take up to six weeks to be cleared by local banks. There are third party businesses which cash out your PayPal dollars into Jamaican bank accounts, but they charge hefty fees and often use measly exchange rates (been there, no longer willing to do that!). Thus, how can Jamaicans benefit from PayPal? By figuring out which businesses will accept your hard-earned PayPal dollars in Jamaica! (Updated for 2025)

Continue reading “Where to Use PayPal in Jamaica: Useful for Freelancers!” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 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.

Continue reading “No Passport Needed to Fly With A.S.W.I. in Kingston” →

Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments