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”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.
Continue reading “Salt River, Clarendon”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.
Continue reading “A Local’s Guide to Spanish River in Portland”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.
Continue reading “Rafting on the Rio Grande in Portland, Jamaica”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.
Continue reading “Culinary Delights on Jamaica’s North Coast”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.
Continue reading “Unwind at Lowe’s Camping Ground in Portland”Langley Great House, Saint Andrew
Langley Great House is a hidden gem located just off the Mount Airy main road in Mount James, rural St. Andrew. With no work for a 3 day weekend, my partner and I decided it would be worth the trek to visit despite finding very little useful information about it online. It ended up being very easy to find, hiding in plain sight! I hope that this article will stir new interest in Langley Great House because it would benefit from some investment and TLC– as is the case with all public ruins and great houses in Jamaica. Here’s how this adventure went.
Continue reading “Langley Great House, Saint Andrew”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 the diverse terrain makes Jamaica good for hiking too. From misty mountains to cascading waterfalls, Jamaica’s hiking trails offer an unforgettable adventure so, nature enthusiasts and explorers, book that flight! 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”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”A Jamaica Coconut Festival? Why Not?
For now, the idea of a coconut festival is only that– an idea in my head, one placed there from a comment on my recent article about 10 must-visit food festivals in Jamaica. That comment left me wondering. If we have a Jamaica Rum Festival, A Jamaica Coffee Festival and possibly soon a Jamaica Chocolate Festival, what’s stopping us from having a Jamaica Coconut Festival too? After all, this would complete the list of food festivals to showcase Jamaica’s agriculture. Perhaps the only festivals we’d have room for after adding these 2 festivals to the line-up would be a banana and mango festival, ha. The possibilities are endless!
Continue reading “A Jamaica Coconut Festival? Why Not?”