St. Toolis: A South Coast Gem

St. Toolis is a district in Porus on the border of Clarendon and Manchester, in which a gorgeous free watering hole can be found. The residents call it Blue Hole but this river is actually a tributary of the Milk River in Clarendon. Porus was founded by Baptist missionary James Phillippo and became the sixth free village in Jamaica for ex-slaves after emancipation. Porus was originally named Vale Lionel after then governor of Jamaica Sir Lionel Smith, but the name eventually changed to Porus because of the porous nature of the district’s soil.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle15 Comments

Discover Sea Riv: Tips for Visiting Alligator Pond

I originally hail from Kingston, but the parish of Manchester has been my home for the past two years. There’s a chance I may leave Manchester soon, but I’ll cherish the experiences and friendships I’ve built here forever. One of the things I lamented while reflecting on the end of my first year in Manchester is that I’d barely explored the parish, and I vowed to change that for my second year. One year later, I’m pleased to have explored almost all the places worth seeing in this cool mountainous parish– from Noisy River up north to Alligator Pond by the coast. I went to Little Ochi in January this year for the first time, and while the wait time was horrendous, I appreciated the experience a lot. However, who knew that another gem was so close by! I heard of the Alligator Pond River, also known as Sea Riv, just a few weeks ago and decided to check it out before my stint in Manchester expires. Read on to learn about Sea Riv, an estuary where the Alligator Pond River meets the Caribbean Sea.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle18 Comments

Poet Reef: A Private Luxury Villa in Jamaica

Poet Reef is a salubrious luxury three bedroom waterfront villa located on Jamaica’s north coast in Cousins Cove, Hanover. Constructed of hand-cut stone and furnished with locally made pieces, the villa looks like a home which could have been built in a previous era, but is equipped with modern conveniences which would give it away as a gem from our generation. Poet Reef overlooks an expansive cove and the view is nothing short of breathtaking. Consider Poet Reef for your next vacation on Jamaica’s north coast if you’re looking for a unique place to idle awhile. Let me take you on a short tour of this beautiful property.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle18 Comments

Lethe: Your Guide to Rafting the Great River

Lethe is a rural district tucked away in the hills of Hanover, Jamaica’s second smallest parish. This small community sits on the banks of the Great River, one of Jamaica’s major rivers, which forms the boundary between the St. James and Hanover parishes. Lethe is easily the third most popular place to raft in Jamaica after the Rio Grande and Martha Brae rivers in Portland and Trelawny respectively. Rafting on 30-feet long bamboo rafts along the Great River in Lethe under a historic bridge and the cool viridescent canopy of towering trees and bamboo is an unforgettable experience.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

Tryall Water Wheel, Hanover

I’ve heard of the Tryall Golf Course and Beach Club in Hanover on the outskirts of Montego Bay before, but I didn’t know that the property had a gigantic waterwheel. I noticed the Jamaica Heritage Trail signs while driving through the area some weekends ago, and decided to stop. I was in for a pleasant surprise. This still functioning cast iron waterwheel was assembled in 1700 by Henry Fairchild, the first owner of the estate. It was damaged in the 1831 Sam Sharpe Christmas slave rebellion but was subsequently restored.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle23 Comments

Fort Charlotte, Hanover

Last weekend I had the immense privilege of visiting and staying in Hanover, Jamaica’s second smallest parish, on the northwestern coast of the island. Hanover was the last of Jamaica’s fourteen parishes for me to visit and I accomplished that feat last August with a stay at the Grand Palladium Hotel. However, I didn’t explore the parish otherwise so it was exciting to be back less than a year later. I knew I had to check out Fort Charlotte in Lucea because I love exploring historical gems. One thing about forts is that they always command an amazing view of the harbour since they were strategically built to defend the nation’s waters.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Hampden Estate Rum Tour, Trelawny

Nestled deep in the Queen-of-Spain valley of Trelawny, Jamaica lies the Hampden Estate. Hampden Estate was established in 1753, and still produces rum to this day using centuries’-old traditions with just a few modern upgrades. This relatively small sugarcane estate and rum distillery occupy roughly 3,500 acres and have remained in continuous operation for over 260 years, making some of the world’s most sought after and award-winning rums. Their aged rums are bottled as Hampden Estate rums, while their unaged rum is sold as Rum Fire white overproof rum. Interestingly enough, majority of the rum produced by this estate is exported to Europe, and the waitlist for a shipment of Hampden rum can be as long as two years. Very little is available on the local market so many Jamaicans are unfamiliar with the Hampden brand, even in 2025, but the Hampden Estate Rum Tour will change that.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle13 Comments

8 Adrenaline Adventures in Jamaica You Can’t Miss

Adrenaline is a hormone released by two tiny organs located atop the kidneys, known as the adrenal glands. Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is the “fight-or-flight hormone.” Adrenaline is released in response to stressful, exciting and dangerous situations. Adrenaline helps the body to react more quickly by increasing the heart rate, increasing blood flow to the brain and muscles and stimulating the body to release energy stores for fuel. When adrenaline is released suddenly, it’s referred to as an adrenaline rush. That rush is euphoric and addictive and makes people willingly put themselves into situations which could potentially be dangerous! Today, let’s take a look at eight adrenaline packed adventures which one can have in Jamaica.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle24 Comments

Brae Head Falls, Clarendon

Clarendon is not a parish which comes to mind when one thinks of a Jamaican adventure, but it’s a parish which has been on my mind to explore for a bit. Clarendon is located on Jamaica’s south coast in the centre of the island with a population of 246,000 people, most of whom reside in and around May Pen on the Vere Plains. Clarendon is bordered by St. Catherine to the east, Manchester to the west and St. Ann to the north. The parish, like all 14 parishes of Jamaica, is washed by the Caribbean Sea and has attractions like Milk River Bath and the recently crash-landed plane at Rocky Point on its south coast. Up north is mountainous with rivers, a nature reserve and the geographic centre of Jamaica at Bull Head Mountain Peak. It’s surprising that the area isn’t marketed for ecotourism, but again Jamaica is a country which is full of unmarketed potential. The waterfalls in Brae Head are often listed as being located in the neighbouring communities of Crooked River or Trout Hall, just because Brae Head isn’t on the map of Jamaica! Here’s how to find this remote corner of Jamaica.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle33 Comments

I Got the Oxford/ Astra Zeneca CoVid-19 Vaccine!

Outside has been “locked” since March 10, 2020 when Jamaica recorded its first case of SARS-CoV-2, or CoVid-19. Dozens of deadly diseases have been eradicated due to vaccines, and now it seems this coronavirus could suffer a similar fate! Astute scientists around the world have come up with vaccines which can either prevent us from getting the virus, or decrease the severity of illness should we get it. However, the conspiracy theorists, doctors with degrees from social media university and a few fear-mongering headlines have driven fear into a population which is already overwhelmed and inundated with news regarding this pandemic. Three cases of blood clots in Europe and every side effect or allergic reaction to these vaccines have made news with little additional information provided for comparison and clarity, placing more skepticism and worry in people’s minds.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle40 Comments