48 Hours in Panama City

Panama owes me nothing! The idea of visiting Panama on a stopover entered my head in 2022 after I flew to Peru with Copa Airlines, Panama’s flagship carrier. Copa has a stopover program which allows tourists in transit to spend up to seven days in Panama for the price of one ticket. Perfect, right? Well, I finally made use of this exciting deal en route to Medellín, Colombia and had the time of my life. Here’s how this trip went. Feel free to steal my Panama City 2 Day itinerary, and check out my favourite Panamanian excursions.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

Visiting the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a manmade 82 km waterway which cuts across the isthmus of Panama to connect the world’s two largest oceans. This engineering marvel serves as an important conduit for global maritime trade, earning it a spot on ASCE’s list of Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Thousands of Caribbean people, including Jamaicans, were instrumental to the construction of the Panama Canal and even lost their lives as a result. As such, visiting the Panama Canal is a dream come true for me, allowing me to pay homage to my Caribbean ancestors. With that said, let’s talk about the history of the Canal and how to plan a visit in 2026 & beyond.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle10 Comments

How to Avoid Getting Sick When You Travel

By time you’re reading this, I’m celebrating my 29th birthday in a foreign country. While vacations are a time to unwind, explore new places and create lasting memories, what they don’t tell you about travel is that falling ill on vacation can derail a perfect holiday. Whether you’re traveling to a tropical paradise, a bustling city, or a serene countryside, it’s important to take steps to protect your health. Below is my comprehensive guide on how to avoid getting sick during vacation, covering everything from vaccinations to hydration and then some.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

River Rendezvous at Tapioca Village Retreat

The best adventures are spontaneous ones. With summer coming to a close and finally having a mutual day-off with my partner, we decided that a river trip was a must. Deciding on Tapioca was easy because they answered the phone on my first try, and pleasantly confirmed that walk-ins were indeed welcome! Even better, Tapioca was super easy to find along the Junction main road (A3) in St. Mary. Here’s how this adventure went + why you should add the Tapioca Village Retreat to your Jamaican bucket list.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

30 Things That Make Me Happy

I’m a day late for this WordPress prompt but I’ve been meaning to write a post outside of my usual Friday series which I’m proud to announce has been running for 62 consecutive weeks. This prompt is perfect as I try to remain optimistic despite life’s challenges. Most days will not be extraordinary so it’s important to find joy in one’s daily routine. Ordinary days make it easier to appreciate the extraordinary ones, so here are 30 regular things which make me happy + a mid-year check-in post.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

5 Unique Airbnbs in Jamaica for Under $100 Per Night

It’s no secret– Jamaica and the wider Caribbean are expensive destinations to visit because our economies rely heavily on tourism. That being said, a visit to Jamaica doesn’t have to break the bank if you know where to go. There is a wide variety of accommodations in Jamaica ranging from high end all-inclusive hotels and luxury villas, to more affordable nature lodges and even hostels. If you’re on a budget, feast your eyes on these five unique cabins and apartments, all for under $100USD per night. Each are steeped in nature and local culture, the best way to experience the island.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle6 Comments

How Arah Rides Is Revolutionizing Car Rental in Jamaica

The best way to experience Jamaica is by car because the island has over 17,000 kilometers of road network which connects all major towns and cities. A new player has entered Jamaica’s vibrant car rental market, bringing a fresh and innovative approach for travelers and locals alike. If you’ve ever rented a car in Jamaica, you may have experienced an element of surprise and perhaps even disappointment with what showed up as most local car rental companies don’t show you the actual vehicle until it’s time to collect the keys. Arah Rides launched in April 2024 to fill that niche and redefine the customer experience of renting a car in Jamaica through a unique blend of transparency, convenience, affordability, and modern technology. Here are 5 features which sets Arah Rides apart from other car rental companies.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle8 Comments

Be Careful When Eating These 3 Jamaican Seafood

Jamaica’s rich marine ecosystem is a vital part of our cultural heritage, economy and environmental health. This vibrant underwater world is home to a diverse array of species, including the parrotfish, lobster and queen conch. However, these species face significant threats from overfishing and habitat destruction. To ensure their survival and the health of the broader marine ecosystem, it is crucial to avoid eating parrotfish and respect Jamaica’s closed seasons for lobster and conch. Today, let’s talk about the reasons behind these practices and their importance for sustainable marine conservation.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

Tropical Terror: The Wrath of Hurricane Beryl

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 every year. Jamaica’s most devastating hurricane was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, and as a child, it’s something all the grown-ups spoke about every time storms came up in conversation. I think they were all traumatized from the lack of electricity and running water for weeks as the country grappled with billions of damages and had a delay in restoring these vital connections. Jamaicans learnt a lot about how to prepare for hurricanes since then. My first hurricane was Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and I feel foolish that I’d wanted to experience one in my child-like ignorance; now I wish to NEVER experience one again. Since then we’ve had a string of other dangerous storms such as Hurricanes Dennis and Emily in 2005, Dean in 2008 and Sandy in 2012, but Beryl has surpassed them all.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle30 Comments

8 Ways to Beat the Heat this Summer in Jamaica

Every summer seems to get hotter and hotter in Jamaica, and you would be right! The hottest meteorological summer ever recorded in Jamaica was from June to August 2023 with an average daily temperature of 30.6 °C. The Caribbean region is one of the most vulnerable parts of the world to the effects of climate change. In Jamaica, like the wider Caribbean, we feel these effects in the form of heat waves, droughts, water scarcity, food insecurity and mountain wildfires. Hurricanes and flash floods may also become more intense. The heat can have deleterious effects on our health too, increasing our risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Some persons are at greater risk of being affected by the sweltering heat, such as the elderly, bedridden persons, infants, children, overweight persons and those with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.  As the summer heat intensifies, staying cool has to be a top priority. Whether you’re a local or visitor, these eight practical tips will help you beat the heat and enjoy our vibrant island life to the fullest.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle13 Comments