Jamaica!!!
- Thread starter Dbarnes
- Start date
Plenty suggestions depending on what you're into. The island is pretty small...my best bit of advice on how to get out and experience the island is to step just outside the resort and find a friendly taxi driver. You can haggle the cost to where you hire the driver for the day, and he will show you around the country. It definitely beats hopping on the tour bus.
If you head toward the other side of the island at all...there are some must-see spots in Ocho Rios. Fern gully is an amazing rainforest tucked in the hills just South of Ocho Rios. The drive alone is worth it...but there's also a crystal clear stream running through there with hundreds of colorful FW fish along the shallow banks. Also check out Dunns River Falls if you head that way. But...don't drive straight there. Ask to be taken to the other side of the bay across from the falls...then hop on a glass-bottom boat. They will take you across the bay to the base of the falls, and while you are in that bay on the boat you pass over a beautiful coral reef just below the surface of the water. It's pretty incredible. The hike up the falls is intense in spots...but doable, and there are guides to show you the way up.
For a more touristy must do...check out Pelican bar in negril. It's definitely a unique experience.
Ask away if you have specific questions...it's been a handful of years since I've been back, but technically I'm a dual citizen so I know my way around
If you head toward the other side of the island at all...there are some must-see spots in Ocho Rios. Fern gully is an amazing rainforest tucked in the hills just South of Ocho Rios. The drive alone is worth it...but there's also a crystal clear stream running through there with hundreds of colorful FW fish along the shallow banks. Also check out Dunns River Falls if you head that way. But...don't drive straight there. Ask to be taken to the other side of the bay across from the falls...then hop on a glass-bottom boat. They will take you across the bay to the base of the falls, and while you are in that bay on the boat you pass over a beautiful coral reef just below the surface of the water. It's pretty incredible. The hike up the falls is intense in spots...but doable, and there are guides to show you the way up.
For a more touristy must do...check out Pelican bar in negril. It's definitely a unique experience.
Ask away if you have specific questions...it's been a handful of years since I've been back, but technically I'm a dual citizen so I know my way around
jahmic;173419 said:
Plenty suggestions depending on what you're into. The island is pretty small...my best bit of advice on how to get out and experience the island is to step just outside the resort and find a friendly taxi driver. You can haggle the cost to where you hire the driver for the day, and he will show you around the country. It definitely beats hopping on the tour bus.
If you head toward the other side of the island at all...there are some must-see spots in Ocho Rios. Fern gully is an amazing rainforest tucked in the hills just South of Ocho Rios. The drive alone is worth it...but there's also a crystal clear stream running through there with hundreds of colorful FW fish along the shallow banks. Also check out Dunns River Falls if you head that way. But...don't drive straight there. Ask to be taken to the other side of the bay across from the falls...then hop on a glass-bottom boat. They will take you across the bay to the base of the falls, and while you are in that bay on the boat you pass over a beautiful coral reef just below the surface of the water. It's pretty incredible. The hike up the falls is intense in spots...but doable, and there are guides to show you the way up.
For a more touristy must do...check out Pelican bar in negril. It's definitely a unique experience.
Ask away if you have specific questions...it's been a handful of years since I've been back, but technically I'm a dual citizen so I know my way around
If you head toward the other side of the island at all...there are some must-see spots in Ocho Rios. Fern gully is an amazing rainforest tucked in the hills just South of Ocho Rios. The drive alone is worth it...but there's also a crystal clear stream running through there with hundreds of colorful FW fish along the shallow banks. Also check out Dunns River Falls if you head that way. But...don't drive straight there. Ask to be taken to the other side of the bay across from the falls...then hop on a glass-bottom boat. They will take you across the bay to the base of the falls, and while you are in that bay on the boat you pass over a beautiful coral reef just below the surface of the water. It's pretty incredible. The hike up the falls is intense in spots...but doable, and there are guides to show you the way up.
For a more touristy must do...check out Pelican bar in negril. It's definitely a unique experience.
Ask away if you have specific questions...it's been a handful of years since I've been back, but technically I'm a dual citizen so I know my way around
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Lol...yea...absolutely. My first diving experience was in Ocho Rios, but I didn't go again after that for a good 5 years. The reefs are pretty amazing out there; I wasn't a reefer back then, but from memory I'd say there were huge gorgonian colonies along the tops of the reefs. There are also 5ft long nurse sharks...which is why I stopped diving for 5 years afterwards.
I understand that they're harmless...but at the time I was walking on the sea bed in this "canyon" that the guide took me to, assisted by a weight belt to keep me close to the bottom. The shark came around the corner, startled the hell out of me, and circled around behind me to check me out. I dropped my belt and made a bee-line to the boat. The guide saw it all...was having a good laugh, and insisted I go back in the water for his belt. Needless to say, I didn't get back in the water. :b
If you can get in the water, you won't be disappointed though. I'm pretty much over my fear of sharks these days (I think), and would definitely go back and dive next opportunity I get.
I understand that they're harmless...but at the time I was walking on the sea bed in this "canyon" that the guide took me to, assisted by a weight belt to keep me close to the bottom. The shark came around the corner, startled the hell out of me, and circled around behind me to check me out. I dropped my belt and made a bee-line to the boat. The guide saw it all...was having a good laugh, and insisted I go back in the water for his belt. Needless to say, I didn't get back in the water. :b
If you can get in the water, you won't be disappointed though. I'm pretty much over my fear of sharks these days (I think), and would definitely go back and dive next opportunity I get.
