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Jamaica - Its People, Natural Beauty and Fruits

January 20 - 29, 2012

Jamaica - Its People, Natural Beauty and Fruits


With tour leader Wilmer Martin

Plan to take a break from the cold winter while learning and experiencing another culture. Join TourMagination’s Wilmer Martin as he takes you to visit many special places in Jamaica, a country he loves and knows so well. Together, you will spend ten days in the warm, tropical island of Jamaica and explore the island as you visit special destinations in the country. You will enjoy meeting the friendly Jamaican people, seeing its natural beauty in different settings and tasting the delicious fruits and food of the Caribbean. You will have the opportunity to meet and worship with Jamaican Mennonites as well as becoming acquainted with local craftspeople and fruit growers. Audley Nugent, our driver/guide will give you a plantation tour and teach you about the history and the natural products of his beloved country.

Click here to view past blog entries from this tour.


Friday, January 20
TourMagination will help you book a flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica where the tour begins. We will make our way to Ocho Rios, enjoying the scenery on the north side of the island as we go. We will make a stop at Discovery Bay where Columbus landed before we settle into the Hibiscus Lodge where we will spend the next four nights.

Saturday, January 21
The Ocho Rios area is as rich in interesting sites as it is in natural beauty. This morning we will explore Fern Gully – a rainforest that is home to more than 550 varieties of ferns and where the road is built over a dry riverbed. We will also drive past the birthplace of Jamaica’s national hero, Marcus Garvey before we go to the straw market where many hand-crafted items can be found. A visit to the farmers’ market will also be an interesting experience. After lunch, you will have some time to soak up the sun by the pool or hot tub.

Sunday, January 22
After a delicious breakfast, we will start our day with worship at the Calvary Mennonite Church in the town of Retreat. Following worship, we will visit the Jamaica Mennonite Retreat Centre (formerly known as Palm Ridge). In the afternoon, our touring may include the Rio Neuvo battle site that recognizes the 1658 battle between the British and Spanish. Audley will take us through other interesting areas such as a subdivision of large new homes built by British expatriates, before we make a stop at Lloyd’s pottery shop to see his beautiful pottery. Lloyd and Joyce will be happy to welcome us and will appreciate any purchases we make.

Climbing the beautiful Dunn’s River Falls
Monday, January 23
After a leisurely breakfast, Audley will take us to Dunn’s River Falls which cascades down approximately 695 feet into the sea. Are you up to climbing the falls? (Bring an old pair of sneakers). A Jamaican guide will lead those who choose to climb the falls. At the top of the falls, there is a craft market where many vendors will be happy to sell you their wares. This afternoon we will have time to relax and enjoy the beach and the Caribbean Sea. We will have another delicious Jamaican meal this evening.

Tuesday, January 24
Today we will enjoy various kinds of scenery as we drive to Kingston, Jamaica’s capital city. We will pass by a mangrove forest where we will learn about the mangrove trees and why they are vital to a certain ocean fish. As we drive through the mountains, Audley will tell us about Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountain coffee and will make a stop at the James Dennis Coffee Plantation where you may want to purchase some coffee to take along home. We will also pass through huge sugar cane farms and we will see many fruit stands selling fruits such as sand berries, star fruit, bananas, Tahitian apples, papayas, coconuts and chewable sugar cane before we arrive in the capital city of Kingston.

Coffee harvesting in Jamaica
Wednesday, January 25
This morning, we will begin our day with a tour of the harbor city of Kingston. Together we will explore the harbor area, Liberty Hall (where the legend of Marcus Garvey is told), the University of the West Indies, government offices, the Parliament buildings and much more. After lunch, we will travel to Mandeville. On the way, Audley will share many interesting facts and stories about Jamaica’s plants, fruits, nuts and foliage.

Thursday, January 26
Mandeville is a quiet, restful mountain retreat, a little over 2,000 feet with a cool climate (70-75° F during the day). The town is often likened to an English village with handsome stone buildings and stone-walled pastures. Once a sleepy country town, Mandeville came alive 40 years ago when the potential of the red earth of the surrounding countryside was wedded to the world’s demand for bauxite and its end product of aluminum. Now eco-tourism is ushering in another stage in the town’s development. Today we will visit the Caribbean Center for the Deaf and learn about their program for more than 100 students and the trades they are learning. We will also visit Mud Lake to learn about the bauxite industry. You will have a free afternoon to relax by the pool.

Friday, January 27
Leaving Mandeville, we will travel on to Negril with a stop in Savannah-la-Mar on the southwest coast of Jamaica where we will see buildings dating from the Spanish days, as well as the natural harbor with its original seawall, and have our lunch. On our drive, Audley will continue to educate us about Jamaica’s beautiful and useful flora. We will spend the next two nights at the Negril Tree House Resort.

Silky sand, warm breezes, beautiful sunsets
Saturday, January 28
Named by the Spanish in 1492, Negril is a shortened version of the word for Gorilla. The name is thought to be a reference to the black cliffs south of the village. The well-known Seven Mile Beach in Negril is actually only a little more than four miles long, stretching from the Negril River to Rutland Point. Today Audley will give us a tour of Negril and take us to the extreme western tip of Jamaica where a solar-driven lighthouse stands. We will also see ocean-side caves in cliffs made completely of coral. This afternoon, you will want to take one last opportunity to enjoy the silky sand beach and gentle ocean breezes before we enjoy our last dinner together, reminiscing about our time in Jamaica.

Sunday, January 29
This morning, we will enjoy a brief tour of Montego Bay. During slavery, and well into the 20th century, Montego Bay functioned as a sugar port. National hero, Sam Sharpe, a slave and preacher in Mo Bay, began the anti-slavery movement that resulted in the famous Christmas Rebellion of 1831. We will remember and honor Sam Sharpe as we pass his memorial on our way back to the airport. Too soon, our tour has come to an end. We will bid Jamaica "Farewell" as we fly back to our home cities across North America.


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