DESTINATIONS:
Challenging activities really make a vacation
now, as climbers at Dunn's River Falls (pictured) are doing. Jamaica has answered that call with a significant
rise in
exciting
adventures. This is one Caribbean
island that really understands the principle of reinventing yourself to
stay in
touch with the trends.
Mystic Mountain, Jamaica’s latest addition, is conveniently located a stone’s
throw from
the Ocho Rios cruise ship docks. Four top activities
and
several side  attractions await you. To reach their ‘jumping off’ spots,
take the Sky Explorer for $42.00, a serene yet edgy ride on
a 4-seater chairlift that
soars over the
hillside to an
elevation of 700 feet above sea level. Views of the sea
and port of Ocho Rios are spectacular, as you pass over a dozen
species of
trees, watching birds fly from branch to branch. (The lone rider
pictured here obviously
preferred to be shaded!)
At the peak, an open
museum pays tribute to Jamaica’s many award-winning sports figures. Nearby,
a group
passes in formation, all wearing helmets and harnesses required to do
the Canopy
Tour at $104, including the Sky Explorer ride. Join the many winged
creatures as you swing through and over the thick foliage to nine
platforms. One connects with the Sky
Explorer
partway through its decent…or you can hike the trails to the bottom.
The busiest
area is the take-off runway for Rainforest
Bobsled Jamaica. For $62.00, buckle into an authentic metal
Winter Olympics bobsled and zoom down a set of
stainless steel tracks that show no mercy. Twist, dip,
rattle and
roll around hairpin turns, one after the other, at dizzying speeds.
Actually,
the speed is up to you. No steering is involved, since the tracks are
gravity
driven, but if you want to go faster…or slower … push or pull on two
long
handles
on either side of the vehicle. I did it at top speed, hooked on to the
sled of
a much younger friend whom I told to forget we had brakes. It was
unbelievable,
and here’s the picture to prove it! www.rainforestbobsledjamaica.com
CHUKKA CARIBBEAN
ADVENTURES
offers similar
adrenaline raising activities at points
across Jamaica, plus a few calmer
pursuits such as Horseback Riding and the Ultimate Kayak.
Zipline Canopy
reaches nine unique traverses, interspersed with nature walks through
the
diverse Jamaican landscape of rainforest, river canyons and mountains.
Highlight is the ‘Inter-parish Express’ that carries you across 280
meters at
35 miles per hour! River Tubing is
a natural in Jamaica, with its
share of waterways that commune with nature. Depending on
which area you choose, your tube ride may
be a peaceful sojourn or one with a few rapids thrown in for
excitement.  ATV
Safaris, Mountain Biking, a 4x4 Safari and Dune
Buggy
tours are other selections offered, all leading up to the newest and
most
popular, Dog Sledding.
In a
remarkably humane effort, Chukka owners took in several of Jamaica's
abandoned strays, fed and nursed them back
to
health, and trained them to pull the sleds. It has worked out
surprisingly well. This is now one of Chukka's most popular
offerings,
and the healthy looking dogs all seem very happy in their comfortable
digs. www.chukkacaribbean.com
ISLAND ROUTES, a luxury adventure tour operator, offers Championship Jamaican Adventure that
combines all of Jamaica's best. Race through the air on Zipline
Tranopy; thrill to the Mystic Mountain bobsled ride; kick back to
reggae rhythms on Island Vibes catamaran and snorkel the teeming coral
reefs; go horseback riding through lush countryside; and end the
adventure by taking you and your horse for a dip in the sea. www.islandroutes.com
A Jamaica vacation no longer means just lazing on the
beach,
sipping a rum punch, but you can still do plenty of that between
adventures.
JAMAICA
CALLING
This
beautiful “Land
of Wood and Water” is one
of the
most visited islands in the
Devon House in
Kingston
Caribbean, and
rightly so.
The personality of the people is infectious; tasty foods
abound,
from jerk pork
to lobster patties; the rapture of that sensuous
reggae beat; a hotel, resort
or inn for every budget; and who can top
the
scenery?
From Dunn’s River
Falls
on the north coast to the Blue Mountains
outside Kingston,
home of that world-renowned coffee, this third
largest island in the Caribbean
captivates any visitor, especially those who venture
away from the resort
grounds. Several companies offer
tours, catering to specific interests
or just for sightseeing in general. If you rent
a car and travel from town to town, be sure you’re skilled at
driving
on the
left, because Jamaicans drive as fast as they talk and dance.
Speaking
of
roads, forget those long treks from airport to
resort.
Thanks to major improvement, the drive is now up to 40 minutes shorter,
whether your final destination is Negril or Boscobel. Cruise
passengers also
benefit from the island-wide upgrade. Montego Bay’s
Berth 2 terminal
boasts a comfortably
air-conditioned passenger area. By September, 2010, Falmouth Pier now
under
construction should be ready to welcome the 5,400-passenger Royal
Caribbean
Genesis. Terminal and shops at the new location will follow a Georgian
architecture theme.
There
are so many reasons to visit Jamaica,
not the least of which is the amazing popularity of all-inclusive
hotels and
resorts. The format for this concept, first developed here, has changed
dramatically since it was introduced in the ‘70s. Value is a big
selling
point at all-inclusives, but that depends on how deeply you indulge in
the
perks. Today we have many off-shoots. At select all-inclusives,
amenities included
in earlier programs have become options, allowing guests to indulge
in...and pay for...exactly the activities that appeal to them.
Multi-generational
and
group travel (girls’ getaways, family
reunions and such) renewed an interest in villas, and nobody does villa
rentals
as completely as Jamaica.
JAVA (Jamaica Assoc. of Villas and Apartments) oversees
the entire process while keeping an eye on staff and overall conditions
at each
villa. Just make your reservation from JAVA’s very expansive inventory.
(www.villasinjamaica.com)
Depending on your
preferences,
you will be met at the airport, provided with a car rental, have the
refrigerator and bar stocked with favorites in advance, and be
greeted at
your villa with cool drinks followed by dinner served on the terrace.
Now
that’s how to start a vacation.
Jamaica
is particularly good at
integrating its beautiful natural resources as
attractions. Who hasn’t seen those electrifying photos of tourists
climbing
spectacular Dunn’s River Falls
and wanted to do it themselves? A lazy float down the Martha
Brae River
on a bamboo raft, more than likely made by your boatman, is the epitome
of
relaxation. Your cruise is accompanied only by the breeze whispering
through
the trees, that distinctive crack-crack of bamboo growing at
river’s edge,
and the swish of the boatman’s pole in the water.
This
is just a teaser of what makes Jamaica special, but the best advice
comes from tourism's catchy advertising slogan. "Once you go, you
know." www.visitjamaica.com
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