Jamaica: Bobsled and Waterfall FUN!
Jamaica truly is the “Home of Alright”! I had the pleasure of a 7 night stay in the Montego Bay area recently, and I want to share my experiences with you as we explored outside our resort. We loved the Sea Garden Beach Resort for it’s service, dining and awesome beach club (read more on my previous blog), but to really get a feel for the people and island life, I believe it is important to leave your resort and get out there. Here’s how we did it!
I recommend Rainforest Adventures to arrange your tour (or contact your hotel to see which company they suggest). www.rainforestadventure.com. It appears they own and run the mountain zipline and bobsled, as well as the restaurant on top. You will be picked up at your hotel for the ride, but be aware that unless you arrange a private driver, you may stop at a few resorts along the way to fill the van. I find this part fun, as we meet lots of great people this way, but you know what you like. Depending on the size of your group, you may do well doing the transfer and buying tickets when you arrive.
It’s a great idea to check the cruise schedules for both Ocho Rios and Falmouth in advance, as you can get stuck behind a large group very easily. I made the error of only checking Ocho Rios ships, and found ourselves mixed in with both Disney and Royal Caribbean, which cause some delays on both getting to the top and in line for the Bobsled experience. Fair warning.
Mystic Mountain is what they call the area. There’s a ticket booth and parking lot, so you could go by rental car and buy your tickets there, saving some money. It’s a pretty spot in the jungle, and the tram to the top is a beautiful, relaxing ski lift. As we rose high above the treetops, the views were of Ocho Rios harbor and the ocean. The late spring foliage was gorgeous, and hearing the bird chirping was an additional bonus. We were riding with some pretty college ladies who had interesting life stories to share, so the ride went much too quickly!
As we stepped off the ride up, the local music was blaring and some entertaining youngsters engaged the crowd while we stood in a long line for the bobsled attraction. Our college friends did the zipline first, but we didn’t schedule that. It is an additional expense, and I have done a ton of great zips in the past.
As we slowly made our way to the front, I noticed there were a few local artisans selling their crafts, folks were dining outside on yummy “jerk” lunches, and we saw some fun photos and artwork sharing the history of the Jamaican bobsled teams. Remember Eddie the Eagle? Well that was the year they debuted and had some pretty successful runs. I remember that year! (yeah, I am OLD! Grin)
Time for us to climb into our sleds! The view from the loading area is wonderful. If your tour has the time, there’s a very nice infinity pool overlooking the jungle and ocean below…you are WAY up on a mountain top! I could see a cruise ship in the harbor, and it was pretty steamy since it had just finished a light rain, so that pool sure looked good to me. I had my bathing suit under my clothes since Dunn’s River was our next stop. Ah, but the long line took care of that. Maybe next time?
We decided quickly to hook our two sleds (you get your own) together on the rails. I am a lightweight, and we would go much faster if my muscle man pulled me down. So…..weeeeeee! It worked! Oh my gosh! We were FLYING down that mountain, and Dan only applied his brake once, I think. I wanted to take photos, but had to hold on for dear life instead. Too much fun! If you have a need for speed like I do, make sure your buddy is attached to your sled, too. I was able to take this photo on the way back up. You are totally in the foliage of the jungle while sledding and it really is a blast.
By the time we were finished, we were ready for a quick lunch. After ordering some jerk chicken and coleslaw to share, we sat outside enjoying the music. Left with no time to shop, we headed back down to find our van group so we could go to Dunn’s and climb the falls. I had been to Jamaica several times before, but had not yet visited the falls. My mom and dad hiked it way back in the 70s, so I had to!
Yes, Dunn’s River Falls is a tourist trap, and yes, afterwards we felt sorry for the kids making the video because only one other couple ordered it so we did. ($40) And the folks in the little town of shops that they herd you through were not happy that we were being rushed out of there! But now I have the proof for my grandchild, and my abs aren’t too shabby for someone born in the 50s. But I really would have loved to climb without holding hands with people I didn’t know, ya know? The water was cold, I am a strong rock climber and am good at it, and the scenery is amazing there. Not sure what would happen if you refuse to go with a group. Someone try it and let me know, okay? Because I might go back if I could avoid the crowded scene. Hey, it must be public property…it empties onto a beach after all. Let’s research that. Please make a comment below if you know the answer!
It took perhaps an hour to climb, waiting for all the others (maybe 15?) who weren’t always sure footed. The guide made me take all the hardest routes (I think he noticed I had to keep pulling up my bottoms from the rushing water, and was hoping for an accident…grin!) One time he pointed to the far right side and I took a deep breath, stuck my head under the hard rushing water, and tried to find an upper hand hold. My short arms are certainly not great for that, and I had to abort my attempt. Even Dan couldn’t find a hold, so then I was SURE my guide was a pervert watching for a moon to shine during the day!
And so it goes…the memories are etched and I survived with only minor scrapes and bruises. You will make your own one day. And it really will be “All Right”!!
Peace, Bobbie
