#FlyWashington Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 42

Jamaican Cuisine Credit: cacafuegos via iStock things TODO DUNN’S RIVER FALLS, OCHO RIOS The highlight of any trip to Ocho Rios is the hour climb up Dunn’s River Falls. Standing 600 feet high, you hike up the rock steps as the waters come barreling down. Strolling hand-in-hand and helped by a guide up the slippery steps, it’s an exhilarating and memorable way to spend a morning. There’s no need to take a guided tour of the falls since there are employees at the site ready to help. TUBING THE WHITE RIVER, OCHO RIOS Another favorite way to spend a morning or afternoon in the Ocho Rios region is on a large tube, floating down the mountainous White River. High in the hills above Ocho Rios, the water is cool and as clear as gin. Guides sing Bob Marley songs as you flow with the slow-moving current. Or listen to the high-pitched call of the yellow banana quit bird and peer out at the green mosaic of ferns, banana trees, and thickets of bamboo that climb the banks of this sinuous waterway like ivy climbs a wall. The River Tubing Safari is one of the many adventures offered by the reputable Jamaican outfitter, Chukka Adventures. FLYWASHINGTON.COM 40 SPRING 2018 HORSEBACK RIDING PAPILLON BEACH, OCHO RIOS Chukka also takes guest on horseback rides to Papillion Bay, a pristine cove with no other people. Ride at a casual pace along the coast and stop for a cool drink of pineapple juice. The next thing you know you’re following the guide into the ocean waters on horseback! BOB MARLEY BIRTHPLACE, NINE MILE A fun jaunt from either Montego Bay or Ocho Rios is to hire a taxi or guide to take you to the birthplace and final resting spot of Bob Marley in the small rural village of Nine Mile. As you cruise higher and higher into the mountains, you’ll pass school kids as they walk to school. Soon, you’re at the Bob Marley Mausoleum, lighting a candle and walking around the tomb of Jamaica’s greatest spokesperson who died far too young at the age of 36. THE BEACHES OF NEGRIL AND MONTEGO BAY Once a sleepy fishing village, Negril is now one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Its claim to fame is its seven-mile stretch of soft sand that gently slopes into the translucent waters. Hotels line the beach and atop the cliffs that rise at its westernmost point, perfect for watching the daily sunset. The beaches of Montego Bay, or MoBay as the locals call it, are only minutes away from the