5 EXPERIENCES YOU CANNOT MISS...
1
Luminous Lagoon...
2
Bengal River...
3
Joe James Art Gallery & Lobster Bowl...
4
Views of Discovery Bay...
5
Dunn's River Falls...
For a truly unique experience, one of the few such experiences in the
world, head to Luminous Lagoon, home to millions of harmless microorganisms (dinoflagellates) which cause an eerie green glow when the
water is disturbed. If you are brave, jump out of the boat and swim in
the lagoon...or you can just put your hand in. You too will shimmer like
a glow stick! The key to seeing the phenomenon at its brightest is to go
on a very dark and calm night after a really sunny and cloudless day.
Feeling adventurous? Go river rafting, kayaking, boarding or tubing on
the Bengal River, which is believed to have compelled Columbus to land
here in Jamaica. River Rapids Jamaica offers a variety of packages for
thrilling-yet-safe fun, and their expert guides can lead you through the
best parts of the water, where the flow of the river almost feels like a
massage. If you're feeling particularly daring, climb to the river head
with your guide as a part of the Waterfall Explorer package.
Visit Joe James Art Gallery & Lobster Bowl Restaurant, created in the
harbor master’s quarters of an old wharf warehouse that practically
sits in the sea. Paintings and sculptures by Joe James, an internationally
acclaimed artist who went to school with Bob Marley, adorn this rustic
space. The restaurant, as its name suggests, specializes in seafood. The
ruins of Hotel Wellington are across the street, and St. Mark’s Church,
used in many movies filmed in Jamaica, sits next door.
Enjoy the most spectacular view of Discovery Bay from the hill that once
hosted the Annual Push Cart Derby. Bring your binoculars to spot Cuba,
90 miles due north. And you can’t miss Kaiser Bauxite’s storage dome,
looking like a rusty pumpkin off to the east. At one time, Jamaica was
the world’s leading producer of bauxite, which was exported to the U.S.
to create aluminum. The dome was also used as the exterior of the
nuclear reactor in the James Bond film, "Dr. No."
Just 30 minutes away is Dunn’s River Falls, a popular destination and
a rite of passage for any visitor to Jamaica. In the same area as Mystic
Mountain and Dolphin Cove, the Falls get crowded late in the day and
on days when cruise ships dock, so plan accordingly. The exit is through
a shopping area where the vendors can be annoyingly pushy. For a
waterfall that is a little less commercialized, head to Blue Hole, presently
one of the top-rated attractions on Trip Advisor.