“Bush is the word we use to mean nature,” explains Jason, one of our tour guides for our trip with Liberty Tours, at the Irie Blue Hole in Jamaica, as he waves us on down a twisting series of rocky steps, lined with wooden rails. (Pointing to the blackbirds circling overhead), “Listen, they are saying: ‘Welcome to the Blue Hole!’ laughs Jason. At the bottom of the steps, caps from Red Stripe beer bottles form a welcome mat that echoes the sentiment, spelling out WELCOME in the dirt.
“Where have you been so far on your trip?” asks Carlton, our tour guide and driver for our adventure. We went to Royal Caribbean’s private island in Labadee, Haiti and were booked for a stop in Cozumel, Mexico. Departing from the port in Colonial Falmouth, Jamaica, coined “The Caribbean’s Georgian-Style Gem”, and one of Jamaica’s largest sugar-producing parishes, Carlton promises that this will “by far, your favourite port.”
The drive to our destination, up into the mountains and through the plush Jamaican rainforest took just over an hour from the port in Falmouth, but Carlton, filled the time by teaching us a bit of the language, culture, and history of the area, starting with an introduction to the language of patois (Pronounced: “Pat-wa”).
Although the official language of Jamaica is English, explains Carlton, Patois—which is a mixture of English, Spanish, Portuguese, African phrases and Jamaican slang—is the everyday dialect. Patois was ingeniously developed during the 17th century by slaves from West and Central Africa combined forms of English spoken by their masters, so they could have a language that only they understood.
Peeking out the windows of our van, we could see historical sites flashing by, such as Discovery Bay, which was originally named Puerto Seco (which means Dry Harbor) by Christopher Columbus when he landed there in 1494. He named it ‘Dry Harbor’, because, in contrast to the nearby Rio Bueno Bay, there are no permanent rivers flowing into it, and perhaps as importantly, at least to him, he had difficulty finding any fresh drinking water.
We also see a bauxite manufacturing plant. The Jamaican bauxite is a major export of Jamaica, along with sugar.
On the other side of the road that we are traveling, we see the large ship that is used to ship the bauxite to England, where it is manufactured into aluminium. These waterways have a history too. In the 18th and 19th century ships would arrive with slaves as others filled with sugar and rum would leave for Britain.
Although Emancipation occurred in 1840, many of the wooden houses of the era still line the streets today, and “this day is celebrated every August 1,” and “everyone, regardless of your background or colour, is invited.”
Carlton talked about Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader and staunch proponent of the Black nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, pointing to his name on one of the nearby schools that we pass by, and how in 1944 the first elections under universal adult suffrage were held. Fourteen years later, in 1958, Jamaica then joined nine other UK territories in the Federation of the West Indies but reconsidered, and in 1961, after a referendum in which voters chose independence, the nation withdrew from the federation. Then, finally on August 6, 1962, Jamaica gained independence; this day is celebrated every August 6.
The trip doesn’t lack for any humour or spirit either. “The adventure is about to begin,” says Carlton, “so hold on tight, you are about to get a deep tissue massage,” laughs Carlton. As we turn onto an unpaved road, filled with potholes, and slowly begin the bumpy descent, we know why.
Irie Blue Hole
At the Hole, Carlton tells us that the legend said that the waters will make you look 10 years younger.” “I’m in!”
We follow our fearless guides up the waterways, to where they carefully guide us through pathways, where we can jump into the cool waters. Halfway through our adventure, watch Jason perform a comical disappearing act, climbing in different rock formations under the waterfalls only to comically come out another hole and wave to us. With his carefree Jamaican attitude, we then watch him climb a nearby towering tree, only to jump, into the water below. Other locals join him at the very steep of the hill, by running at full speed, then diving fearlessly into the waters below.
The Jamaican enthusiasm is contagious and it’s nearly impossible not to just soak it all in.
Our drive back is subdued, listening to the sounds of Reggae music, and know that everything is gonna be alright. “Ya Mon.”
What adventures have you discovered in Jamaica?
Cruising? Check these articles…
– A Day at the Beach in Nassau Bahamas
– A Cruise Guide to Mahogany Bay Roatan Honduras
– Cruise the Caribbean: The Best Way to See the Islands
– A Local Jamaican Guide to the Top Things to do in Ocho Rios
Can one still do this tour if one cannot swim
I spoke with Kim and she said “Some of the people on the tour didn’t swim or didn’t swim well…not sure which one. But they gave them life preservers. I suppose you could go on the tour and enjoy the scenery, but a lot is walking through water. And the big draw is jumping from the heights into water. Would I recommend it to someone that couldn’t swim…No. Could they go, yes. But if I had to say yes or no, No is definitely my advice.”
Hope this helps Jen! Thanks for coming by! Let us know how you make out…
Looks awesome. I’ve not been there but have been to YS falls. This seems a lot less touristy. I spent a bit of time near Falmouth but mostly on the beach, well the sea, windsurfing. Some of the best windsurfing I’ve ever had.
I’m going back next year so will remember this post and check it out.
Larry, it is not touristy at all. On your way, you also pass local villages, schools etc. You are in pure nature. It is absolutely beautiful there. Please let us know how your trip goes next year!