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A journey to Andros is a lovely respite from the world. There are many qualities that make Andros stand out from the other islands that make up the Bahamas. It’s a small, intimate sort of place, rich in natural beauty and wildlife.

Andros is an eco-tourist’s paradise. The fifth largest landmass in the Caribbean, it is an ancient island, gradually emerging from the sea with each layer of coral limestone. There are as many fascinating sights to be seen below sea level as there are to be seen above. Underwater explorers will see a wide variety of marine life, so varied and diverse that Andros attracts researchers from all over the world. On the top side of the island, there is an abundance of flora and fauna, including species and varieties found nowhere else on earth.

Small Hope Bay Lodge Eco-Tours is a wonderful way to explore these many natural wonders. Environmentally concerned and conscious, Small Hope Bay Lodge has been offering a variety of eco-tours for more than 40 years - long before the word or concept of eco-tour came into vogue. Their caring and knowledgeable staff make wonderful guides to accompany visitors through this largely unexplored island. In fact, Andros remains one of the largest tracts of unexplored land in its hemisphere.

Among the nature activities available through Small Hope Bay Lodge is the Snorkel Safari on Fresh Creek, in which participants travel along Fresh Creek in a dive boat. Occasionally, visitors are able to snorkel with dolphins, however this is not a guaranteed activity, because these are wild creatures, not the tamed and trained dolphins usually featured at dolphin swims. It is a different experience all together. As the boat glides along, visitors will view a wide variety of plant and animal life. The fee is $45 for adults and children 12 and older. The rate for children under 12 is $25.

Small Hope Bay Lodge also does a Shark Observation Dive. This allows close observation of sharks and their behaviors. This activity takes place a few times a week and costs $85 per diver and $45 per snorkeler.

They offer a variety of dive programs, of varying skill levels. Some explore the many underwater blue holes found on Andros. Others explore the barrier reefs that are plentiful around the island.

One of the more intriguing of the sights to be seen on Andros is Red Village. Just over 25 years ago, a fascinating indigenous tribe ruled by a chief, organized in the traditional native style and still adhering firmly to the ways of their ancestors, was found to be living in the area of the village. Tourists do visit the area, and of course, that has changed some things for this indigenous group, but the ways of their ancestors still reign supreme.

Andros definitely offers a unique travel experience. It is one of the great wilds of the region, a haven for birds and animal, as well as a place in which breathtakingly beautiful wildflowers are free to blossom at will. This is a Bahamas vacation spot that will offer experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

An island nation, Jamaica offers a wealth of natural beauty. Ocho Rios, Jamaica, is home to some of the most well-known of the island’s natural wonders, including a glistening waterfall that attracts visitors from all over and the opportunity to swim with dolphins.

Dunn’s River Falls offers a hiking experience that allows even the decidedly non-athletic to enjoy a beautiful view of the 600 foot high waterfalls. However, while the 900 foot climb to the top may seem like a cake walk to the experienced hiker, for those not accustomed to activities, caution should be taken and children should be monitored carefully to avoid injury.

With that being said, however, the experience is one not to be missed. The views alone are worth the walk. There are areas at the bottom and along the hiking path for wading and splashing in the cold and very clear mountain water.

At Dolphin Cove, visitors can enjoy up close and personal interaction with a family group of bottle nose dolphins. Located near Ocho Rios, at one of the most beautiful natural coves in Jamaica, the setting is lush and green, placed in the midst of 4 acres of rain forest.

There are three types of dolphin experience packages available, allowing visitors to choose the degree of interaction best suited to their comfort zone and experience. These include the opportunity to swim and interact with a group of dolphins, another that provides in water interaction with a single dolphin and another which is called a touch encounter package, which is best suited for non-swimmers and children. The traveler should make contact well in advance for individual package rates and to make reservations, as spots are limited.

Dolphin Cove also features other attractions, including a jungle walk trail, while not too physically challenging, offers a fascinating look at local flora and fauna. This is a particularly nice destination for children as there is ample opportunity to have an up close view of brightly colored birds and reptiles. Pristine beaches, perfect for those who enjoy the sun and sand, but not the crowds, and kayaking are also available to visitors, as well as a waterfall that is sure to be less crowded than Dunn’s River Falls.

At Cranbrook Flower Forest and Riverhead Adventure Trail, which is open daily from 9am to 5pm, tourists can explore the grounds of this restored water mill. Its greenhouses and grounds are home to many varieties of flowers, including numerous types of orchids. Horseback riding is available, and is the perfect way to enjoy traveling the trails. Admission for $6 and $3 for children under 12 and horseback riding rates are $30 for 2 hours.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica, is surrounded by surprising natural beauty. Surprising, in that so many of these natural wonders are found in the midst of the bustling businesses of the tourist industry. Yet, despite the large amount of commercialism, the natural beauty still remains, often seemingly undisturbed by the unceasing flow of visitors. That which has attracted adventurers and travelers for centuries remains readily apparent and truly remarkable.

No vacation in Jamaica is complete without a little bit of shopping to bring home a souvenir or two from your Jamaican journey. Aside from souvenirs, there are a great number of local products that are available nowhere else. In addition, the local art community is famous for creations that can grace the collection of any art enthusiast. The first step to enjoying a successful shopping experience is to know where to look for those special, unique items that will allow you to bring home a little piece of island culture.

Harbour Street, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, features an open-air craft market, where locals come to sell their wares. Among the many varied offerings, you’ll find hand-made jewelry of beads and semi-precious stones, textile products, including clothing of varying style and quality, some of which are richly colored cottons and sturdy natural fibers. There are often hand carved, wooden household items and small wood sculptures, created by some of the island’s many skilled artisans.

Island Village, at the Turtle beach Complex in Ocho Rios, is the perfect shopping area for those interested in reggae and island music culture. With more than 30 shops offering a variety of Bob Marley souvenir items, reggae culture inspired clothing, books, posters, and, of course, music, you’ll need a full day to explore this village. Staying the day, though, will be no problem. There are many cafes and restaurants, and an assortment of sights to be seen, including a museum devoted to reggae and island culture.

For those who prefer a more upscale shopping atmosphere, Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay is sure to satisfy. This busy thoroughfare hosts an eclectic blend of boutiques and strip malls, set amongst some of the best hotels and eating establishments on the island. Taj Mahal in Ocho Rios is a shopping mall built on a grand scale, featuring a variety of upscale products, and also offers some of the best coffees, rums, and cigars on the island. Kingston is one of the best places in Jamaica to buy quality artwork by some of the nation’s best artists. Frame Center Gallery and the Mutual Life Gallery are among the best known, and are recognized even beyond the island for the quality of art made available for viewing and purchase.

Those desiring a degree of authenticity, something representative of the culture beyond the tourist industries would do well to pay attention to the small shops and stands to be found throughout the island. The further away from the tourist centers the better when it comes to finding those special, unique items that reflect native culture. Some of the unusual take home items to be found in this way include the spices used in native cuisine and home items that are both artistic and practical.

There are many wonderful areas for shopping in Jamaica, whether it is local crafts and creations or upscale bargains that interest you. It is important to note that a certain degree of haggling over prices is expected, and is just a part of the experience.

Jamaica’s natural beauty is one of the island nation’s outstanding features. Fortunately, for the people of Jamaica and the world, the nation has seen to it that a great deal of the natural flora and fauna has been preserved and protected, devoting a great deal of land to parks and preservation. There are even areas that still remain pristine and wild, untouched by the tourism industry or local development.

Blue Mountains National Park is among the most well known of the national parks and reserves. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the country is to be found within this almost 200,000-acre area. More than one-third of the plants that bear flowers in contained in this mountain range, whose peak rises to 7,402 feet, and its near by neighbor, the John Crow Mountains, are unique to Jamaica, found no other place on earth. The forests here are home to 28 species of birds and serve as a migration stop for more than 150 other types of birds. The park contains the largest remaining rainforest in all of Jamaica. Naturally, hiking and camping are the favored activities here.

Falmouth, Jamaica, is home to Swaby’s Swamp Safari. A four-acre mangrove swamp, reserve offers guided tours to view the wetlands wildlife. Among the sights to be seen several types of crocodiles native to Jamaica. Cashoo Ostrich Park is a nature reserve and working farm. There are hundreds of ostriches, hiking paths and fruit orchards. The ostriches are a big hit with children and adults alike, and the experience of seeing these large and magnificent creatures at close range is unforgettable.

Montego Bay Marine Park is another well known nature reserve. Visitors will find sharks, several species of stingrays, moray eels, and numerous other types of fish. There are coral reef formations and dense areas of mangrove trees, which serve as home to a wide variety of wildlife. Excellent scuba diving and snorkeling draw many visitors to this park and reserve.

The Royal Palm reserve is set in the Great Morass swamplands. There is an abundance of wildlife living in the Great Morass’s 7,000-acres of wetlands. Among these diverse creatures are numerous crocodiles, and a wide range of birds, including herons and egrets, living amongst the mangroves. Also located in the Great Morass is the Negril Watershed Environmental Protection Area, dedicated to tropical preservation and protection.

Marshall’s Pen was a plantation in the 1800’s. Today it is a bird sanctuary that welcomes visitors both for group tours and the average day tour. Many of the birds native to Jamaica can be seen here, as well as visitors from migrating flocks.

While most of Jamaica’s travel destination fame has to do with the more traditional joys of sun, sand and surf, as well as the fabulous luxury resorts and hotels, there are amazingly natural and beautiful places on the island. Parks and reserves are numerous, as are opportunities to see the natural flora and fauna at its best and most undisturbed.

Jamaica’s natural beauty is one of the island nation’s outstanding features. Fortunately, for the people of Jamaica and the world, the nation has seen to it that a great deal of the natural flora and fauna has been preserved and protected, devoting a great deal of land to parks and preservation. There are even areas that still remain pristine and wild, untouched by the tourism industry or local development.

Blue Mountains National Park is among the most well known of the national parks and reserves. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the country is to be found within this almost 200,000-acre area. More than one-third of the plants that bear flowers in contained in this mountain range, whose peak rises to 7,402 feet, and its near by neighbor, the John Crow Mountains, are unique to Jamaica, found no other place on earth. The forests here are home to 28 species of birds and serve as a migration stop for more than 150 other types of birds. The park contains the largest remaining rainforest in all of Jamaica. Naturally, hiking and camping are the favored activities here.

Falmouth, Jamaica, is home to Swaby’s Swamp Safari. A four-acre mangrove swamp, reserve offers guided tours to view the wetlands wildlife. Among the sights to be seen several types of crocodiles native to Jamaica. Cashoo Ostrich Park is a nature reserve and working farm. There are hundreds of ostriches, hiking paths and fruit orchards. The ostriches are a big hit with children and adults alike, and the experience of seeing these large and magnificent creatures at close range is unforgettable.

Montego Bay Marine Park is another well known nature reserve. Visitors will find sharks, several species of stingrays, moray eels, and numerous other types of fish. There are coral reef formations and dense areas of mangrove trees, which serve as home to a wide variety of wildlife. Excellent scuba diving and snorkeling draw many visitors to this park and reserve.

The Royal Palm reserve is set in the Great Morass swamplands. There is an abundance of wildlife living in the Great Morass’s 7,000-acres of wetlands. Among these diverse creatures are numerous crocodiles, and a wide range of birds, including herons and egrets, living amongst the mangroves. Also located in the Great Morass is the Negril Watershed Environmental Protection Area, dedicated to tropical preservation and protection.

Marshall’s Pen was a plantation in the 1800’s. Today it is a bird sanctuary that welcomes visitors both for group tours and the average day tour. Many of the birds native to Jamaica can be seen here, as well as visitors from migrating flocks.

While most of Jamaica’s travel destination fame has to do with the more traditional joys of sun, sand and surf, as well as the fabulous luxury resorts and hotels, there are amazingly natural and beautiful places on the island. Parks and reserves are numerous, as are opportunities to see the natural flora and fauna at its best and most undisturbed.

Jamaica may be one of the most beautiful island nations in the Caribbean, famous for its coastal areas - the beautiful beaches, coves and bays - but it is not just sun and surf beach adventures. Jamaica is also home to the highest mountain peaks in the Caribbean, to dense growth forests, and even to tropical rainforests. This varied terrain had produced a number of waterfalls, each lovely in its own right. Some are popular tourist destinations, but others, due to their location, see fewer visitors, and thus, retain much more of their natural wonder.

Dunn’s River Falls is the most popular of the waterfalls in Jamaica, as it is easily accessible to tourists, especially those coming off of the cruise ships for a few hours or the evening. Located just outside of Ocho Rios, these 600-foot waterfalls attract crowds. The scenery is beautiful, despite the touch of commercialism, and the guided climb is not too strenuous, though slippery rocks do cause the occasional bump or bruise. There are places at the bottom and on the way up to refresh, wading and splashing in the cold, clear mountain water. The admission fee is $10 for people 12 and up, $8 for 11 and under, with no charge for children under 2. The site is open daily from 8:30am to 5pm, though on the days when cruise ships pull in to port, it opens early, at 7Am, to accommodate visitors.

The Y.S. Falls are a different sort of experience, and are located by the Black River, on a papaya plantation. Juta Tours, which operates out of Negril, Jamaica, at 2 Market Street, offers a guided tour that takes about half a day, and is really the best way to experience these much more natural falls. The fee is $12 and Juta Tours is open from 9:30am to 3:30pm, Tuesday through Sunday.

Just outside of Port Antonio, near Hope Bay on Route A4, are the Somerset Falls. These beautiful falls are in a natural, green setting, full of unusual plants and flowers. This peaceful spot definitely does not draw the crowds that other places more convenient to tourists do. Part of that may be due to the fact that visitors need to travel by water - either make a short swim or float along in a raft - to see these rushing waters. However, the site staff members are there to assist and are attentive and courteous. Just on the other side of the waterfall is a small cave, a perfect place to take in the sight and sound of the waterfall. It is definitely worth the time and effort, and is a sight that should not be missed.

These are just a few of the waterfalls to be seen in Jamaica. Aside from the few that regularly attract tourists, most are in delightfully peaceful settings, rich in local flora and fauna, and full of the color and sound that make Jamaica the beautiful island that it is. There are a variety of hiking trails and tours from which you can see the rest of Jamaica’s beautiful waterfalls, easily arranged with the assistance of the hotel staff, who’ll be happy to suggest local guides.

Jamaica may be one of the most beautiful island nations in the Caribbean, famous for its coastal areas - the beautiful beaches, coves and bays - but it is not just sun and surf beach adventures. Jamaica is also home to the highest mountain peaks in the Caribbean, to dense growth forests, and even to tropical rainforests. This varied terrain had produced a number of waterfalls, each lovely in its own right. Some are popular tourist destinations, but others, due to their location, see fewer visitors, and thus, retain much more of their natural wonder.

Dunn’s River Falls is the most popular of the waterfalls in Jamaica, as it is easily accessible to tourists, especially those coming off of the cruise ships for a few hours or the evening. Located just outside of Ocho Rios, these 600-foot waterfalls attract crowds. The scenery is beautiful, despite the touch of commercialism, and the guided climb is not too strenuous, though slippery rocks do cause the occasional bump or bruise. There are places at the bottom and on the way up to refresh, wading and splashing in the cold, clear mountain water. The admission fee is $10 for people 12 and up, $8 for 11 and under, with no charge for children under 2. The site is open daily from 8:30am to 5pm, though on the days when cruise ships pull in to port, it opens early, at 7Am, to accommodate visitors.

The Y.S. Falls are a different sort of experience, and are located by the Black River, on a papaya plantation. Juta Tours, which operates out of Negril, Jamaica, at 2 Market Street, offers a guided tour that takes about half a day, and is really the best way to experience these much more natural falls. The fee is $12 and Juta Tours is open from 9:30am to 3:30pm, Tuesday through Sunday.

Just outside of Port Antonio, near Hope Bay on Route A4, are the Somerset Falls. These beautiful falls are in a natural, green setting, full of unusual plants and flowers. This peaceful spot definitely does not draw the crowds that other places more convenient to tourists do. Part of that may be due to the fact that visitors need to travel by water - either make a short swim or float along in a raft - to see these rushing waters. However, the site staff members are there to assist and are attentive and courteous. Just on the other side of the waterfall is a small cave, a perfect place to take in the sight and sound of the waterfall. It is definitely worth the time and effort, and is a sight that should not be missed.

These are just a few of the waterfalls to be seen in Jamaica. Aside from the few that regularly attract tourists, most are in delightfully peaceful settings, rich in local flora and fauna, and full of the color and sound that make Jamaica the beautiful island that it is. There are a variety of hiking trails and tours from which you can see the rest of Jamaica’s beautiful waterfalls, easily arranged with the assistance of the hotel staff, who’ll be happy to suggest local guides.