ACTIVITIES

Bicycle Tours: Sign on for a downhill bike tour with Blue Mountain Bicycle Tours. Starting 5600 feet above sea level, riders descend into a scenic valley, stop for lunch and conclude their ride with a swim at a secluded waterfall.

A range of cycle tours Reach Falls, Nonsuch Caves to Zion Hill, the Rio Grande Valley are offered. Reach Falls Cycle Tour, Rio Grande Valley Tours are two of the most popular examples. These tours usually cost US$ 130.00 per person. Bicycles are also recommended as a means of transportation, to explore the local area. For about US$ 10.00 per person per day, one can rent a bicycle and explore the coast road between Frenchman's Cove, the Blue Lagoon and Long Bay. Cycles can be picked up at Frenchman's Cove or brought to the hotel on request.

A tour to an 18th century coffee plantations ruins - notable for its immense size and its insights into 18th century life due to its detailed structures and to Quao's Village where there is drumming, dancing, storytelling. The guides share their knowledge about Maroon history and culture and one can swim in the river-beach. The tours costs US$ 15.00 per person. Price including round trip transfer, guided hike and presentation of dancing and drumming as well as a traditional lunch is US$ 95.00 . This is recommended for small groups of at least 6 persons and must be pre-booked at least 2-3 days in advance.

Nonsuch Caves: (876-993-3740) 14 separate chambers full of stalactites and stalagmites. Steps lead into the caves, which are lit by electricity. The limestone was laid millions of years before Jamaica rose above the sea, as indicated by fossils of fish, coral and other sea creatures. There's a secure parking lot and toll booth. Entrance costs US$ 5.00. It's open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. You can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the coastline from here.

Rafting on the Rio Grande: Errol Flynn supposedly initiated rafting on the Rio Grande during the 40's. Today paying passengers make the two and a half hour, 6 mile journey from Grant's Level or Rafter's Village, a mile east of Berridale, to Rafter's Rest, at St Margaret's Bay. The journey is wonderfully scenic. You will get a taste of rural life along the riverbanks, where women and children bathe and wash clothes, shore side peddlers strum guitars for a tip, and others sell sodas and coconuts, often from other rafts. En route you'll pass through Lover's Lane, a moss-covered narrow stream

where you're supposed to kiss and make a wish, and Betty's, a lean-to café on a pebbly curve of the river, where you can lunch on Jamaican staples such as ackee and codfish or janga (river shrimps) soup. The trips are offered by Rio Grande Attractions Ltd. (876-993-5778) Trips are available 9.00 a.m to 4.00 p.m. and cost US$ 52.00 per raft. You can find private rafters touting their services in Port Antonio or en route to the starting point of the tour but these persons are not insured. While the gentle rafting is not dangerous, it is best to err on the safe side and have the security of proper insurance in the event of any mishaps. Rafting offered by individuals may be a little cheaper but are the risks worth it?

Reach Falls: A series of cascades tumble over limestone tiers from one hollowed, jade- coloured pool to another. A half mile hike upriver leads to Mandingo Cave, which has a whirlpool and is worth the hike. Note the sign that reads:

'Beware of deep pools and strong currents. If you want to use local transportation, you can catch any of the buses that run between Kingston and Port Antonio via Morant Bay; get off in Manchioneal, then walk or hitch uphill to Reach. A day tour with an individually chartered taxi including round trip return transport costs US$ 75.00 ( for 1-2 persons.) This can be arranged through the hotel. The well paved road up too the falls is half a mile south of Manchioneal. It's a spectacular one-mile drive as you follow the valley of the Driver's River into the foothills of the John Crow Mountains.

Scuba Diving: The Lady G Dive station is located at the Port Antonio Marina and offers various packages and diving instructions. Jan Lee Widener is the Master Scuba Diver Trainer. The first dive is conducted at 11.00 am and then another dive is scheduled in the afternoon. One should be at the dive station about 20 minutes before the scheduled times. Further details can be requested by emailing: ladygdiver@cwjamaica.com. The shoreline east of Port Antonio boasts 8 miles of interconnected coral reefs and walls at an average of 100 to 300 yards offshore. No site is more than 15 minutes away by boat. All dives are drift dives in waters at a near constant 75?F and minimum 60-foot visibility. Dive sites average 30-110 feet, with drop-offs of over 300 feet, and little current or surge. Many of the sites are largely unexplored, and the reef relatively undisturbed. Alligator Head is known for big sponge formations and black corals on a banking reef that drops to extreme depths. You stand a good chance of seeing hammerhead sharks and large pelagic fish at Fairy Hill Bank.

Golf: the course at San San is scheduled to be opened as of Nov. 2005.

For more information info@hotelmockingbirdhill.com