Hiking in Port Antonio Jamaica

Hiking tours in Port Antonio and in Jamaica's Blue Mountains take you under misty, forested canopies, along footpaths where you'll see miniature orchids, primordial ferns and lacy moss. These Jamaican hiking tours  take you through rural communities allowing you to experience Jamaican life off the tourist track.

In Port Antonio your hosts are guides from the communities of the Rio Grande Valley who will make you feel relaxed as you hike with them through the lush Jamaican countryside and through forest that is home to numerous endemic birds and the endangered Swallowtail Butterfly, the largest butterfly in the northern hemisphere with a wingspan of six inches.

Hikes Around Port Antonio

Lower Rio Grande Vallery Hike
Starting at: Tom’s Hope
Hiking Time: 2.5 hours
Level:  Easy

Combined with the river rafting this hike makes a wonderful day’s outing of easy hiking through Jamaica's rural landscape...Starting early in the morning after breakfast you meet your guide, a member of the Tom’s Hope community, in the village and start to hike through the banana farms gradually climbing the hill to the top of the ridge from where you can enjoy vistas overlooking the valley.

Continue by driving on to Berridale to commence the gentle bamboo rafting tour from there. We can arrange for you to break journey and stop at Miss Betty’s to enjoy a unique riverside experience of a delicious, traditional Jamaican picnic lunch.

The Charles Town & C18th Coffee Estate Historical Hike
Starting at: Rio Grande
Hiking Time: 4 hours return
Level: Moderate
Cost: US$ 30 per person

Charles Town is historically an important Maroon community, having been settled after the signing of a peace treaty between the British and the Maroons in the 18th century. It is important because it is the home of the descendants of national heroine Nanny and the Maroon hero, Quao, known as the “invisible hunter”.

The area boasts lush vegetation providing ideal bird watching opportunities. The traill begins by crossing the river and climbing Rio Grande up the hills on the other side, crossing streams and waterfalls en route. You can stop to cool off and refresh en route in the cascading waters. There is a “swing basket” used to cross the river when it is swollen. The approximately 2 hour hike (one way) is of medium grade difficulty. The hike ends at the ruins of an 18th Century Coffee Plantation notable for its size. Its detailed structure gives insight into 18th Century life. The return hike ends at Quao’s Village where you can enjoy a traditional picnic lunch and a swim in the river.

Finally to round off the day, a visit to the museum at the Asafu Yard provides an interesting and educational experience. For groups of 4 persons and more a presentation of the traditional  Maroon drumming and dancing can be arranged in conjunction with a picnic lunch by the riverside.

Hike From Ecclesdown To Reich Falls
Starting at: Ecclesdown
Hiking Time: 4.5/5 hours return
Level: Easy

This is a lovely, easy hike in a district about 40 minutes drive from the hotel along a quiet road, for the most part forested and shady overlooking a valley known as an excellent area for birding. Along the way there are points where you can see the coast behind the range of hills. You will enjoy very lush landscapes with many species of plants and ferns.

The last stretch takes you through some farmed lands and small communities until you come to the corner where the road branches to Reich Falls.   We advise calculating  a full day to allow time to explore Reich Falls and walk up stream. If however, you are interested in a shorter hike then you can be driven part of the way. You will need to arrange transportation for this hike as well because your hike ends quite a distance away from the starting point.

Hikes in the Blue Mountains

Your guide on the following hikes is a member of the Natural History Society of Jamaica. This means that apart from enjoying the wonderful vistas and the lush countryside you will also take a wealth of knowledge home with you.

Cedar Valley & Holywell Hike
Starting at:  Cedar Valley
Hiking Time:  Depends on Preference
Level: Moderate

The beginning of this hike can vary depending on how long you would like to hike. The longer version would begin at Cedar Valley while the shorter version would entail taking a local taxi from Cedar Valley to Cascade and commencing the hike from there. Walking uphill, we follow the main road till we come to the Forest Reserve where there are again two options.

For those who want to visit the Rasta farmers coffee farm, continue to follow the road, otherwise take a short cut up through the forest reserve and re-join the road higher up. The rest of the hike to Old Tavern Coffee Estate and then the Hollywell National Park is easy. For the hike down take the short cut (the stone rubble can be slippery in parts so you need good shoes and a walking stick) which ends near the school in Cascade. The hike is very scenic offering vistas across the valleys and the hills passing through small villages.

Various wild flowers line the path and the part through the Forest Reserve is very lush and cool. This is a whole day’s tour requiring an early departure from the hotel (latest 8.00 am) to allow for driving time to the Blue Mountains from Port Antonio.

Cinchona Botanical Gardens Hike
Starting at: Clydesdale
Hiking Time: 3 hours return
Level: Moderate-Hard

After a scenic drive through the hills the hike starts beside the remains of the old coffee works of Clydesdale.  The trail, which is steep in places, passes through coffee farms, small cultivations and banks of wild flowers to the 5,000 feet (approximately 1,500 metres) high Cinchona Botanical Gardens.

Many cooler climate exotic plant species were found to flourish there, of which many still exist, despite 150 years of changing fortunes. From the gardens there is a striking view of the grand ridge of the Blue Mountains and in the distance Jamaica’s southeast coastline making them the perfect place for a picnic spot.

Vinegar Hill Trail
Starting at: Chinchona Botanical Gardens
Hiking Time: 2 hours return
Level: Easy

From Cinchona the hike can be extended by a fairly short walk along the Vinegar Hill Trail from below the gardens leading to Morces Gap with a chance to see the North Coast when the mist permits. This is a particularly historic trail being one of the oldest throughways in Jamaica. It is now grown over by forest and rarely used. As a result it is no longer a throughway. Mist soaked epiphytes, feathery ferns and dripping creepers flourish amongst the thick vegetation making it worth exploring.

Gordon Town and its links

Gordon town was once a staging post for horse, mule and donkey traffic plying between Kingston and the mountains, so that the tracks converging on Gordon Town predate the present roads and were once well worn thoroughfares to Newcastle, Content Gap, Constitution Hill and what was once the naval lookout post at Flamstead.

Market produce was transported down them from the farming communities via these tracks. There are several trails to choose from and Gordon Town is a convenient and accessible place to start and finish a walk in the hills.
Blue Mountains     The Bermuda Mount Trail
The Bermuda Mount Trail, with excellent views of Gordon Town and the surrounding hills, starts a short distance above the Gordon Town post office and climbs between small holdings and fruit forest to meet the main road to Newcastle at Craigton, beside the Usheima coffee farm. It takes less than an hour. After a visit to the coffee farm there is a short walk along the road beneath the quaint Craigton church with its splendid views to the community of Redlight.

Redlight to Gordon Town
Starting at: Newcastle Road
Hiking Time: 1.5/2 hours
Level: Easy

This trail is a well used parochial road. Some of the infrastructure predates the military camp at Newcastle and it would have been constructed to give access to Newcastle and the north coast from the southern approaches to the hills. It is longer than the Bermuda Mount Trail. It passes through small communities and coffee farms with the Hope River plunging over boulders below. It is crossed by several foot bridges, at which there are inviting pools and waterfalls. There are views of the military camp at Newcastle and the valley below.

The Copper Gully Trail
Starting at: Newcastle Road
Hiking Time: 1.5/2 hours
Level: Easy

Climbing up amongst ginger lilies to pine forest and then coffee farms, the Redlight to Gordon Town Trail in reverse combines well with the Copper Gully Trail to the residential area of Greenwich between Newcastle and the Holywell Nature Reserve.

Gordon Town to Flamstead
Starting at: Gordon Town
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Level: Hard

Just above Gordon Town the trail passes through a community sprawling along a valley. Flamstead is almost vertically above the valley. The trail is steep and narrow. It climbs a ridge to border the side of another deep valley.

The scenery is worth the challenge. There are vegetation changes along the route, the Blue Mountain higher altitude vegetation being noticeably different. Although now practically deserted, the area was once almost completely cultivated and the track a major market route. There are spectacular views of sea and mountains.

Flamstead’s history, as a strategic look out point, dates from the Taino period to the end of the 2nd World War. Its glory days were during the Napoleonic Wars. There are great house remains and a private museum. The last caretaker of the great house tells colourful stories about the house and its guests. Arrangements could be made with him and the museum’s owner.

The descent is either by a shorter hike bordering the other side of the deep valley, through coffee farms and secondary vegetation, or a sturdy vehicle at Flamstead can meet hikers. The drive is then through coffee and eucalyptus and past some historic buildings. There is a view of Blue Mountain Peak on the way down.

The return drive to Gordon Town will probably take about 45 minutes. This hike requires stamina and fitness and is only recommended for regular hikers. Hikers should take plenty of water. We suggest a picnic lunch at Flamstead. Alternatively a round trip by 4-wheel drive vehicle is possible since the shorter route bordering the valley has recently been widened sufficiently.

Bellevue to Mavis Bank Coffee Factory via Lime Tree and Tower Hill
Starting at: Bellevue
Hiking Time: 2.5 hours
Level: Moderate

The 300-year-old house at Bellevue was once owned by a former colonial governor. It is now owned by the University of the West Indies. It can be reached by a steep road through coffee and eucalyptus farms. There is a good view of Blue mountain Peak. The drive from Papine on the outskirts of Kingston takes 40-45 minutes.

From Bellevue it takes ½ hour to walk to Blue Mountains Governor’s Bench and Mount Rosanna at 4000 feet (approximately 1,300 metres), through eucalyptus trees, bracken and ferns as well as escaped ornamentals. There is a view of the Palisadoes, Port Royal and the Cays. This trail is good for birdwatching. At the end of the track there is a narrow path along a ridge with spectacular views (not for anyone nervous of heights). The trail descends steeply to Lime Tree and then to Tower Hill. A vehicle can reach this point although the road condition is steep and poorly maintained.

Alternatively, the walk can continue to the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory. The tour should include a visit to the factory, which would attract an additional charge of approximately US$ 10.00 per person and needs to be arranged in advance.

Rambles, off The Tower Hill Road, Mavis Bank
Starting at: Tower Hill
Hiking Time: 2.5 hours return
Level: Easy

This pretty trail with a variety of plants drops down to a stream at a small waterfall and then climbs gently up through the forest.

The Sugar Loaf Trail
Starting at: Gordon Town
Hiking Time: 3.5 hours return
Level: Both easy & challenging

The start of this trail is above the old staging post of Gordon Town and it leads to Content Gap more than 2000 feet (approximately 650 metres) above. It was once a part of a network of tracks linking hill farms and pre-dating today’s paved roads into the hills. The path is steep in places, criss-crossing a tributary of the Hope River. It is almost deserted these days having been much eroded by water, which has left ravines, grottos and carved rock forms behind.

It’s from one of these that the trail takes its name. There is some evidence of the track’s former importance, in particular a quaint stone bridge. There are occasional garden flowers and fruit trees. The trail has some good views of Kingston, the harbour and surrounding hills particularly at the top of the path near Content Gap. Hikers can be met by a vehicle at Content Gap or walk back down the trail to Gordon Town. The beginning of the trail is challenging but the remainder of the walk is fairly easy.

Hikes in Portland & St Thomas

Hike from Haining To Packi River, Portland
Starting at: Hordley Cross, St Thomas
Hiking Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy

 There is a scenic drive from there to Haining, on the St. Thomas and Portland border, where the walk starts. The road climbs through limestone embankments of secondary forest, small holdings and coconut groves. From Haining to Packi river there is a picturesque limestone road crossed by several streams and bordered by trees. Damp conditions encourage thick plant growth. There are varieties of several plant species, some of them endemic.

It takes approximately 1 hour to walk to the water catchment at Packi river, where a clear limestone pond is shaded by a huge ficus tree, from which, when last seen, hung several large, untidy Jamaican becards’ nests. This is a good place for a picnic. The vehicle should take the coast road to Grange Hill and turn inland to meet the walkers at the Packi River Ford near the catchment. This is a fairly easy walk although the surface is uneven in places and if wet may be slippery.

Johnson Mountain, St. Thomas Hike
Starting at:  Wheelerfield
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours return
Level: Hard

This hike starts from Wheelerfield near Bath. It is a fairly steep climb into the John Crow Mountains. There is a good variety of vegetation and a chance to see the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly.  There is a view of the coast from the top, which was once a cultivated area, possibly a house site.