Green Castle Activities...The Real Jamaica

Bamboo Rafting on the Rio Grande

 

In our corner of the North Coast of Jamaica, there are small towns and villages that are untouched by large tourism. Robins Bay, our local village, is safe, people are friendly and happy to have visitors come and share a piece of their paradise. The majority of staff at Green Castle are from Robins Bay, and you will find that people look after you, and want to make sure that you have a great visit. There are local water falls to explore, small Cook Shops for local fish, and if you want to wander farther afield, we can arrange everything from adventure experiences to historical tours.

Most of our visitors find that Green Castle and the local area offers more than enough to do and experience in one week. As a matter of fact, many come with a list of things they think they want to do, but once they get here they are content to spend the days with us. The pool, hammock and the veranda at the house offer great sea breezes and inspirational views. It is a lovely place to unwind, play and rejuvenate.

Green Castle Estate Activities

When you are ready to get a little more active, Green Castle Estate offers miles of farm roads for walking, hiking and birding. The farm roads run wind through our organically grown coconuts, pimento and cocoa. We can advise you on short walks with vantage points, or long walks to get some exercise and a feel for the landscape.

To get a better understanding of the history and current land uses of Green Castle, we offer an Estate Tour, where your Tour Guide, Dolly, will entertain and educate you. The tour provides you with an insight into Green Castle's 1,000 years of history, as well as some of Jamaica's traditional agriculture history. You will see how JamOrganX turns the coconuts into organic coconut oil, as well as the growing stages of this unique nut. The next stop is G.C. Orchids, a stunning 4 acres of commercially grown orchids. The tour wraps up back at our Craft Shop with a chance to shop for locally made crafts and to feed Peter, Eastern Livestock's friendly Brahmin Bull. A morning with Dolly is always interesting and entertaining.

More than 100 Bird Species have been spotted at Green Castle

After the tour you might be ready for some beach time. Green Castle has more than a mile of coastline. Jacks Bay is our swimming beac; local proprietors Gary and Melicia are there to offer a cold Red Stripe or a traditional lunch. Jacks Bay provides a scenic spot to swimming, snorkeling and relax. On Sundays you will share the beach with local Jamaicans coming to enjoy the beautiful mountain views and cool water. The coastline also offers great walking. The Long Beach is not safe for swimming, but you could spend hours walking along the shore picking up stones of all colors polished by the sea. In the other direction the coastline turns into high cliffs with dramatic views over the ocean. There are also a couple of secluded coves that are interesting to explore. The beach is located on the Estate about a mile and a half down the hill from the Estate House.

Birding at Green Castle

The large size of Green Castle also means we have a diversity of ecosystems, including fresh water ponds, a mangrove swamp, streams, forests, pastures and coastline. We have also deliberately left our watersheds highly vegetated, creating scenic views and bird habitat. For our bird enthusiasts, Green Castle is a wonderful place to spot the Jamaican endemics, such as the Jamaican Mango Hummingbird, Tody, or the Jamaican Woodpecker. Nineteen out of the 28 endemic birds of Jamaica have been sighted at Green Castle. In total there are 100 resident and visitor birds that have been documented. Birding can be enjoyed from your comfortable chair on the veranda, or by visiting the diverse eco-systems around the property. Click here for a list a birds found at Green Castle.

Activities in the Area

Fresh Produce from the Local Market

Once you are ready to venture beyond Green Castle and its environs, we can assist you in arranging a wide range of activities. We have local guides who can take you on a serious coastal hike to the Kwame Waterfall, a 5 hour return trek that is well worth the adventure. About an hour away is bamboo rafting on the Rio Grande, which could be combined with a stopover at the market in Port Antonio. Ms. Juliet offers guided tours of historic churches and buildings in St. Mary. If you are up for volunteering, the Basic School in Robins Bay is always happy to have visitors come and read or tutor to the pre-school children. Some additional activities are as follows:

  • Frenchman's Cove Beach with lunch in Boston Bay, famous for its jerk and finish with a stop at the Port Antonio Craft Market. (2 hours away)
  • A Day in Ocho Rios – Visit the duty free shops of Ocho Rios, the Craft Market and have lunch at the Ruins, an outdoor restaurant with a waterfall running through it. Spend the afternoon at Dunn Rivers Falls or one of the local Gardens. (1 hour away)
  • Tour of Kingston – A day tour of Kingston that takes you through the National Gallery, Hope Gardens, the Bob Marley Museum and historical Devon House. (1 hour away)
  • Port Royal Tour – A day tour of historic Port Royal and the National Gallery. Learn about Jamaica's rich history. (1.5 hours away)
  • A visit to Castleton Gardens, and interesting botanical experience. (1 hour away)

Green Castle can help you create the type of week or weekend that meets your travel interests. Green Castle and its environs are one of the best kept secrets on the island, and we always enjoy sharing our little corner.