Green Castle Estate Tour... An Experience
Estate Tour with Dolly and Rose
Green Castle Estate is one of Jamaica’s hidden gems, tucked away on an undeveloped section of the North Coast. Green Castle and Robins Bay, the local village, offer you a slower, more relaxed and authentic opportunity to appreciate and learn about Jamaican culture, cuisine and environment. We take pride in personalizing each tour, and welcoming all our visitors as though they were our personal guests.
The Estate is strategically located on the north coast, about 1 hour east of Ocho Rios and 1 hour north of Kingston. We are located in the village of Robins Bay, one half mile off of the North Coast Highway. Our location offers fabulous views of the Blue Mountains and the beautiful Caribbean Sea. The diverse workings of the farm, friendly and warm staff and excellent local cuisine make it an authentic way to spend the day in Jamaica.
The Estate Tour
The Estate Tour is an excellent way to learn about and appreciate the Jamaican countryside and Jamaican history. Dolly, our knowledgable guide, will entertain and educate you, while introducing you to the natural and cultural history of the Estate and its environs. The tour begins at our Craft Shop, which features locally produced crafts, comfortable restrooms and a panoramic view of the mountains and the sea. While you enjoy a drink of natural juice made from local fruits, our guide will introduce you to local spices, produce, traditional songs, and Green Castle history. The Tour then takes a short walk to our Organic Coconut Oil manufacturing operation run by JamOrganiX. The tour walks you through the unique manufacturing process of cold pressed organic coconut oil, where you can see the process of turning raw coconuts into coconut oil that can be used in cooking, aromatherapy and message therapy. After the coconut oil operation, you board your bus or taxi for a short drive through the scenic coconut groves to visit our large orchid operation, run by our partner, GC Orchids. In the orchid house you will have the opportunity to experience the 100,000 beautiful orchid plants. In addition to the natural beauty of the orchids, you will learn about how Greencastle grows, propagates and cares for all 100,000 orchid plants. After the orchid houses you can visit our 300 year old Windmill Tower, a striking stone base of a windmill used to power a sugar mill during the English Plantation days; and our Blue Hole, an interesting circular coral formation in the interior of our rocky coastline with a tunnel leading to the sea.
The Tour can finish back at the Craft Shop, or you can plan on a day in the country by reserving lunch at the Estate House or Jacks Bay Beach. The Estate House is a refurbished 1950’s villa located high on a hill with commanding views of the mountains and the sea. It has 3 acres of tropical gardens that guests can enjoy at their leisure before or after lunch. Lunch will be a sampling of local cuisine (with vegetarian options if desired). Staff will be sure to explain what is being served, how it is cooked, and how it fits into the Jamaican culture. A seaside lunch at Jacks Bay, Green Castle’s swimming beach offers a more casual atmosphere with Jamaican music and the ocean for company. Both offer a lovely location for lunch.
Reservations
The Estate Tour does require a reservation. Reservations can be made by calling Angie or Dolly locally at 1 (876) 881-6293/4, or internationally at 1 (612) 986-4709. Reservations can also be made by email to gcejamaica@yahoo.com. Same day tours can sometimes be accommodated, please call for more information.
Rates
The tour is $20 US per adult and $10 US for children between 5 and 11. Children under 5 are free. Lunch rates vary based on group size, but range from $10 US to $20 US. Resident and Group discounts are available.
Hours and Transportation
Tours operate by reservation Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Weekend tours for groups can be arranged. Green Castle is committed to a safe and environmentally friendly experience. Because of this philosophy, transportation on the Estate for the tour is done with short walks, and by using your taxi, bus or car for the short stretches that are better driven.
Please contact Angie Dickson in Jamaica at 881-6293, internationally at 1 (612)986-4709 or by email at gcejamaica@yahoo.com for any additional information.
We look forward to hosting your guests at Green Castle Estate in the near future!