Kris

We're staying in Montego Bay in early March and were wondering about taking excursions. I was disappointed in the ones we took in the Dominican Republic so I wanted to get some ideas before we left. Don't really care to shop, except for small souvenirs for the nieces/nephews.

We like to snorkel, where is the best place to snorkel? Can you do it from the beaches in Montego Bay or do you have to go out on a boat trip? Is the snorkeling great or just OK?

I'd also like to see some of the natural areas-waterfalls, etc, is the best way to do this with a private taxi/driver? Can you arrange at the hotels? I've seen the posts on Dunn's Falls and definitely don't want to do the 20 people holding hands thing.

Thanks for any advice!

ohliz

Snorkeling can be done off Doctor's Cave beach in MoBay but there isn't all that much to see, coral, not many fish. If you take a boat out you'll definitely see more. It's not the best snorkeling in the world but the water is very clear and we generally see some rays, small reef fish, maybe an octopus or barracuda.

Waterfalls are all over JA. Four have been deloped for tourism (that i know of) - Dunn's near Ochi, Reach near Port Antonio, Mayfield near Negril and YS near the south coast.

From MoBay I'd choose Mayfield or YS, they are closest and quite nice.

I've got pics of both at

http://www.webphotos.com/list_photos...&smi=1&a=55968 (YS)

and http://www.webphotos.com/list_photos.asp?mi=1&smi=1&a=55957
Liz

Kim

Kris, if you email me I will send you an excursion sheet.

jamaicajim

We are going to the DR next week! We are staying in Punta Cana. What excursions did you go on and which would you recommend/not recommend?

Thanks
E-mail me at : [email protected] if possible.

Kris

Thanks Liz, I've seen a bunch of your posts and you've been very helpful. I'm still trying to figure out if it is illegal for us to go over to Cuba on a daytrip as long as we don't spend any money over there. Do you know if there are day trips that go over to Cuba that leave on Sat, Sun or Mon?

Jamaica Jim, we did two excursions in Punta Cana. One was a jeep tour that stopped at a sugar plantation, fruit farm, went through a couple of towns and then to a beach where we hung out for a few hours. Not something I would rave about although it was interesting to see something apart from the resort areas.

The second was a boat trip on a catamaran to a small island with lots of drinking both on the ship and off. I don't remember how the snorkeling was so I don't think it was all that great, certainly wasn't as good as Cancun or Belize. They brought us back by motor boat, stopped for a drinking game (rum straight from the bottle, I've never seen anyone drink like those guys from Wisconsin!). This was the better of the two excursions we took.

My brother and sister in law took the day trip over to Santo Domingo and said it should have been named the Christopher Columbus excursion as that's all they showed them was things affiliated with Christopher Columbus.

Don't get me wrong, the DR was a great beach vacation, I just think that the tourism industry hadn't quite developed as much as some other locations. The people we toured with were very friendly and accomodating.

ohliz

The legality or not of visiting Cuba I really don't know much about. This might help:

http://www.ustreas.gov/ofac/t11cuba.pdf

Here's some day/overnight MoBay-Cuba trip info:

http://www.tropicaltours-ja.com/
Liz

ohliz

Actually, I think this is the official rundown on the US' position on Cuba travel:

http://travel.state.gov/cuba.html
Liz

tivertonhouse

Kris;We recommend to our guests CAROLYN BARRETT of Barrett Adventures, based not ironically in Barrettown just outside MoBay, for privately-guided excursions with depth and insider's knowledge and ones that go way beyond the conga lines at Dunn's River. See her at jamaicaescapes.com
or contact her directly at [email protected] She does a snorkeling trip with stinrays on the north coast, a variety of waterfall explorations, gardens, horseback riding, plantations, great houses and customizes to guest interests.