When you’ve been around the block in Jamaica for forty-odd years, you think you’ve seen and done it all.  From the day I was born, my parents dragged my brothers and I across the island on numerous camping excursions and day trips.  Okay, dragged is a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the gist!  I’ve even been to Good Hope Great House for several weddings and one New Year’s Eve party.

It turns out, I have not seen it all at all!  To boot, there are people who are capable of changing up the lay of the land, while NOT ruining the land I love.  I cannot tell you how I have worried about the interference of large companies and their disregard at destroying Jamaica’s natural beauty.  However, there is one such vast enterprise I’d like to mention, one that has managed to bring out the best in our paradise, taken what we naturally have in Jamaica and worked in a plethora of outstanding activities for tourists and Jamaicans, alike, to explore and enjoy.  That is Chukka Caribbean.

The welcome we received upon arriving at Chukka Good Hope, the sound advice over which activities to do when and the swift efficiency to execute every aspect of our tour was beyond notable.  Not to mention the quality of the activities themselves and the quality of your staff members – from the front office to the gift shop’s cashier, from the information desk to the bus drivers, from the guy who helped us with our bags to the bartenders at the pool, and the guides on the river-tubing, at the Great House and particularly on the zip line – thank you.  If I left anyone out, this is an oversight.  We were blown away by you all.  Your dedication to keeping us and the other visitors safe, especially on the zip line, did not go unnoticed.  The fact that my 8 year old son was happy to go whizzing away, way ahead of me, without a moment’s hesitation, is a testament to your comforting professionalism and personal  care of each customer.

The Good Hope property itself is the epitome of what Jamaica’s inland has to offer – rolling, green hills that are adorned with tropical fruit and spice trees, glistening rivers in which you can cool off and swim, and sometimes, as in this case, a Great House that was built in the 18th Century.  We learned, on a guided tour, the history of Good Hope Estate and interesting stories about the Great House itself, the most amusing being that the master and the mistress of the house had single beds in their room as “show” and they pushed the beds together when they were ready for “bedroom activities”.  Well, we didn’t get to see any of that, thank goodness, but there are quite enough fabulous activities arranged by Chukka Caribbean!  It was a good day out and we certainly hope to go back soon.  #TREMbleinFlipFlops #GoodHopeChukka