Jamaica Cultural Enterprises Blog

Tour Kingston, Jamaica with us

1/12/2020

KINGSTON CITY TOUR

KINGSTON CITY TOUR

No trip to Jamaica is complete without a trip to the capital, Kingston. The beauty of a vacation in Jamaica is that there is much variety that you may not necessarily get in other destinations. Yes, there are the beaches, but you also have music. Yes, you have the mountains, but you can also visit an art gallery. From drumming of the Maroons to dolphin watching (we recommend seeing them in the wild) to Dancehall street parties, you can find it all in Jamaica if you know where to look. To add to the variety of your trip, a visit to Kingston is a must.

On a tour of Kingston with us you will be able to learn about Jamaican history, feel the rhythm of the city (an infectious mix of reggae and dancehall), see Jamaicans in their natural element, not staged for tourists, and gain a deeper understanding of Jamaican history and culture. We offer a variety of options and ways to explore the city from music to art to heritage to walking and everything in between. We have been doing this for close to 10 years and have consistently great reviews because of our great value and knowledgeable guides.

Feel free to sign up on our booking pages or drop us a line at info@jaculture.com to ask for more information.

Blue Mountain Tour in Jamaica

12/23/2019

Blue Mountain tour

Blue Mountain tour

There are few things as satisfying as an excellent cup of coffee. You smell the heady aroma, you tip the cup to your mouth, and you experience a feeling of supreme delight as the amber, punchy liquid glides down your throat. On our tour of the Blue Mountains we visit Craighton Estate known for its top quality coffee, and among the many delights of the tour is that you are treated to the estate brand.

Other things for you to enjoy on our tour if the appeal of the coffee isn't enough:

Beautiful bird sightings, including our one of a kind national bird, a special kind of hummingbird that is a petite, delightful surprise.
Walking through enchanted gardens inhabited by fairies and sprites. Okay, there are not really any woodland creatures but there are plenty of almost magical flowers, birds, and butterflies.
Your informative and super helpful tour guides, both on the farm and supplied by us.
Learning the history of coffee cultivation.
Understanding the economics of coffee cultivation in Jamaica.
Dining on delicious Jamaican food in a natural setting.
Fresh air. With all the environmental issues around the planet, this is thankfully still something we enjoy in our mountains.
Delicious, aromatic coffee. It's worth repeating.

This is a tour that we can easily arrange for you. Why don't you join us on our group Tuesday tours? Our groups are small but if you would prefer a private/custom experience at a time and date more convenient for you, that can also be provided. This excursion is a fantastic way to learn about Jamaica, coffee, and nature, and the Blue Mountains is one of our favourite places to be in Jamaica. Really, for us offering this tour is just a great excuse to get a coffee and nature fix. We're very sure you will enjoy the experience too.

Tour Trench Town?

12/18/2019

Tour Guide in Trench Town

Tour Guide in Trench Town

Internationally, Trench Town is perhaps one of the most known neighbourhoods in Kingston, yet among travellers there is often considerable anxiety about making a visit. Jamaica Cultural Enterprises offers a wide variety of tours that include trips to Trench Town, from a simple shuttle service to music and city tours. We visit not because we are adrenaline junkies and enjoy the feeling of putting our lives at risk. As a tour company we make every effort to keep our guests and the staff we work work with as safe as possible. We offer tours of Trench Town firstly because we have assessed the situation and find that the risk of being harmed is minimal. We have been offering tours of Kingston, Jamaica for close to 10 years now so we know of which we speak. Most important though is that a tour of Trench Town allows for a glimpse into the Jamaica that is not usually shown on post cards and allows tourists to better understand the political, social and economic situation of the country.

To learn more about our tours to Trench Town, please check out our Kingston tours here.

One love.

Remembering the outstanding week of "Jamaica Women in Theatre Festival"

4/11/2018

The Jamaican theatre scene has come a long way since its start in the 17th century in Spanish Town. Today, original Jamaican productions are infused with our cultural expressions and social realities, articulated by our writers, and brought to life by a team of artists. The most commercially successful genre in Jamaican theatre is comedy, however, a new era has seen the emergence of several performance companies and independent performers pioneering new theatre styles and producing quality works through a wide range of genres.

A highlight in March 2018 was the 2nd staging of the “Jamaica Women in Theatre Festival” organized by writer, director and actress Dahlia Harris. The festival ran from March 19 to March 25, showcasing works from talented Jamaican women writers, directors, and actors.

The festival showcased a diverse array of short plays, play extracts, play readings and video installations, but a common theme running throughout was identity and culture. Among the works mounted was an extract from Centerstage’s comedic drama “Right Girl, Wrong Address“, which highlighted actresses Sakina Deer and Sharee Elise.

Cool Ocho Rios to Kingston Tours

3/28/2018

Here's how you get the best of both worlds: stay in Ocho Rios close to the beach but take one of our tours that departs from the North Coast and journeys into the heart of cultural Jamaica. On our tour you will eat great local food, have soul stirring conversations with Rastas, visit the internationally renowned Bob Marley Museum, admire the energy and vibrancy of Kingston street art, be taken care of by our knowledgeable and friendly tour guides, and more.

Stops include:
Bob Marley Museum
Downtown Kingston
Street mural art project
National Heroes Park

Group Tour Cost:
USD100 per adult (12+); USD60 for children 5 - 11; Free for children below the age of 5

Group Tour Inclusions:
All entry fees
Expert guide
Comfortable air conditioned transportation
Bottled water

Group Tour Exclusions:
Lunch

Private Tour Cost:
USD250 for a total of 4 participants. This cost includes expert guide, comfortable air conditioned transportation, and bottled water. It excludes entry fees.

Carry:
Camera
Money for souvenirs, lunch
Extra bottled water

To book or query email info@jaculture.com or khutchinson@jaculture.com

Walk the city with Jamaica Cultural Enterprises

2/7/2018

Our walking tours are baaaack.

If you have a desire to get into the heart of Kingston, why not come hang out with us? We aim to do a walking tour every Thursday and on the last Sunday of every month. On Thursdays we don't charge, you just pay for your own bus fare, entry fees, and lunch. Why is it free? It's a great training tool for our guides to hone their skills and we do accept tips.

From your perspective this is an excellent way to see the city up close, it's free, it's safe, it's fun.

For more information, click here.

Visit the Blue Mountains in Jamaica with Jamaica Cultural Tours!

11/29/2017

I love the city but one of my favourite places to visit is the Blue Mountains. The air is cooler, the pace is slower, and I am always treated to good coffee. On the Jamaica Cultural Enterprises tour, you get the added benefit of smaller group size, knowledgeable and expert guides, and great conversation. All in all a superior experience.

To find out more, contact us at info@jaculture.com or check our site at www.jaculture.com.

Dancing with the Maroons

11/13/2017

It's in our name, the fact that our tours focus on Jamaican culture. We also love when culture is fun. Above is a pic from a recent visit to a Maroon community in Portland. The energy was high, the drumming was hypnotic, and the vibes were positive, a celebration of life over adversity. And then after our guests cooled down in the river. All in all, an excellent day out.

To find out more about our Maroon tours, email us at info@jaculture.com or check our page here.

Blue Skies

10/17/2017

Between May and November in Jamaica we experience most of the rainfall for the year. This year has been a very active one with respect to tropical storms and hurricanes, and while we've thankfully been spared a direct hit, we've gotten quite a bit of rain. This isn't spoiling our fun however, and usually in Kingston when it rains, it's a short sudden burst, and then it's back to blue skies.

We invite you to come explore the outdoors with us in the sunshine, and in the rain.
Email info@jaculture.com | Call 1 876 540 8570 (whatsapp) / 374 6370

The Abeng, Symbol of Resistance or Betrayal?

9/5/2017

The abeng, an instrument made from animal horn, is part and parcel of Maroon culture. By blowing through it Maroons, runaway slaves who maintained free communities, could communicate with each other, sending messages that were impossible or the untrained ear to decipher. Its sound was said to drive terror into the hearts of the British. Usually the abeng is seen as a symbol of freedom. However, because the Maroons eventually signed peace treaties and would be used by the British to suppress slave and anti-colonial uprisings, their symbolism is complicated. It can be argued therefore that the abeng represents not just resistance and struggle but disunity and co-optation. What would lead to this very challenging set of circumstances? These are questions we get answered when we visit Maroon communities and delve deeper into Jamaican history. History after all is never a simple thing.

To find out more about our Maroon tours, email us at info@jaculture.com or call/whatsapp 1 876 540 8570 / 1 876 374 6370.