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 You'll need a car to
get the most out of the mountains. The principal access
road, the B1, cuts straight through the slopes, connecting
Kingston with Buff Bay on the north coast; a right fork at
the small village of The Cooperage leads to Mavis
Bank, the main access point for Blue Mountain Peak.
Landslides are inevitable in the wet season and you can
expect bumpy roads throughout the year. You'll need to be
extra-attentive when behind the wheel here. Though the roads
appear wide enough only for a single vehicle, delivery
trucks loaded with precariously balanced crates frequently
barrel up the slopes, sounding their presence with blasts on
the horn. It's wise to turn off the radio here and listen
for oncoming traffic, and also toot your horn at every
corner.
 Public transport
will only take you as far as the main settlements - from
Papine in northeast Kingston, buses (roughly J$60) go
to Newcastle via Irish Town (with the occasional minibus
managing to get up as far as Hollywell), and to Mavis Bank
via Gordon Town. Ask around in Papine square the day before
you plan to travel, and avoid starting out on a Sunday.
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 Cycling is an
attractive option if you've got your own mountain bike
(finding one to rent can be difficult). Several hotels run
day-long biking expeditions, among them the Mount Edge
Guesthouse (phone: 876/944-8151; US$60). Blue Mountain
Tours (phone: 876/974-7075 or 1-800/982-8238; US$89
including transfer, brunch, lunch and refreshments) will
pick you up from Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay, drive you up
into the mountains and let you freewheel sixteen miles or so
down to a waterfall near Buff Bay. |
Jamaica
Travel Guide
Montego Bay, Kingston, Ocho Rios, Negril, Blue Mountains, Portland
Caribbean Travel Guide
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