Blue Hole and Bamboo Rafting

Must Do in Ocho Rios

Devari did a great job driving us around, thank you! We enjoyed the Blue Hole adventure and river rafting. Awesome experience and strongly recommended!

via Viator

Terrible Experience — I Would Not Recommend This Excursion Or Courtney Taylor Tours

Our family had an absolutely terrible experience on this excursion, and the way our family was treated was unacceptable. The most disturbing part of the day involved one of the bamboo raft guides and our two teenage daughters. Without obtaining permission from me as their mother, the guide rubbed mud all over the girls’ legs and thighs, with the mud going up to their shorts. They were never clearly informed beforehand that they would be charged $40 each for this mud treatment. When the girls and I questioned the charge, the guide called them liars and then taunted our group after returning to shore. I found the physical contact with our minor daughters completely inappropriate and unacceptable, particularly because they had not consented to the service or agreed to pay for it. I did not book or authorize this mud treatment, and my daughters did not have money of their own to spend. I strongly objected to being charged for a service that was never requested or properly explained. Unfortunately, that was not the only problem. The tour bus arrived approximately 45 minutes late to pick us up in the morning, which immediately put us behind schedule. I texted and message the tour company 3 different times, asking if the bus was going to be coming to pick us up and receivedzero response, so we were all left waiting. When they did arrive, before we even began the activities, we were taken to a store to purchase water shoes and sample rum. Water shoes were available at the Blue Hole, so we felt this unnecessary stop cost us even more of our limited time. Because of the delays, our family and another group were ultimately unable to properly enjoy or participate in the Blue Hole portion of the excursion. We booked this excursion mainly for the Blue Hole experience and we had no time to participate in any of the Blue Hole activities we were promised. We were rushed because the tour guides needed to get us back to the cruise port in time. The return trip also involved what felt to us like unsafe driving conditions because of the time pressure. We paid approximately $600 for this excursion and expected a safe, enjoyable experience. Instead, the day was stressful, rushed, and extremely upsetting, particularly because of what happened to our daughters. After contacting the excursion company, I requested a refund or partial refund and explained everything that happened. The company refused to provide any refund. They also subsequently accused our group of being late, which is completely untrue and directly contradicts our experience that the tour bus itself arrived approximately 45 minutes late that morning. I am sharing this review so other families—especially those traveling with teenagers or children—can make an informed decision before booking, especially if booking any excursion with Courtney Taylor Tours. Based on our experience, I would strongly encourage anyone considering this excursion to ask detailed questions about the mud treatment, additional charges, timing, transportation, and what happens if the excursion falls behind schedule.

Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your feedback. I have been awaiting your review so we could provide the facts and context regarding your tour. Regarding the Timing: Your claim that we were 45 minutes late is entirely inaccurate. This was a shared group tour. Your party was the final pickup of the day, and the other guests on board can verify that our vehicle was stationary at your designated pickup location waiting for you. We have recorded logs of our attempts to contact you during this wait time, as well as official port tickets documenting the exact time our vehicle arrived at the port. Regarding Your Party’s Behavior and Activities: Our guides strictly adhere to safety and professionalism guidelines. The therapeutic mud application mentioned is a standard, optional activity offered from the ankle to the knee only, and it is never performed without prior consent and clear pricing. Furthermore, our staff noted that the minors in your party purchased and concealed two flasks of rum during the excursion. Conclusion: Throughout the day, your party arrived late, demanded that the itinerary be rushed, and displayed a generally uncooperative attitude. I personally drove your group back to the port, exercising the utmost care and driving efficiently to ensure you returned with time to spare. We take all feedback seriously, but we will not accept defamatory or false statements. It is clear from our records and your interactions with us that this review is a retaliatory attempt to force a refund for a service that was fully and professionally delivered.

via Viator

A fun tour. I loved every minute.

A fantastic private tour for me and my husband. Rajzah met us at our hotel and our first stop was at the river rafting where we met our guide Flowers. He steered our bamboo raft down the river to the sea where we disembarked and walks along the sandy beach. Then back on and return to our starting point. There were loads of photo opportunities along the way and my husband had a go at poling the raft which wasn’t easy. We nearly hit the bank a few times! From there Rajzah drove us to the Blue Hole where we met our guide Ainsworth. He took us walking across waterfalls, up stony banks, across the rapid river on a rope, up and down steps until we finally reached the Blue Hole where we did a small jump into the pool below the waterfall. The water was deep but so cool and refreshing. We did a further couple of jumps before Ainsworth navigated us back to meet our driver. It was a bit scary at times but such fun. I enjoyed every minute. We had a photographer with who took about 70 photos along the way and afterwards we purchased these from him and he downloaded them on to my iPhone so I now have a record of our trip to keep. I would highly recommend going on this tour with Courtney Taylor. It’s one of the best tours I’ve done and I felt very safe in the hands of our guides. We got back to our hotel in time for lunch as well.

via Tripadvisor

10/10

10/10 reccomand loveeeeeeee def should go

via Tripadvisor

THIS Is Jamaica! 🇯🇲

Shawn THANK YOU, bredren! The moment from the pickup, your hospitality, patience, knowledge, and genuine love for Jamaica showed all the way through. You didn’t just drive us around you showed us Jamaica. One LOVE. Driving through St. Mary and St. Ann, along the beautiful north coast and through the communities surrounding Ocho Rios, you gave us stories, history, little pieces of culture, and perspectives you simply wouldn’t get from sitting in a resort. That’s what made this feel different. It wasn’t just an excursion it felt like we were being welcomed into the real Jamaica. When we arrived to BLUE HOLE, this was a true out-of-body experience. A natural limestone wonder tucked away in all that lush Jamaican greenery, and the adventure was EVERYTHING. Swimming in those refreshing waters, climbing the waterfalls, exploring the caves, and launching into the water, navigating the rocks it was giving PURE JAMAICA! Nah man… Jamaica really blessed. What made it even more special was WHO I got to experience it with. Doing this for my mom meant everything to me. Seeing her enjoy herself, laugh, take in the scenery, and create memories that we’ll be talking about for years. PRICELESS. When we thought the day couldn’t get any better, we finished with the bamboo rafting in Rio Nuevo. Absolutely STUNNING. Floating peacefully through one of Jamaica’s most beautiful natural settings, surrounded by those hills and that lush scenery, was the perfect way to bring everything full circle. After all the adventure at Blue Hole, that bamboo raft ride gave us a moment to slow down, breathe, appreciate the beauty, and just be present. There’s something special about experiencing Jamaica beyond the resort walls. Seeing the communities, hearing the stories, meeting the people, learning the history, eating, laughing, exploring, and allowing the island to reveal itself to you organically. Lastly, to the entire team and staff BIG UP UNNU! Your humility, kindness, patience, professionalism, and genuine hospitality made the difference. Anybody can provide an excursion, but when the people behind the experience genuinely care about what they’re doing, you feel that. A memory officially put in the books, and one I know my family especially my mom will carry with us for a long time. Shawn, mi seh BIG RESPECT! Thank you for showing us a Jamaica that felt authentic, beautiful, welcoming, and full of life. From the roads of St. Mary and St. Ann to the waters of Blue Hole and the peaceful beauty of Rio Nuevo you helped make this one for the history books. One love. One family. One unforgettable Jamaican experience. 100/10. Would do it ALL over again.S/O Courtney Tours

via Tripadvisor