Which tour operator to book? We used Mark Morris

[MandyCSP]

When we visited Jamaica we booked a tour with Mark Morris. He was very personable and we learned a lot about the island and its people from him. He has also visited the States so it was interesting to get his perspective on our way of life as well. He offers set tours but was very willing to accomodate changes to suit our needs. Just ask.

 

He was easy to find, waiting for us with a big smile at the port. We wanted to visit the falls in the morning before the crowds got too big. No problem. He took us past the lines at the gate and set the 4 of us up directly with our own guide (same price as going with the long lines of 20 or more) and was waiting for us when we were done (no pun intended.) He steered us away from the annoying vendors as you leave.

 

We asked to visit a beach for an hour or so and he recommended Mahogany Beach because it's free and the vendors there aren't real bothersome - they inquire if you would like their services but leave you alone if you decline. The beach was nice enough and offered a few watersports. Mark explained that the private resorts have bought up almost all of the best beachfront in Jamaica. When we were ready to leave, Mark was waiting for us.

 

After swimming Mark took us to Bibibip's for lunch, a lovely restaurant on the cliffs overlooking the cove at Mahogany Beach. We chose to sit out on the patio and had a beautiful view as we dined. Mark asked the waitress to bring a free sample of a dish Jamaica is noted for,Jerk Chicken, for us to try. Whatever we chose, we all enjoyed the food.

 

After lunch we went river tubing. Mark arranged for a guide. I think we were the only ones on the river at the time. It was fun - like Disney only it was the real deal. We stopped for a short time and our guide pointed out some of the natural flora including tree orchids. Our recommendation: bring a waterproof camera and wear something on your feet as the bottom is very rocky.

 

Again, Mark was waiting for us when we finished and then drove us through a portion of Fern Gully before we returned to the ship. We had a very enjoyable day on an island that I have read many people don't care for. Mark definitely made a difference by tayloring the tour to meet our needs and recognizing that most tourists want to feel safe and don't want to be pestered by annoying vendors. We only needed to carry the possessions with us that we needed for any particular activity as the van was always locked or Mark was there. I don't think you can go wrong if you hire Mark. Contact him at marco@anngel.com.jm