Sandals Dunn's River
- Timeless Travel
- May 31
- 8 min read
Your guide to Food, Fun and Adventure
Join me on a captivating journey through the vibrant beauty and rich culture of Jamaica.
The Arrival
The moment our plane landed in Jamaican, a wave of warmth and excitement enveloped me. I immediately noticed the cheerful smiles of the locals. This created an atmosphere of unparalleled hospitality and put my mind at ease. My husband and I quickly found an agent from Club Mobay who was holding a sign with our names on it. We had purchased a Club Mobay pass while booking our vacation. This purchase was highly recommended from a friend who frequents Jamaica and also by our travel advisor. As we introduced ourselves, the agent quickly and efficiently took us through the process of customs and then to gather our luggage. After that, he took us to the Sandals airport lounge to let them know that we had arrived and was ready for transportation to the resort. While we were waiting for the Sandals transport bus to arrive, we were able to relax in the Club Mobay lounge with snacks, drinks and a restroom. I must say, the rum punch was fantastic!
Approximately forty-five minutes later we were escorted to the Sandals transportation bus, our luggage was loaded, we were off for a 90 minute ride across the beautiful northern coast of Jamaica. Our destination was Sandals Dunn's River, located in the Ocho Rios area. The ride was long, but we enjoyed the scenery along the way. The landscape was breathtaking. The entire 90 minute ride consisted of a gorgeous ocean view on our left and a lush green mountainous view on our right. We passed through many towns that were full of hustle and bustle. It was interesting to view the Jamaican culture, even out the window of a fast moving bus, to see how people outside of our native country live. Upon arrival to the Sandals resort, we were greeted by the lovely staff who sang us a welcome song and gave us refreshing cool towels. Our personal hotel concierge escorted us to get checked in and then she walked us to our room. The hotel staff also delivered our luggage directly to our room. The process was very quick and effecient. Anyone who knows me, knows I love effeciency.
Immersing in the Culture
No trip to Jamaica is complete without immersing yourself in its vibrant culture, right? So with this thought in mind, I booked us some excursions, two to be exact! One was the Reggae Catamaran Sunset Cruise and Snorkeling. It was a lot of fun and our snorkeling guide, Damar, was wonderful. We had nervously explained to him that this was our first time snorkeling. He assured us that he would stay close to us the whole time, he did just as he promised. While staying close by, he would dive down and point out the different creatures on the ocean floor. We saw a sand shark, two types of starfish, stingrays and eels. There was lots of beautiful tropical fish swimming around the reef. Damar allowed us to hold a cute little starfish. Seeing the reef and all of the life below the ocean's surface was an experience like no other, it was truly unforgettable. I highly recommend this excursion.
The following day we went on the full-day speed boat, snorkeling and Dunn's River Falls adventure. I want to start off by saying that the weather was terrible this day, but we decided to go and have a great time anyway. My husband and I made some great new friends. I do have to say that the two staff members onboard this excursion were not as interactive as the crew the day before. The snorkeling guide was almost unfriendly to a degree. The sky was dark and it was pouring rain, which also made the water seem dark and eerie. The guide kept swimming further and further away from all six of us in the tour group. I didn't like this. The water was so choppy that once five of us made it safely back onto the boat, we had to circle back to pick up our sixth member who couldn't make the swim back on his own. By the time we made it to Dunn's River Falls, the rain had stopped. Climbing Dunn's River Falls was a moderately fun adventure, but please know that it is 960 feet of very slippery rock. You are climbing the actual waterfall, meaning you are climbing upward against the force of the falling water on slippery rock. Many people were falling. Thankfully nobody was seriously injured, but I could definitely see that as a possibility. This is not an excursion that I would recommend taking a child. After leaving Dunn's River Falls, we had lunch at Ocho Rios Margaritaville. It was an adorable place with a great view. As expected, the food was the same as all other Margaritaville restaurants that I have been to in the past. My friend Deanna and I slid down the big water slide there, which was fun!
One of the many great things about staying at a Sandals resort is the variety of activities they have scheduled throughout each day. You can pick and choose any and all that appeal to you. Almost all resort related activities are at no extra cost. My husband and I took a pottery making class and greatly enjoyed it. We participated in aqua yoga one morning. Some of the other options were trivia, candle making, dance classes, ski lessons, glass bottom boat rides and then they offered a variety of live entertainment each evening. This specific resort offers shuttles to a golf course, for those who are interested. One could easily stay an entire week and not get bored.
Taste of Jamaica
The cuisine of Jamaica is a celebration of flavors, blending influences from African, Indian, and European culinary traditions. I savored the fiery kick of jerk chicken while at one of the resorts specialty restaurants, The Jerk Shack. They also offer jerk sausage and jerk port. I did not try either of those while on this trip. I tried the Island Crab & Corn fritters, pictured below, from Galene Seaside Grill. Each morning I would walk to Blum Jamaican Coffee Shop and grab a cup of coffee to enjoy while I was waiting on my husband to come down from the room. I was up early each day, while he enjoys sleeping in while on vacation. My favorite drink from the bar was the Bob Marley! It was my go-to each time we ordered drinks. The Sandals Dunn's River resort has twelve specialty restaurants and nine bars. All food and drinks are unlimited and included at no extra charge. There was never a line or a wait to be seated, which was nice. Every meal at this resort felt like a culinary adventure, with an explosion of taste and texture that left me craving for more.
Farewell to Paradise
As I bid farewell to Jamaica, my heart was delighted with the weight of many unforgettable memories. The beauty of the landscapes, the warmth of the people, and the spirit of the island had left an indelible mark on my soul. Jamaica has welcomed us with open arms, showering us with its sunshine and filling our days with laughter and joy. As we boarded the plane, I knew that a piece of Jamaica would forever remain in my heart, a cherished memory of our journey to paradise. We are already making plans for returning in November of this year. We will try new excursions on the next visit and obviously, induldge in trying more of the delicious food options.
Are you Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime?
Pack your bags, book your ticket and immerse yourself in the food, fun and adventure of Jamaica. Let the rhythm of reggae and the laughter of the locals guide you on a journey of a lifetime. Embrace the Jamaican sunshine, and let it light up your soul.
Easy Tips for Booking Your Jamaican Vacation
Go to the Sandals website, choose a room and book online. Two other options are to call the toll-free number to reach Sandals or you can always consult a professional travel advisor. Sandals will pick you up from the airport for free and take you to your resort. They also bring you back to the airport at the end of your stay, at no charge. I feel like this take a lot of stress out of the equation when traveling in other countries. Sandals will offer to book your flights, but I do this on my own.
Book Club MoBay when flying in/out of Montego Bay, Jamaica. This airport is busy and fast paced. At least your first couple of times, pay the extra money for this service. You wont regret it. A friendly person will be waiting with a sign with your name on it as soon as you hop off the plane! Have your passport ready and have your C5 forms filled out. You will need both. They escort you through the immigration/customs process, take you to get your luggage and then to the Club MoBay lounge to wait on transport to Sandals.
Sandals room categories: Luxury level is the entry level, but is still completely all inclusive. We choose this category when we know we will be away from the resort doing lots of excursions. Club level is the same, except it offers room service and is slightly more pricey. Butler Elite is even more pricey, but you have your own personal butler for the duration of your stay! The butlers reserve your pool or beach chairs, bring you food and drinks to anywhere on the property and can help you with any needs or concerns. Some rooms offer ocean view, garden view or ocean front. Some are swim-up and some are not! It all depends on how much money you want to spend and how much time you will be off the property doing other things.
Book excursions in advance: Popular tours like Dunn's River Falls, Blue Hole and sunset cruises fill up quickly, especially in peak season.
Once I booked at my first Sandals resort, I downloaded the free app. There you can book excursions through Island Routes. Booking through Sandals allows you to travel safely with small groups of people from your resort. This app will allow you to book one dinner reservation two weeks prior to your visit. You will also note the resort activity schedule will be available two weeks prior to arrival. You do not have to pre-register for resort activities, but it's nice to have the schedule.
Pack comfortable hiking shoes: Trails can be slippery and uneven, so sturdy footwear is essential. My suitcase is always a little heavy because I bring a variety of shoes! I bring tennis shoes for hiking, flip-flops for water activities, water shoes for some excursions and also bring along some nicer sandals for dressing at dinner.
Bring swimwear and towels: No doubt, you’ll want to jump into waterfalls, go river tubing, and the snorkeling. Towels, sunscreen, water shoes and a little cash are a must. Depending on the excursion, you might want to take a can of bug repellent. I typically wear my swim suit under some loose fitting clothing, just for efficiency.
Stay hydrated: The tropical sun is strong, especially during outdoor activities. Stay hydrated and take care of yourself.
Try local cuisine: After a day of adventure, enjoy fresh seafood and Creole dishes at local restaurants. I always love conch fritters, jerk chicken and many other Jamaican dishes. Any time we visit other countries, I use the opportunity to try new foods, especially local cuisine. Don't be afraid to try new things!
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