Jamaica Tours, Guides and Vacations

Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley is without a doubt the most important man in Jamaican history and the single most powerful figure in driving tourism to Jamaica. Many may argue the importance of persons like Marcus Garvey, Norman Manley and Donald Sangster to name a few but no one has done more to announce Jamaica to the world than Bob Marley. More people travel to Jamaica because of the influence of Bob Marley than any combination of sun, beach and tropical weather and Bob Marley Tours are the some of our most popular tours in Jamaica.

Bob Marley is one of the most respected musicians to ever live and by far the most influential reggae artist to ever make music. Bob made Kingston and the ghettos of Trenchtown and Tivoli Gardens famous through his music and each year several hundred thousand tourists come to Jamaica to feel alright because of their love for Bob and his inspirational music. Bob Marley was a real revolutionary and deserving of the most high praise.

There are a number of Bob Marley tourist attractions in Jamaica with his home and museum in Kingston offering an extensive history of Bob and his musical legacy while his birthplace and final resting ground in St Ann Jamaica is the most popular place to visit and learn about Bob Marley the man.

My first trip to Jamaica was in February 2002 and I landed in Kingston for my very first day and the first place we went was the Bob Marley Museum and his former home followed by Tuff Gong Records which was certainly an emotional experience but nothing can compare to the raw power and emotion one feels standing on the hallowed grounds of Mt Zion where Bob lays facing East towards the rising sun. On my first trip there in 2002 I was shocked at how undeveloped and rough the museum was but still glad to have been able to meet with numerous family members and friends who had intimate stories of life with Bob. I fondly remember the conversations had with his cousin Fuzzy and hours spent with locals when we spent the night across the street with some of the most kind and most poor people I had ever met. Nine Mile is apoor community and a humbing experience outside the walls of the Marley estate.

On my most recent trip in March of 2010 I was impressed with how refined and developed the Bob Marley Mausoleum had become and with just how beautiful the grounds and new exhibits are. I was also impressed with the sheer number of guests there to express their love for the King of Reggae and it was very cool to spend time meeting fans from all over the world. It can be difficult to fathom his influence until you see people from 10 or more countries standing together smoking spliffs, taking pictures and sharing a love for Bob Marley.

Bob Marley truly was an inspiration to generations of kind hearted herb friendly people and bus loads of people enjoy Bob Marley tours to Nine Mile Jamaica each and every day. This last trip was with new friends from California Claudia and Jason who wanted to visit the grave and birthplace of the regggae legend and it was by far the most enjoyable of all my trips there. The mausoleum is much more like the Bob Marley Museum nowadays and the number of personalized artifacts, intimate photos and awards provide fans with an inside view to the life of a legend.

Nine Mile is located deep within the interior of Jamaica and roughly a 2 hour drive from Ocho Rios or about 3.5 hours from Montego Bay but well worth the trip for any real Bob Marley fan. Plan on spending the day traveling rural Jamaica and meeting real Jamaicans like Bobs cousin Fuzzy who has fond memories of growing up and going to school with Bob Marley and learn more about the musical legend. We’ll listen to Bob Marley music, smoke a Bob Marley joint and light a candle on his grave as we pay tribute to the Legend of Reggae Music.

For true fans of his music a tour to Nine Mile is a must do Bob Marley experience and a wonderful way to spend a day touring Jamaica.

The current global economic crisis has caused a number of problems for the travel industry but travel during the holidays can come at a great savings for some travelers this year and some countries are offering spectacular holiday vacation packages such as the wonderful deals on holidays in Greece where the adventure traveler can explore an historic and vibrant country at incredible savings.

Greece holidays are available at affordable prices and with the right investment your holiday budget can go much further in a country that is in such a need for travel investment. Greece is a country rich in history and the available travel destinations in Greece are some of the best holiday vacation locations in the world. Planning your holidays in Greece may become difficult actually when you realize just how much there is to do in this beautiful Middle Eastern Nation and when you start looking at top attractions such as The Acropolis , The Parthenon or Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon you come to understand that you are in the center of a rich cultural heritage and source of great history.

Athens is the main city and most popular tourist destination in Greece with a number of luxury hotels and resorts available with a variety of Greece holidays suited to the needs of every type of traveler. For those looking for the culture and heritage you will probably spend more time in and around Athens but those looking for an eco vacation in Greece may find themselves on a Greek islands vacation where the natural beauty of the country shines though in the unique parks and reseves offered by the Greek government.

Sunglasses are an important travel accessory and so much more vital than you might imagine when traveling to the Caribbean or anytime you plan on spending time at the beach. Your Jamaica vacation will not be as enjoyable if you do not take a pair of sunglasses with you and to be honest you might even conider bringing more than one pair. it’s pretty easy to loose or misplace a pair of sunglasses and they are so important to those with sensitive eyes that it is junst better to be safe rather than sorry you did not being them.

Buy cheap wholesale sunglasses online and save over the cost of expensive designer and name brand sunglasses and you will be glad to have more than one pair of stylish yet affordable sunwear. By checking out the cheap wholesale sunglasses available from retailers on the web you might find more than one pair for the same rice you would pay in a local department store and with cheap wholesale sunglasses you can even leave then with your new friends as you travel. Why not check out the value and benefits by securing yourself a pair of cheap wholesale sunglasses for your next vacation.

Northern arm of Lake Argentino, Patagonia region, Argentina Photo taken by Luca Galuzzi

Ready for a new travel adventure? How about Turismo en Argentina for your next eco vacation? Argentina is a fairly large country that that offers the adventure traveler a number of unique regions and geographical features to explore. Argentina offers hiking, biking, fishing, and whitewater rafting in exotic and scenic locations like Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego where you can hike and ski some of the most pristine conditions on earth and feel like you are the last person on the planet.

Book Hoteles en Argentina, Hoteles en Buenos Aires or Hoteles en Bariloche with ExploreArgentina.com and enjoy a wonderful vacation in South America as you explore the rich culture and lush tropical landscapes of this vast and bountiful country. A vacation in Argentina is the ideal escape for those looking for a real outdoor adventure to one of the few wild places left in the world and if anyone deserves a great vacation it has to be you.

Take a look at the many eco adventures and vacation packages available in Argentina and there is no doubt you will make this a must see destination in your lifetime like I have.

Appleton Estate Rum Factory is the oldest rum factory in operation since 1749 and one of the coolest tours in Jamaica. The Appleton Rum Factory Tour takes you through the inner workings of this centuries old factory for a journey back in time when life was simple and more natural. Many of the old factory machines and processes are still in use today and make for a wonderful and informative heritage tour where you will learn the history of rum in the Caribbean and the process Appleton uses to manufacture a world class rum famous around the world as one of the finest.

This historic tour of Jamaica offers a glimpse back into time to the beginning of a nation and covers much of the islands history from the very first use of the Appleton estate in the early 1600′s through the entire history of slavery and settlement to the modern times of today where they are now the largest manufacturer of premium rum. Your Jamaican tour guide will detail the history of the Appleton Factory and also the ancient process for making Appleton Rum as you walk around the lush scenic property tucked away in the Nassau Valley and surrounded by the massive sugar cane farms which provide the raw materials necessary to produce rum.

The factory is located near the Black River Safari which feeds the fast growing cane fields used not only for the extracted sugar but also for fueling the entire factory from the giant cookers and steam engines down to every light and power receptacle on the property. Appleton Estate is a self sustaining off the grid enterprise producing over 1,000,000 gallons of rum each year using no fossil fuels and is an excellent example of sustainable development in Jamaica.

Appleton Estate Rum Factory is often the best part of a full day tour to the area which might include zip line rides and nature hikes at the majestic YS Falls with some of the most beautiful waterfalls or the Black River Safari for some Jamaican wildlife and a ride on the river boats. The tour concludes with a stop by the Appleton Estate bar and gift shop where you can buy some rum to take home with you and also drink as much of the many fine rum samples they offer as you can manage. Here is the tricky part as if you plan things just right you can really cap off a great day with some fine spirits and a few good friends.