Damian “Reds” Parchment was born and raised in Great Bay, Treasure Beach.  With over 20 years’ experience and Jamaica Tourist Board certified in tour guide and bird watching Reds is absolutely our local hiking and biking expert!  Whether you are looking for a scenic, leisure, or extreme experience hiking or biking Reds has a tour for you.

HIKING

Walking Tour to Great Bay and Back:  This 2 hour tour will take you for a leisurely walk along the streets of Treasure Beach and onto a beautiful country dirt lane.  Skirt around Great Pond and view a large variety of birds.  Come out onto Great Bay Road and continue down to the Great Bay fishing beach where you will meet up with local fishermen and hear the history of fishing in Treasure Beach, how it was done way back when and how it is done now.  Optional is to enjoy lunch at The Lobster Pot Restaurant located right on the Great Bay Beach where you sit under a thatched roof and enjoy your meal.  Their specialty is seafood, of course!

Retrieve Mountain Hike:  Take a 45 minute drive to the starting point of this hike.  Then embark on a slow paced 90 minute hike up into the Retrieve Mountain.  There are lots of scenic overlooks and photo opportunities along the way where you just have to stop and take in the amazing view of the Black River valley and morass land below.  View several species of birds and walk through several farms.  Meet the farmers and hear how they grow yams, potatoes and more along the steep hillsides.  Once you reach the end of the trail refresh yourself with a cool jelly coconut.  Then it is back into the vehicle for a 1 hour scenic ride along the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains and down the hill to reach back to Treasure Beach.  Optional is to stop off at Lover’s Leap (1750 ft. cliff overlooking the sea) for a meal or a drink on the way home.

Lover’s Leap Extreme Hike:  Take a 20 minute drive up to Lover’s Leap, a 1750 foot cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  Then start your steep and challenging 50 minute decent down the cliff.  Enjoy the magnificent views and learn of the dessert landscape found only on the South Coast of Jamaica.  Take a rest at the bottom and then start your 1 hour and fifteen minute ascent to the top.  The best news is there is a full bar and restaurant located at the top so you can refresh yourself fully once the hike is complete!  You will then be driven back down to Treasure Beach.  We recommend starting this hike early in the day to beat the heat.  Optional is to take a boat from the bottom of Lover’s Leap back to Treasure Beach.  This can only be done when the sea is very calm.

The times listed in all tours are approximate and will vary depending on the pace you prefer to set.

BIKING

Cycling Farm Tour:  This 2 hour cycling tour will take you into the Pedro Plains farmland where you will stop and talk with local farmers and learn about farming techniques used in this dry arid climate and why watermelon, onions and scallion are the favorite crops of the area.  Part of the trip will be on paved roads and part will be off-road.  There are a few hills but no mountains!  Optional is to spend 30 minutes with our local historian at his home learning about the vast and amazing history of the Treasure Beach area.

Cycling to Black River:  Take the 1 hour ride on back roads traveling a good deal along the coastline to the historic town of Black River.  This is a relatively flat and very scenic ride.  Once in Black River hear the history of the town while visiting historical landmarks and visit the large open market. 

Cycling to YS Waterfalls:  Take the 90 minute ride on back roads traveling a good deal along the coastline thru the historic town of Black River, along the Black River morass land and on to the beautiful YS Waterfalls.  This is a relatively flat and very scenic ride.  Enjoy a nice swim at the waterfalls and take a ride on the zip line.  Refreshments are available at the falls.  Once you’ve enjoyed your time hop back on the bikes and take the 90 minute ride back to Treasure Beach. 

Extreme Cycling to Lover’s Leap:  Are you ready for a 7 mile ride all uphill?  Then try this extreme bike ride up the Santa Cruz Mountains and on to your destination of Lover’s Leap a 1750 foot cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  Enjoy the restaurant, bar and cool breezes at Lover’s Leap before getting back on the bike.  Just remember, it’s all downhill from there!

 The times listed in all tours are approximate and will vary depending on the pace you prefer to set.