My husband and I were looking for an adventure and set-off to trek to the highest mountain top in the Blue Mountains. We found Whitfield Hall in the Moon Jamaica Handbook and rang them up. 24 hours later we were making our way by bus first to Kingston, then hopped another local bus to Papine, then another to Mavis Bank. We were excited to find our next driver, Roydell, waiting for us with his Land Rover pick-up truck. The ride through the lush terrain, past board homes, and chatting it up with the occasional local rider in the bed of the pick-up and into the mountains is one of our best memories of our trip to Jamaica.

We made it to Whitfield Hall just before sundown and stepped inside the dark plantain house with the sweet smells of Jamaican cooking and kerosene lamps mingling in the dusty air. We were the only guests that evening, and all of the caretakers were poised to take care of us. One man showed us our room, while another sat fireside and chatted with us through dinner. Yet another cooked and served our meal. And another would knock on our door at 2 AM to lead us up through Portland Gap and to the highest point in Jamaica.

The starlit hike was exhilarating and moderate-to-easy, as far as hikes go. We reached to top by 6 am and waited inside of the dilapidated bunk house, wrecked by a hurricane, until we saw the first indication of sunrise. The air was brisk and the winds were high, probably 40 (f) degrees - this was the only time we were cold in Jamaica, so not a big deal.

We were lucky - the sky was clear and sunrise incredible (friends of ours who've made the trek have not been so lucky). We could see the ocean from both sides of the mountain tops. Our hike down was easy, and we took in all of beauty of the tropical flowers, coffee bushes, and birds. Fragrant Eucalyptus trees welcomed us back to the plantain house, where a hot breakfast awaited us. Breakfast was a little disappointing, because of the mix of Jamaican & American breakfast food - we prefer eating local cuisine when we travel.

We also realized we didn't have enough cash on us to pay for everything: Land Rover transport, lodging, meals, hiking guide, and coffee. As a result, we had to ask Roydell to take us all the way down to Papine to use the nearest ATM machine. Thus, our ride back down was a hefty toll at $90! - Our mistake. Make sure you bring plenty of cash, and expect to pay for everything they offer - including a cup of coffee awaiting you when you wake at 2 AM, a fire in the fireplace, etc.

All-in-all this was a great, one-of-a-kind get-away from the sometimes hectic nature of being a tourist in Jamaica. You have to be willing to "rough-it" to do it, but it is well worth it for the experience of a day-in-the-life of remote Jamaica. We spent less than 24 hours up here, and would recommend taking a few more days at least - we missed exploring the coffee plantain and really getting to know the locals here.

My husband and I would normally celebrate our special holidays by selecting some of the most luxurious hotels that pampered you in all-inclusive indulgences. On this our 4th anniversary, I wanted to be away from man-made entertainment and all the noise that usually accompanies that type of vacation (by the way our last trip was to Las Vegas which was absolutely awesome).

For me the journey started when we got to a little town in Jamaica called Mavis Bank. We stopped at the police station and asked for directions to Whitfield Hall, and before giving us the directions they asked "do you have a four wheel drive vehicle?" A question which I pondered on for awhile until we had to cross a river valley (Oh my Gosh!! not for the faint-hearted).

The journey from there was all uphill into the most beautiful mountains I have ever had the opportunity to set my eyes on. The air was crisp and refreshing, and the children of the village ran alongside the car, this was so much fun for them.

Whitfield Hall is nestled in these majestic mountains amidst the clouds and hidden among enormous eucalyptus trees. The scent of ginger lilies embraced your nostrils as you stroll from the main house to the cabins just below....absolutely awesome.

The accommodation is very simple, clean and comfortable and the food and the staff is great. Climbing the mountains is now in my books as my most physically enduring challenge...but I would do this ten times over to see one of the most spectacular and romantic sunrise in my entire life.

Life is about creating memories as each day goes by...and this is one of my most memorable vacations. ( I can't remember where we went on our 2nd anniversary...it was some all-inclusive somewhere)

Visiting here was a great experience. The air is fresh, the water is pure, straight from a spring and above all, the people are wonderful. It is far from being luxurious (i.e. cold water showers and no electricity) but that is only a temporary inconvenience. What will last in my mind is how great a quality of life can exist without all the frills. The people who live here are wonderful and enjoy a life that money can't buy. My time here was spent hiking, reading and chatting with the locals. I was completely relaxed by the end of my second day here. I did hire a guide to go to Blue Mountain summit. It is recommended leaving very early ( 2 a.m.) and arriving at the top for the sunrise. The hike was great and the sky completely clear until the last half hour where there we were enveloped in thick fog. After spending 90 minutes at the top without the fog lifting we headed back. In spite of this, I would do it again. There are several other great hills to hike up as well, all with fantastic views. I had elected to have the hostel cook my meals for me and they did a great job. I had alerted them that I was a vegetarian. What they came up with was an excellent assortment of meals. Of course, being a coffee lover, the trip was worth it for the coffee alone. I highly recommend Whitfield Hall if you want a feel for the true Jamaica.

My wife and I just got back today from spending a fantastic week at Whitfield Hall.

I must say up front that I love going to Jamaica, this has been our fifth time in four years.

This trip was especially relaxing and on the other side of the coin the most physically challenging.

The roads that you drive to get to Whitfield Hall are an adventure into themselves. The road conditions for driving up the moutains
are the craziest---you NEED a four wheel drive vehicle. Fortunately we had an excellent driver named Roydell, who drove the vintage Range Rover up the scenic mountain like a pro.
Once inside the Hall we were met by Vinny --the" Keeper of the Fire and Coffee" a very kind and wise man who we enjoyed learning from during the week.

Inside the place is a large fireplace that Vinny mantains at night that provided our entertainment almost everynight. There is no electricity only Tilleys provide light.

The food that Miss Lynette prepared during the week was excellent traditional Jamaican dishes. Every meal was tasty. Not to mention the hand roasted, freshly picked right on the premises Blue Mountain coffee that was out of this world.

The hikes to Blue Mountain Peak are not a walk in the park, They were quite a challenge. It takes about 6-8 hours to travel to and from the Peak. The second time was a bit easier as well as thankfully rain free.
We took about 220 pictures--the grounds as well as the mountains themselves are very scenic an awe inspring.

The showers at the Hall are one of a kind. The first time I took a shower, my heart almost stopped because of the temperature, it is like jumping in a cold mountain spring. Quite nicely by the third day those cold showers were actually refreshing. My wife however, never really shared my views on this matter.

We also met people from Poland, Boston, British Columbia Trinidad,a large family of loud people, Jamaicans who were hiking the peak at night, Chec Republic. This was like a mini United Nations in the Hall.

My wife and I had a great time.