cockpit country adventure tours

Less than an hour from the glistening blue water and sparkling white sand beaches of Jamaica’s north coast lays an enticing nature lover’s paradise and photographer’s dream known as Cockpit Country. Rich in history and culture, the region is riddled with towering cliffs, limestone caves, underground rivers and flowing waterfalls. The dense wet limestone forest, crisscrossed with hiking trails, is home to exotic plants, birds and reptiles, many of which are found no where else in the world. The Lonely Planet Guide describes early morning in the Cockpits as magical ~ “Mists float through eerily silent valley bottoms where you hear only dripping water and bird life.” Centered in the parish of Trelawny, the Cockpit Country extends to the neighboring parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth, St. James and St. Ann and encompasses approximately 550sq km of wet limestone forest. It represents Jamaica’s largest wilderness area and is of global significance for its Karst limestone topography and biodiversity.

Over the eons the limestone has been eroded by rainfall, leaving behind a unique landscape of conical hillocks and deep depressions called cockpits. There are more than 5,000 cockpits in the area creating a terrain likened to an inverted egg carton. Erosion of the limestone terrain has also left the area riddled with underground caves and rivers. This unique terrain provides refuge for numerous endemic and threatened species of flora and fauna the serves as the primary watershed for the western part of Jamaica, providing water for the Martha Brae, Great and Black Rivers. It is a valuable natural resource and attracts visitors from Jamaica and abroad. The forests of the Cockpit Country are being threatened by removal of trees for firewood, coal production, and yam stick harvesting and clearing of land for cultivation. Citizens in the area are littering roadways and forest areas with garbage, unaware of appropriate solid waste disposal practices. Efforts to protect and conserve the remaining forest must provide viable economic alternatives to these destructive practices. Eco-tourism provides one alternative by providing income to guides, restaurants, retailers, guest houses and transportation vendors.

Cockpit Country Adventure Tours currently offers three exciting tours into this amazing wilderness in which other activities such as bird watching, summer & weekend camps, picnics and educational tours for schools can be incorporated. With the Burnt Hill Nature Walk enjoy a leisurely walk through the beautiful hillocks of the Cockpit Country, keeping an eye out for endangered Jamaican Yellow and Black-billed Parrots overhead. Learn traditional herbal remedies and folklore as your guide points out many of the Cockpit Country’s endemic species of ferns, epiphytes and butterflies. Tour length is three hours and the suggested time to venture along Burnt Hill Road is early morning. The Rock Spring Cave and River Adventure takes you to a maze-like cave easily explored and containing many interesting formations and chambers throughout its 1.5 mile descent. To venture through this cave you are furnished with helmets and your guides will lead you through narrow channels and underground rivers. Emerge wet and dirty to relax and swim in the cool pools of the Mouth River cascades. The Quashie River Sink Cave is as specialized, high impact tour reserved only for experienced spelunkers. Experience an exciting descent into this cathedral-like cave, an exceptional natural formation accessed via a series of steep ladders and rope handrails. Scrambling over boulders brings you to the cavern’s massive “cathedral room” and rope assisted waterfall descent, where guides point out rare formations and ancient fossils. With your cave tour completed, take a swim under a 20-foot waterfall. This is a physically challenging tour, designed to meet the demands of the serious outdoor enthusiast. Helmets, lights and safety equipment are provided. A professional chef can prepare a hearty bush cook at the end of each tour.

We invite you to get out of the resorts and hotels and come experience the “real Jamaica” through our Bed & Breakfast Program. Overnight with a local family and participate in everyday rural life with warm and hospitable hosts. Take a trip to the river with the kids, head to the family farm to learn yam cultivation and cool out at a local bar while taking in the favorite Jamaican pastime, dominoes. Experience delicious country food and even help prepare the meal if you’d like. Accommodations range from rustic to modern. Choose from homes that have conveniences like indoor plumbing, satellite TV and gas stove or, if you are so inclined, experience the rustic lifestyle where you fetch your water, bathe outside and learn to cook on a wood fire. All homes on the program have been carefully selected by Cockpit Country Adventure Tours and are clean and safe with reputable and friendly hosts.

Cockpit Country Adventure Tours (CCAT) is headquartered in Albert Town, Trelawny, located on the eastern boundary of the Cockpit Country. CCAT is a small eco-tourism outfit managed by the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA). STEA’s mission is to promote development in Trelawny and its environs by implementing environmental conservation and economic opportunity projects and CCAT is one way in which this mission is funded. CCAT uses the local resources of the Cockpit Country to provide an authentic Jamaican experience that is an alternative to the “sun and sand” vacations most visitors associate with Jamaica. Local guides familiar with the area are trained to take visitors to natural attractions, residents of the area open their homes to provide bed and breakfast services for CCAT guests and local chefs provide authentic Jamaican cuisine as part of each tour. By developing and using these local resources CCAT aims to provide high-quality, safe and reliable recreational and educational eco-tourism experiences based on the natural attractions of the Cockpit Country while providing economic opportunities for citizens of the area.

More information regarding Cockpit Country Adventure Tours, including rates and online booking options, can be found at our website at www.stea.net/ccat_main.htm .

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Cockpit Country Adventure Tours - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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Cockpit Country Adventure Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency Dedicated to environmental excellence and community well-being Visit Us To know More Services We Offer

Unveiling the beauty and wonders of Cockpit Country through captivating exploration

Environmental Educational Tours for Students

Biodiversity conservation projects, community nature based /ecotourism attractions, environmental advocacy, website development for ecotourism enterprise, scholarly inquiry into environmental studies, the cockpit country - the reason we fight, concial hills.

Concial Hills in Jamaica's Cockpit Country are distinct geological formations, featuring rounded hills with conical shapes. Formed through karst processes, weathering, and limestone dissolution over millions of years, these hills stand out in the limestone terrain marked by sinkholes, valleys, and mogotes. The conical shape is a result of the unique dissolution of limestone, contributing to the captivating beauty of the Cockpit Country's karst topography

Sinkholes and Caves

Sinkholes and caves in Jamaica's Cockpit Country are geological wonders shaped by the dissolution of limestone bedrock. Rainwater, slightly acidic, percolates through the limestone, creating underground voids. Over time, this process forms sinkholes, while larger voids give rise to expansive cave systems. These karst features not only contribute to the unique landscape but also play a vital role in the region's hydrology, showcasing the dynamic geological processes that have sculpted the Cockpit Country over time.

Aquifers and fresh water system

Aquifers and Freshwater Systems in Jamaica's Cockpit Country are essential geological features shaped by the dissolution of limestone bedrock. Rainwater, slightly acidic, percolates through the limestone, forming underground voids and contributing to the creation of aquifers. Over time, this dynamic process sustains freshwater systems vital for the region's ecosystem and communities. These geological formations play a crucial role in the Cockpit Country's hydrology, showcasing the intricate balance of nature within this unique landscape

Word From Our Vistiors

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My experience visiting the cockpit country in trelawny was awesome... It was very adventerous, experiencing a hand to hand dance with nature was not expected literally the trail was rough but with the helping hand of the tourguides it was quite easy, this was a very fullfilling experience which i enjoyed very much ... The cockpit country is quite vast in its landmass and the nature was very resilence as it displays solitude,strength and beauty.

Breanna Harrison

Maria & mark, we offer insight for issues warranting academic reaserch.

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Explore The Island Guide

Subscribe to e-newsletter, book your trip, explore cockpit country caves and dig into jamaica’s maroon heritage.

Did you know that there are places in Jamaica where you can experience authentic culture, learn about the history of local people as well as adventure through pristine underground caves? In Trelawny, you can take a tour where history, adventure and awe come alive. Cockpit Country Adventure Tours lets you discover one of the most pristine and culturally significant yet little-known part of Jamaica.

The Experience

Guided by descendants of Maroons, you explore the caves of Cockpit Country, the hide outs used by Maroon warriors’ in their successful fight against the British. Journey into the dark underground caverns of the Printed Circuit cave, sculpted from weathered white limestone and exhibiting breathtaking formations and glittering reflections.

Become immersed in the quiet and eerie ecology, seeing an underground fresh water pool and nocturnal animals living a peaceful and unusual existence. Walk upright past uniquely formed stalactites, stalagmites and bacon rams, occasionally crawling on your knees or wiggling through the magnificence. Listen to folklore and stories that ignite humor and awe. Feel the essence of your spirituality awaken in the meditation room. Escape reality and experience the serenity that begs you explore the world down under’. Suddenly emerge, wet and muddy, saying “That was real adventure and I conquered it!”

Location and Logistics

Cockpit Country Adventure is located in the local parish of Trelawny between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, tours can be arranged every day of the week and typically last 3 hours. Head lamps and helmets provided. Guests should bring a change of clothing and footwear as you will get wet and muddy.

Ready to dig into Jamaica’s Maroon Culture? Visit www.stea.net for more information.

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COCKPIT COUNTRY ADVENTURE TOURS (Albert Town) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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History, adventure and awe come alive as you discover one of the most pristine and culturally significant yet little-known part of Jamaica. You will learn how the Cockpit Country Maroon warriors used caves, camouflage and guerrilla warfare to defeat their British enemies. Come, explore and conquer the experience yourself.

Guided by descendants of Maroons, you explore the caves of Cockpit Country, the hide outs used by Maroon warriors’ in their successful fight against the British.

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A Steady Trail Through the Rolling Hills – Hiking Jamaica’s Cockpit Country

The third largest island in the Caribbean after Cuba and Hispaniola, Jamaica is roughly 3 times the size of Long Island (NY, USA). While Jamaica is probably best known for it’s reggae music, Rasta culture, white sand beach resorts and rum… I think of the Caribbean island’s wild and mountainous areas and know that Jamaica hiking has so much potential.

I had heard about a lesser known/visited region on the island called Cockpit Country, that was supposed to have a few hiking trails worth checking out. I understand that the large area, of approximately 500 square miles (1,300 sq km), is wrinkled and dimpled with hundreds of limestone hills and karst caves – It is probably the wildest area left on Jamaica. I thought to myself, this sounds good – Let’s do it!

We knew we would need a local guide for this one and the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency , with it’s Cockpit Country Adventure Tours was able to help us get the most out of our Jamaica Hiking experience.

We left our Montego Bay hotel before 7am, taking a local taxi through the Jamaican countryside to the Clark’s Town Police Station to meet our host and guides. After exchanging greetings followed by a short drive to the edge of town, we were off…

With our guide leading the way, we headed into the wilderness – 10 miles (16km) through the rugged Cockpit Country to a town on the other side called Albert Town. After a few minutes on the trail, we noticed that a dog, had joined us from somewhere on the outskirts of town and was happily following us. Well, that’s alright with me.

We got on the trail just before 8am, so the air was relatively cool and the grass was still covered with the morning’s dew. I was a bit worried when my mesh shoes quickly became soaked, although it wasn’t long before it warmed up and the ground became increasingly hot and dry. This was great as it allowed my feet to dry fairly quickly. As the day progressed, the air temperature settled somewhere in the comfortable mid-high 70s (mid 20s celsius). Thanks to the mostly shaded trail, it never got too-too hot the entire hike – A nice change from previous Caribbean trails we’ve hiked under the heat of a scorching sun!

We were walking on a trail known as the Burnt Hill Nature trail, which is actually an abandoned road from the 1950s – built by Canada we were told. Well the Engineers did an amazing job cutting a road through the mountainous terrain – The trail always seemed fairly level, albeit with slight inclines and descents. This was not consistent with my Trail App’s reported elevation changes of over 6,600 feet (2,000m) over the length of the trail. We never noticed that much up-and-down.

The road was built into the sides of the mountains, so the track took several twists and turns as it snaked it’s way through Cockpit Country. Most of the time there were clear dual paths to walk on, although from the tall grass growing on the sides and between the tracks, you can tell that this road hasn’t seen regular car traffic in years. That said, at one point, we did come across several locals loading a truck high, with long skinny trees that apparently are used as poles for growing Yams.

Well, after about an hour or so, the dog was still with us, so we thought we should give her a name. She had a sparkle in her eye and was always smiling, well ok – panting with her tongue hanging out, so I decided to call her Sparky. Like the rest of us, she seemed to be enjoying the exercise. I wonder if she noticed the fluttering orange moths that also accompanied us on our walk…

Our knowledgeable guide casually dispensed interesting commentary, telling us about the history of the area as well as providing information on some of the local plants we encountered. I’m always fascinated by the many medicinal properties and beauty that nature provides.

He displayed a giant snail, showed us a plant that helps with stomach problems, and informed us that the fruit from an inviting looking orange tree we encountered, was actually extremely bitter. We also encountered a bizarre spider web on a bush on the side of the trail – It seemed to have tightly knitted ‘mini webs’ built within the larger web – We had never seen anything like that before. Personally, I was enthralled with giant leaves that fall to the ground when they die – They curl-up into bowling-ball sized balls, that covered areas of the canopy floor – So cool! We also learned that common birds in the area included Flycatchers, Thrushes, Orioles and Cuckoos.

We were told about how the region got it’s name from early Spanish explorers. The story goes, that after their officers, comfortably positioned on the high ground of course, watched a battle wage below them in a gully, remarked that the spectacle reminded them of watching cock fights, in ‘the pit’, back in Spain – Hence the name ‘Cockpit Country’.

As the hike progressed, Sparky the dog was panting heavily and we observed her stopping occasionally for a drink from the Bromeliad plants that periodically lined the side of the trail. This smart dog knew that rainfall gets trapped on the large leaves near the base of the plant. I made a mental note in case we were lost in the jungle some day. We also noticed a large number of Turkey Vultures off in the distance, circling in the sky – While they may have been watching us, I wasn’t worried… 🙂

While the trail doesn’t provide any great Caribbean Sea scenery or any birds-eye views of the island as a whole, the remote wilderness of the area, with it’s numerous peaks and valleys, supplied us special sights of it’s own. Great Jamaica hiking for sure! One of the highlights was peering across and down into a valley known as Barbecue Bottom. Even though we were a little late to witness the morning mist in the gorge, the view was still quite breathtaking. In Jamaica, flat areas of land are called “barbecues”, because they provide a level area for coffee beans and other crops to be laid out on screens for drying in the sun.

Once we were deep in the jungle, we kept hearing loud screeching sounds from above – It was as if we were disturbing the local inhabitants and they were letting us know that we were intruding! Our helpful guide informed us that we were hearing from one of their local parrots. Now, I’ve hiked a number of Caribbean islands and am always trying to catch a glimpse of the colourful birds, but they have always eluded me. Well, today was our lucky day. A little further on, our guide pointed out a fairly large gathering of the small green ‘Black Billed’ parrots in a tree and after they took to the air, they flew overhead, giving us a clear view to spot them, which we did. What a wonderful experience!

Another highlight of the hike was walking down a particularly dry section of the trail, cut into the side of the mountain. We came across an area of fallen rock – This section of the road was in total daylight, exposing rich red-orange colours of the mountain, somewhat similar to what you would see in the deserts of Arizona or Utah.

After stopping at this picturesque location for a snack, we continued the trek through the stunning beauty of this wild region of Jamaica. It was clear that my hiking partner was looking for a workout, either that or she was anxious to get back to the resort – Either way, she had set a fairly fast pace from the on-set. Even so, Sparky took the lead at this point and pulled us along even faster, so that we completed the last third of the trail in about an hour or so.

Our hike ended when we suddenly popped out of the jungle into a small cluster of houses and fields. It had taken us just over three and a half hours to walk through Cockpit Country from Clark’s Town to Albert Town on that deceptively flat and wide trail. We got a ride back to Clark’s Town before heading back to the coastal town of Montego Bay and our hotel, just in time for lunch! What a great way to spend the morning!

This Jamaica hike through Cockpit Country was “as advertised”… A luscious green wilderness area, that most tourists wouldn’t believe exists. We were accompanied by singing birds, drifting orange moths, consistent patches of warm sun, and even a local dog who kept us company! Oh yah – We saw a Caribbean green parrot too… What a fun and enjoyable hike!

For the complete Hiking Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in Jamaica, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):

• Hiking Jamaica’s Cockpit Country – Burnt Hill Nature Trail
• Jamaica Hiking Trails – Trail Reviews and Tour Operators

We really enjoyed hiking with guides from the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA). The non-profit’s mission is to promote development in Trelawny by implementing environmental conservation and economic opportunity projects. STEA was formed over 20 years ago to address environmental problems, facilitate environmentally friendly economic and community development activities and to promote sustainable use of the natural resources of Cockpit Country. Personally, I respect and appreciate everything they do for the community and one of Jamaica’s remaining wild areas.

For more information about STEA, including planning your own Jamaica Cockpit Country adventure (they also offer Birding and Caving Excursions), you can contact the good folks at STEA / Cockpit Country Adventure Tours by visiting their website or facebook page (just click on a link below):

• STEA – Cockpit Country Adventure Tours
• Cockpit Country Adventure Tours

For an overview of the “land of wood and water”, take a look at our  Jamaica Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, check out our  Jamaica Adventures  blog for more great ideas!

For great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our  Things to Do in Jamaica blog

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Nice write up. Did you see any mountain bikers on that trail and do you think it would suitable for mtb riding?

Hi Rama – On our 4 hour hike, we didn’t come across a single sole on foot or bike. It would make a good MTB experience if you like amazing views with no drastic hills. That said, the trail has deceiving elevation changes – Along the 16km length of the trail I measured about 2,000 meter change in elevation. There’s no steep hills, but the trail is constantly on a decline or rise, at a fairly low grade. check out https://activecaribbeantravel.com/jamaica-hiking/hike-jamaica-burnt-hill-nature-trail/ for more…

Great to know thanks! So you basically took the trail from Albert Town to Clark’s town yeah?

We went from Clark’s Town to Albert Town, but you could do the reverse. Because we don’t know the area, we had a taxi driver take us from/to Montego Bay – dropping us off in Clark’s Town and waiting for us in Albert Town.

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Cockpit Country Adventure Tours

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Cockpit Country Adventure Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor