Discover Jamaica’s history and ride camels in the Caribbean at Yaaman Adventure Park in Ocho Rios. If you’re traveling to Jamaica, spending a day in Ocho Rios is a must. In addition to climbing Dunn’s River Falls, our day included an unforgettable trip to the historic Prospect Plantation and camel rides on site.
Prospect Plantation
Upon arrival at the Adventure Park, we checked in and hopped aboard an open-air bus and rode through the amazing acreage of the former plantation property. The entire property is about 1,000 acres and used to be a sugar cane estate.
Our tour guide was funny and informative. He told us all about the plantation, the several crops that used to be harvested, and the former owners who made the land into the public adventure park that it is today.
The owners even have a private school on the property. They completely pay for select Jamaican students to be educated and prepared for college. After winding through a good distance of the woods, we arrived at the owners’ former plantation home, which would have been luxurious at the time it was built and maintained.
Our guide explained to us the fascinating history behind the family and the house, which was built in the early 1800s.
We stepped outside into the backyard to take in the incredible views of the ocean. Positioned here, the property seemed endless and you could envision what it would’ve felt like to live there years ago.
After the house tour, we got back on the bus and made our way further into the jungle. We got a better taste of Jamaican culture by tasting fresh brown sugar and watching a Jamaican performer swiftly climb a tree!
Then it was time for our next stop— a buffet lunch. There were also standard alcoholic beverages available for an additional cost.
Camel Ride
Afterwards, it was time for the group to split off into whichever activity they had chosen; a dune buggy ride, camel ride, learning Jamaican cuisine, or a Segway ride. I’ve always wanted to ride a camel, so Scotty and I decided to do that instead of the dune buggy ride.
They had quite a few camels. We both were able to ride the same one, who had one very large hump. Her name was Riata and she was very gentle.
She enjoys long walks and loves carrots. The camels all seemed very calm and didn’t spit at all.
Our teacher told us they can last for months without water. Our ride was slow and relaxing. I felt like we were up really high though, so I was a little nervous about falling off.
However, we were going so slow and our guide was leading the camel, so I felt pretty secure that she wouldn’t make any random moves.
Overall, spending time at Yaaman Adventure Park was a highlight of our trip. Going to Ocho Rios and seeing the Jamaican countryside was another element of the country’s beauty. If you have a chance to go, I would definitely recommend it! We booked our entire visit to Ocho Rios through Sandals. 
The package was called “Prospect Adventure Sampler Tour & Dunn’s River Falls.” You can book the tour in advance of your trip. Don’t miss my complete review of Sandals Royal Caribbean and our experience climbing the falls.
