Jamaica Foodie And Cultural Experience & Konoko Falls Ocho Rios

Our experience with Know Jamaica Tours was absolutely outstanding! From start to finish, everything was well organized, and our tour guide, Chris, made the day unforgettable. He was friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable, and made us feel like family from the moment we met him. The bamboo rafting was one of the highlights of our trip—peaceful, scenic, and a perfect way to experience Jamaica's natural beauty. What really set this tour apart was the opportunity to experience the local cuisine and authentic Jamaican culture. Chris shared fascinating stories, introduced us to delicious local food, and gave us a true taste of the island beyond the typical tourist attractions. If you're looking for an authentic Jamaican experience with a guide who genuinely loves his country and enjoys sharing it with others, I highly recommend Know Jamaica Tours. Thank you, Chris, for making our vacation even more memorable. We can't wait to come back

An amazing day well spent with the family and our wonderful driver Dwayne! We were picked up on time from our resort and taken to the local markets where the locals buy fresh fruit and meat. We found some delicious little bits to take away with us and we also tasted some fantastic samples along the way. We then went on a lovely drive throughout the suburbs passing from st Ann to St Mary. The driver kindly stopped for us to get some sugar cane which was amazing. Throughout the tour Dwayne was extremely informative and shed a lot of knowledge on Jamaica’s history. We then went to the Konoko falls and gardens which was a lovely experience. The gardens were beautiful and the falls were a lot quieter than Dunns River. After the climb we made our way to the jerk centre for a quick bite to eat. Finally Dwayne took us back to the resort but offered us any last stops before we returned. So we decided to stop at the gifts stores on the way back. I highly recommend this tour and the company. They’re so considerate and passionate about ensuring a phenomenal experience. Thank you so much! 10/10 recommend!!

This was a great experience, if you want to learn some Jamaican history! We had a great time checking out the market, trying some delicious fruits with a quick stop at Juici Patties. Blue hole was a highlight, beautiful waterfalls and even 83yr old father-in-law jumped in, the water was so refreshing! Highly recommend this tour with Dwayne and Know Jamaica Tours!

My family really enjoyed the tour. It was a great local cultural experience to leave the resort and explore Ocho Rios with a local driver to show us around. We completed the tour on a Monday which the driver shared was a slower day at the market so would recommend a weekend day for an even more local experience. While we were able to try a few local foods in the market as well as at the Jerk Centre; however the highlight for my family was Kokono Falls & Park. The educational tour of the gardens as well as the waterfalls was amazing. I would recommend even more focus on the Jamaican foodie aspect of the tour for an increased local experience. Overall, I would recommend this experience in Ocho Rios.

My family had a good time. Dewayne made sure to give us a memorable experience. Food was great! It was a good experience and explanation of the culture.

I have to write a post regarding an amazing tour company in Jamaica. We went with Know Jamaica Tours and had the absolute best time. We went on a food, waterfalls (which we climbed with a guide) and shopping tour (super small store). It was just my family in the air conditioned van with our driver Dwayne. He stopped along the way so we could try local foods and took us to Konoko waterfalls and botanical gardens. The most amazing part for us was that my husband and I are both teachers and Dwayne took us to two locals schools! I'm in early intervention (special education for 3-5 year olds) and he took us to a preschool. The children were amazing! They sang "We are the World" and recited their bible verses to us. He then took us to Ocho Rios high school. I was not allowed to tour the school due to their dress code (i was in shorts), but my husband who is a high school teacher, toured the school and the grounds. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and completely catered to my family (my inlaws and my 9 year old daughter). Cannot recommend this small tour group enough!

This experience was absolutely amazing from start to finish! Beginning with pickup right on time our tour guide was so nice and welcoming. Konoko Falls was breathtaking as well as the botanical garden and waterfall. We got to experience Jamaican pattie’s next which were so good and had a chance to go to the super market! From there we were immersed into the true Jamaican culture by being able to pick our own mangoes off a tree, smell natural herbs and try local fruit in a neighborhood. From there we went to eat and returned back to our villa. This experience is truly sensational and gives you an experience that you can’t get on a resort. Great fun and personalities. I absolutely recommend.

What a great experience. We were on a Carnival cruise and we were worried about getting back on time. “No Problem”. Our tour guide Dalton was so helpful and friendly. Marva and Javia Shaw really run a great operation. I can’t wait for my next Jamaican adventure and will only book with them!!!

We always have the best time in Jamaica thanks to Know Jamaica Tours. They catered to our every need, anywhere we wanted to go they made it happen anything we wanted to eat they made it happen, they always show us the true hospitality while in Jamaica. Javia and Ms. Marva has become family to my Mom and I we are extremely grateful to have met such wonderful genuine people. They make us feel right at home whenever we’re in Jamaica. We spent a day in Portland/ Port Antonio it was a beautiful day we ate great food with a picnic on the beach and relaxed and then toured the town of Port Antonio. Which is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. The next day we spent the day hanging out at the most relaxing shop in Ochi K.J.T dine & shop experience is one of a kind, we were served amazing tasty food & beverages while relaxing with our feet in the most relaxing river the scenery and vibe is so calming and peaceful, I could spend the whole day there. After relaxing we shopped and got some beautiful pieces to bring back home. My favorite section is the local crafts such beautiful handmade pieces that are one of a kind. Ochi Rios night life is fun !! There’s always something to do something to eat and just vibes all around we even took my Mom to the casino and she had fun. We all had a time !!! And that’s special thanks to Know Jamaica Tours our family 💚 thank you for making our vacation a special one yet again. I can’t wait to be back soon to explore more of Jamaica with my favorite tour guides. Super grateful 🙏🏽

As a single parent traveling with three teenagers, it is difficult to please their individual likings. My oldest is a strict vegetarian. This Jamaica Foodie your was the perfect trip. Our guide Dwayne was extremely knowledgeable and down to earth with my teens. They asked him so many questions about Jamaica’s history and culture. We visited Konoko Falls & park. Omg! This was such a thrill! We spent 2 hours which flew quickly. My teens were able to learn so much about the different plants, flowers and birds. They had the chance to hold parrots and iguana. Climbing the falls was amazing! Dwayne took us to the marketplace, we got many tasty fruits to sample and purchase. We then had a chance to go supermarket shopping. My kids purchased snacks and sauces of their likings. My oldest being a vegetarian, was taken to a specific vegetarian venue to pick his lunch. He absolutely appreciated this service. My other two teens and I had our jerk lunch. Our tour was 6 hours. It was money and time well spent. Thanks a million!

Javia promised a food and cultural experience and the Jamaica outside the resorts which we got. We had a great day being shown around and introduced to a few sweet local food and drink spots, along with some sight seeing. We got to see the beautiful Ocho Rios and enjoy time hanging with locals in local spots. All finger licking and delicious with great personalities to chat with and enjoy a connection. we finished the day feeling happy and full and like we got to see a bit of the real Jamaica. This was a priceless experience.

So first of all I believe the owner should change the name. It’s not a food tour. You go to the market and taste 2 fruits. The food isn’t even authentic Jamaican food. It’s sauce jerk chicken. And some bun cake. I believe she shld take to a place where you get rice and peas and jerk chicken. The beef patty place was good. They buy one for y’all to share then, if you like you can purchase more. We loved the tour of the garden, that’s an absolute must and you should take a swim suit. They need to explain it better. Not just tell you to come with towel and swim shoes cus we were confused till we spoke to the owner who explained. Our tour guide Winfield was the absolute best!! He made that tour worth while. It’s why we gave jt 3 stars. He was patient, explained sooo many sites to us and gave us an excellent tour. If you do this tour make sure you ask for Winfield. Overall if the owner makes some changes trust me it will be a worthwhile tour. But if your looking to trying different Jamaican food. You will be highly disappointed.

We had a large group (15 ppl) and this can be overwhelming. EVERYONE was so patient with us and AMAZING! Whitfield was our driver and so accommodating. We felt as if this tour was Catered just to us, it was so personable. An added touch was management coming out and introducing himself ❤

Javia and Marva are so professional and they make it their duty to offer an authentic experience. The food that they led us too was fantastic and we were able to see authentic parts of Jamaica

The variety and our tour guides. Our tour guides were the absolute best. They were family by the end of our trip. I highly recommend!!!!

This tour is definitely a must do! You actually get to SEE Jamaica and experience the culture firsthand. And Javia was the best tour guide ever!! I recommend this to any and everyone traveling to Jamaica.

Knowjamaicatours is an excellent company to book with. My mother is 70, my sister is 48, and I am 50. We wanted to be shown the “real” Jamaica not the resorts. Javia Shaw and his son little J were the perfect hosts. They made us want to go back just to see more Jamaica! Never did we feel uneasy or scared. It was perfect! When I looked to find a day excursion I checked with Trip Advisor first and this is why I booked with KnowJamaicaTours.

My family and I just came back from cruising on Carnival Vista and one of our destinations was to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Prior to hopping aboard the ship, I took to a Facebook Page called Carnival Cruisers…Past, Present, Future (CCPPF) where I asked about different excursions for the different ports we were visiting. Many, not just one, MANY people recommended Javia and Marva Shaw with KnowJamaicaTours to be our tour guide to really get a tour of Jamaica and I’m so glad that I booked with them. Not only was Javia very knowledgeable about his home, he gave us the uncut, real, raw tour of Jamaica, not just some cookie cutter tourist type attraction tour. My family and I got to tour Montego Bay, do some no-rush shopping, interact with locals, try the islands fruits, AND I was even able to get my hair cut while in Jamaica. There is no way we could have gotten that experience had we gone with a different tour agency, there is just no way. We got a great tour and got to do things we wanted to do. I’m telling you; you need to add something to the itinerary (like getting a haircut) Javia will HOOK IT UP! I can’t stress it enough, if you’re going to any part of Jamaica and you need a tour guide, definitely book with KnowJamaicaTours. Not only do they know their stuff, they genuinely care about the people that book with them and will take great care of you.

From begining to end a excellent experience. The ride from our hotel pickup with Javia giving us local information and culture all the way to the falls. The falls where beautiful and our guide around the falls and up the falls where great helping my kids and providing photo and videos. Javia took us into Ocho Rios and the market providng us with local snacks all delicous with the punctuation in our jerk lunch which was the best we had on out trip.

We knew that staying at a resort would limit our exposure to 'real' Jamaica, and we were right. We were so glad we booked this tour! Whitfield was our tour guide, and he was wonderful. He gave us lots of insight to not only the island's history, but how his family fit in with that history. This tour also led to an insatiable craving for eskoveitche fish! He took us to the tastiest, most tucked away place that you'll definitely not find on your own. One of the resort employees we talked to was blown away that we went there and said it was her favorite spot. Definitely book this tour if you enjoy sampling local cuisines and learning how that food fits into the history.

If your cruising or traveling to Jamaica. I strongly recommend knowjamaicatours. Javia was awesome. I've been there a few times before, to be honest it was not my favorite port. I had heard a lot of bad things and felt uncomfortable while I was there. This time with know Jamaica tours was so different. My family and I now love Jamaica and can't wait to come back. We always felt safe and got to experience real Jamaica and interact with a lot of locals. We also spent time at a few tourist places but the real experience was with the people and places Javia introduced us to. Thank you Javia and knowjamaicatours!

We were cruising for our 25th wedding anniversary in July 2018 with 30 family members and Jamaica was one of our ports. We chose KnowJamaicaTours in advance as part of our tour because they seemed to be fun and exciting. We made the Right choice, best time ever. Javia took Excellent care of us. Highly recommend! Take the experience.. #irie

Javia was very courteous and professional, he took good care of our group with having cold water and fruits in his vehicle. He took us to Bob Marley childhood home and then to Scotches Jerk Restaurant and got us back to our cruise ship in time as we had a very tight schedule.