Fern Gully Jamaica

Fern Gully Jamaica | (Photo: Pinterest)

by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Jamaica is a paradise of hidden gems. Most visitors to the island are more accustomed to the lavish amenities of resorts and developed attractions. However, there are many areas that many are not aware of and for many would not be considered a tourist attraction.

One such place is Fern Gully, however, if you are a nature-loving person, you will definitely be awed by this area.

Fern Gully is about 15 minutes from Island Village in the hills. Fern Gully was named on account of the great number of ferns, many species undiscovered and unnamed that cover the towering walls and fill the creek beds, grow along the gorge or gully that runs through the area. Some may find it eerie, but it's quite intriguing.

The gorge is nearly 3 miles long and zigzags as it follows the land's contours. It used to be a river. In 1907, there was an earthquake, and the river vanished. The riverbed was then paved into a road, which now connects to other communities such as Moneague and Kingston.

There are approximately 300 fern species present, as well as other types of flowers and trees such as the Blue Mahoe. The area is dimly lit by sunlight and approximately 10 degrees cooler than the rest of town.

Fern Gully Jamaica | Vendor (Photo: The Gleaner)

The gorge is stunning, and it is also known for its intricate wood carvings. The carvings are hand carved from various types of wood by local artists. Many of the artists are self-taught, so the carvings they can produce are quite amazing.

Walkers Wood is about a 15-minute drive from the Fern Gully entrance. It's a small town with a spice factory that produces a wide range of Jerk rubs, seasonings, and spices used both locally and internationally. They are well-known for their brightly coloured packaging and, in particular, their jerk products.

If you get hungry there is no need to panic, there are restaurants in Fern Gully that offers a wide variety of local dishes such as jerk chicken, stewed chicken and seafood dishes.

You can grab an order of rice and peas with curry chicken while you sip on some rum punch or one of the many other drinks they offer including local brands such as Wray & Nephew overproof rum or Appleton Estate VX brandy.

Fern Gully is a protected area, a lush jungle with many plants and flowers. It’s also home to red-billed parrots, hummingbirds, butterflies and other wildlife which makes it one of Jamaica's most beautiful areas for bird-watching tours! From time to time, you can see hummingbirds, kingfishers and yellow–shouldered blackbirds".

Visitors can spot many colourful birds, including the Jamaican Lizard Cuckoos. Fern Gully is also known as “the place where birds come out at night” and it is said that if one watches closely enough, they will see a pair of red-billed parrots flying overhead.

Hummingbirds are small birds with long beaks that they use to sip nectar from flowers. They have the ability to hover in mid-air and can fly in all directions. It is the national bird.

Kingfishers are large colourful birds that hunt fish by diving into the water from above; their long beak is used for catching fish or insects on land or underwater.

Yellow–shouldered blackbirds are small birds with a yellow patch on their shoulder and two white stripes on their forehead. These blackbirds are very common in the tropics and can sometimes be seen in trees along the road.

The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo is a large, lanky cuckoo with a long tail and a long bill. When seen closely, it is unmistakable, but under certain conditions, it can be confused with two other cuckoos in Jamaica: the Chestnut-bellied and the Mangrove.

One of the interesting things that visitors to Fern Gully may notice is a collection of large rocks. These are called “giant blocks” and they were once part of an old quarry which was mined for limestone, but now they remain as natural landmarks.

Fern Gully Jamaica is an amazing place for a nature walk or hike and there are quite a few tour companies that offer that experience. Or simply take a short, relaxing drive through the area to watch the beautiful birds and capture some amazing photos.

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References & Sources For Fern Gully Jamaica

1. History of Fern Gully » Ocho Rios audio guide app »,https://voicemap.me/tour/ocho-rios/ocho-rios-town/sites/history-of-fern-gully

Fern Gully Jamaica | Written: August 23rd, 2022

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