Shaw Park Gardens Ocho Rios Jamaica

[philv]

We have port call in Ocho Rios in February and would like to visit Shaw Park Gardens. Had an excursion cancelled and are considering private taxi. My wife is concerned with safety. Has anyone taxi’d to Shaw Park Gardens and can comment?

[cruisejamaica]

Hi Phil, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jamaica's cruise operations have been adjusted to align with global operating standards as well our Ministry of Health & Wellness’ COVID-19 prevention protocols and guidelines. This has extended to the management of tours and the movement of cruise passengers. As a means of helping to ensure the health safety of Jamaicans, restrictions have been placed on cruise passengers' ability to roam the streets of resort towns freely.

The approach being used in this new Covid-19 operational paradigm is the implementation of a bubble concept/controlled tours. Accordingly, cruise passengers are restricted to environments with structural support and enclosures to confine them to a space that can facilitate visitors only, in order to prevent the interaction between the wider public and tourists. This measure is to mitigate against the risk of Covid-19 exposure and spread.

Please visit this link - https://www.visitjamaica.com/travelauthorization/compliant-listings/ - to view a current list of Approved COVID-19 Protocol Compliant attractions that cruise passengers can visit. At this time, Shaw Park Gardens is not on this list, but there are other great options we can recommend/suggest, such as Konoko Falls, Reggae Hill and Mystic Mountain.

[bobjoek]

We visited Shaw Park Gardens 4-5 years ago. Took a taxi which was fine.  The gardens were interesting with a number of waterfalls.  Be aware that they will push taking photos of you and sell a CD.  You can decline the photo taking.  The gardens are relatively close to the cruise port, but I would not recommend walking, as the neighborhood looked a bit dicey.

 

Bob