A theme-park in Jamaica is always going to be a little bit special, but Mystic Mountain is something else. The theme is rainforest exploration – but who would expect to kick-off a journey around Ocho Rios' emerald wonders in a bob-sled? That's just one of the prospects on offer, if you come to this exciting new attraction on the island's north coast.
The bob-sled connection is no accident, of course. Jamaica – a tropical island without a hint of ice even on its highest peaks – famously entered a bob-sleigh team for the Winter Olympics in 1988. This bob-sleigh ride looks to recreate those legendary national exploits, giving you some exhilarating 'cool runnings' of your own, as you twist and turn along a kilometre of forested slopes.
The excitement doesn't stop there. An elaborate system of zip-lines and tree-top platforms has been weaved through the rainforest canopy of Mystic Mountain. The idea is to give an opportunity for interacting with those parts of the rainforest you wouldn't otherwise see. And guides are on hand to point out the various marvels of the rainforest as you gently zip from one platform to the next.
If the idea of climbing and walking to and from the Canopy Zip Line seems a little arduous, don't fret. After zipping 200 metres down the mountain, you can hop on the SkyExplorer Chairlift. This will take you back down to the Mystic Mountain entrance, by the Dunn Falls. Or you can stay on, and be whisked back up to the top of the mountain. The return journey rises high above the trees, giving a spectacular view back down to Ocho Rios and the sparkling Caribbean Sea beyond.
Take a rest from all this high-level excitement at the Jamaican Railway Station & Mystic Pavilion. Built to look like an early 20th-century railway station, it has a bar, restaurant, shops and even a swimming pool. A dip here, 200 metres above sea level, has quite a breath-taking backdrop. You can also explore Jamaica's cultural and sporting achievements at the Pavilion's displays. After that the only way is down – hopping back onto the bob-sled to repeat the Mystic Mountain madness.
