Frequently questions

One suitcase or rucksack with a maximum weight of 20 KG, plus your sleeping bag and one carry on bag for the van. Be sure to check the weight allowance of your luggage with your airline as well.

For camping trips a soft holdall or rucksack is generally better. There may be a few occasions where you will need to carry your bag short distances and a soft bag would be beneficial. When storing luggage in your tent it also works out better having a soft bag. Suitcases will however suffice. For lodging trips any type of bag would work and certainly not worth going to buy a new bag specially. Included in your tour is a 40L Hiking Backpack, see Tour Details, under What’s Included.

On camping tours it is often difficult to find a safe and secure wall outlet to recharge mobile phones, camera batteries and other electrical devices but every van has at least 2 outlets for your use, so we recommend bringing a car charger. Although remember you will have to take it in turns to use these so it's always worth bringing a spare camera battery!

For lodging tours your hotel room will have an electrical outlet (don't forget your travel plug adaptor), as well as you having the van charging points.

We have Wi-Fi available in our vans. It is limited to 8 people at any one time and means you don't need to miss out on anything while on tour. Many camp sites, hotels and hostels will also have Wi-Fi.

You'll need to check with your network provider as to whether your mobile phone will work in JAMAICA. The island’s two mobile company’s offers options allowing for use of their platforms: FLOW and Digicel, keeping you connected to your family and friends. Check their respective websites for compatibility, requirements, fees and charges. ATX offers the use of SIM CARD at $2.00., see Tour Extras.

JAMAICA allows 166 countries visa-except status including but not limited to UK, EU, USA, Canadian. You need to make sure you have a valid passport and any necessary visas for your tour. As a general rule you will need a passport with at least six months validity following the end of your trip. The visa requirements for your trip may vary depending where you are from. It is important that you check which visas you will need, and apply for each of the necessary visas whilst in your home country. Please check with the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) website of Jamaica Customs.

Yes. Insurance is compulsory on all ATX tours. We recommend you take our policy which has been specially created to cover all activities on our tours. Our policy covers all residents within the US and Canada, exception are made for UK and EU residents. If you decide to arrange your own travel insurance please ensure your policy covers all optional activities you may wish to participate in as well as air rescue and repatriation. Also we strongly recommend cancellation and baggage coverage.

Keep in mind that dress tends to be casual and take a practical selection of clothes for both hot and cool climates to suit the season. You may encounter a wide variety of temperatures en route due to altitude and unforeseen weather conditions, so be prepared!

Besides your essential clothes, here's a checklist of other items you should take:

You need to bring your own sleeping bag for all our camping trip. We recommend a 'three season' bag during the summer months and a 'four season' bag the rest of the year, as some nights can be cool to cold, especially in mountainous and desert areas. We supply a foam pad to sleep on, but if you prefer added comfort, you are encouraged to bring your own self-inflating sleeping pad and pillow.

You can bring hairdryers and hair straighteners with you, but make sure you bring plug adaptors and check the voltage as they can vary meaning your appliances won't work exactly the same as they do at home. Most people find that after a few days in tour you won't use these as much as you think you will, but they may come in handy for a night out!

Comfortable shoes will make all walking more enjoyable, so we do recommend walking shoes or boots that will provide a more sturdy grip as well as good ankle support. A pair trainers will be ok, but be prepared for these to get dirty and make sure they do offer some grip. A nice, solid and comfortable pair of trainers (sneakers) is best, not your favourite pair of pumps.

For camping tours we recommend you budget at least an average of US$25 per day for *meals (lunch) and general spending.

In addition to this you should also budget for the optional activities that you would like to participate in.For guideline prices, the most popular optional activities are listed on the individual tour pages on the site.

Although it’s not customary on the island, tipping waiters, bar staff, taxi drivers, local guides and any person who provides a service for you is not expected, it is optional.

ATM's and cash machines are readily available throughout the island and major credit cards are widely accepted. Credit cards are generally accepted and can be a safe way to take your funds, outside of main city centres foreign money exchange facilities can be limited. During your travel it is recommended that you convert your currency to the local JAMAICAN dollar, which can be exchanged at local banks and cambios. Credit cards are not always accepted at stores and other business establishments, with the only options at time being cash on demand payments. We suggest you bring US $150 with you in cash to start the tour with.

Our departure hotels are conveniently located and serve as your trek's start and end points, Most of our tours start in the lobby of the departure hotel at 7.30am. If you want to stay at these hotels for the night before and after your trip we can book this for you. Once you have booked we will email your tour vouchers detailing the joining point and time of your trip, and our Trek Tips with hotel details and transfer advice. 6 weeks before travel relevant vouchers will be re-sent and these can be downloaded to your smart-phone before departing.