Chukka Ocean Outpost: A Legacy of Land, Childhood and Community

Chukka Ocean Outpost, a leading eco-adventure destination in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, is embarking on a transformative expansion set to elevate the island’s tourism experience to breathtaking new heights.

Spanning 169 acres of diverse terrain in Sandy Bay, Hanover, this remarkable property is more than a destination – it’s a living testament to Jamaica’s natural splendour, vibrant spirit, and infectious rhythm.

A signature highlight of the new experience is the ocean zip line – touted as the only one of its kind globally.

Launching from a mountain platform and descending into the sea, it propels guests at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, delivering sweeping ocean vistas and an adrenaline rush like no other.

With these new developments, visitors will be immersed in experiences that stir the senses and forge a deeper connection to the island’s soul.

At the heart of this visionary venture is Deputy Executive Chairman of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, John Byles, whose deep-rooted connection to the land now enriches the experiences of visitors from around the globe.

“Growing up in the Sandy Bay community of Hanover, my childhood, as I fondly recall, was one filled with fun and laughter with the vibrant threads of farm life, friendship, and exploration. Blue Hole Estate was purchased in the late 1970s by my father, only later transforming from a property with horse stables into a playground of endless discovery,” Mr. Byles tells JIS News.

Back in the day, for him and the children of nearby communities like Freedom Street, the estate was a boundless playground – where stables bustled with polo ponies, sheep grazed across open fields, tractors rumbled through farmland, and seaside days with fishermen gave way to hilltop races and endless adventure.

Every summer morning, children – many the sons of polo grooms – would gather at dawn to exercise horses, embarking on daring rides up old donkey paths into the hills. Zion Hill was a favourite route, where horses built strength for polo and riders paused to take in sweeping views of the coast and mountains.

Today, Zion Hill anchors Chukka’s ATV trails – a place where guests can relive the childhood adventures once shared by local youth, while immersing themselves in the land’s layered history and enduring spirit.

The children’s adventures extended beyond horseback riding – they played spirited ‘tax’ games with passing farmers, bartering yams, bananas, and ground provisions, which they later traded with local fishermen for fresh fish.

These ingredients became the heart of communal meals, cooked in large kerosene tins – a testament to their resourcefulness, unity, and shared joy.

“Today, several of Chukka’s best guides, names such as Noel, Trevor, Zaa, and Brina, were part of that same crew… who grew up in this same community – embodying the spirit of that shared pot of food and friendship,” Mr. Byles points out.

The Blue Hole spring was a cherished retreat, where children mingled with fishermen in canoes and explored the vibrant reefs that now host popular snorkel tours.

After polo matches, children would often swim with their horses in the sea – an enduring ritual of harmony between land and ocean that lives on in Chukka’s signature horseback-riding experiences today.

Once a proud symbol of land ownership, the estate’s great house was damaged during Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 but has since been reimagined as a farm-to-table experience, reconnecting visitors with the land’s agricultural roots through shared meals, local ingredients, and stories that echo the simplicity and spirit of earlier days.

More than a landowner, Mr. Byles’ father was a trusted arbiter of fairness –resolving disputes and guiding his community with quiet wisdom.

This enduring sense of responsibility continues to shape the culture of Chukka, where loyalty, respect, and kinship are deeply embedded in every interaction.

Mr. Byles’ personal journey was equally grounded in community. During his school years in Mandeville, Manchester, he would set aside a portion of his pocket money for one of his childhood friend’s mother, who waited at the gate each Sunday before the car pulled away so that she could provide her son’s school allowance.

It was a gesture born not of charity, but of brotherhood, an unspoken bond of support. Today, those same values of kinship and loyalty continue to shape Chukka’s culture, reflected in the warmth and camaraderie of its guides and staff.

When Mr. Byles partnered with the Melville family to establish Chukka Blue – now Chukka Ocean Outpost – the land’s stories became the soul of the guest experience.

Trails once trodden by children chasing dreams and farmers tending fields, have been transformed into pathways for visitors seeking a deeper connection to Jamaica’s rich heritage.

“ATV rides wind through Zion Hill and Freedom Street, revealing the land’s vibrant farming communities, while horseback tours navigate through the property and along the coastline,” Mr. Byles notes.

“Even Pumpkin Bottom, once a humble hillside rest stop, has grown into a vibrant community home to over 250 residents, still deeply connected to their land and traditions. These stories of land, friendship, and resilience are woven into every experience at Chukka Ocean Outpost,” he adds.

This isn’t a theme park born of blueprints; it’s a living tribute to childhood wonder, community roots, and the enduring magic of the land.

Every trail, reef, and sunset tells a story that began with a boy’s curiosity and now lives on as a legacy shared by all who visit.