Pineapples and honey in Jamaica’s hills? Croydon In The Mountains is a 130+ acre organic farm and forest reserve in St. James, Montego Bay, where fruit grows in the open and beekeeping is part of daily life. You also get a strong sense of place through connections to Samuel Sharpe and Kojo from the Maroon community, alongside Taino heritage.

I love the seasonal fruit and juice tastings, especially knowing the estate grows 19 different pineapple varieties. It makes the tasting feel like more than a snack stop—it’s a chance to compare flavors and textures like a food nerd in paradise.

I also love the honey-focused part of the experience, with guides like Dylan (the owner) plus CeCe and Santos helping bring the farm to life. One possible drawback: there have been times when pickups didn’t work out due to driver availability and communication delays, so I’d confirm your plan the day before and again the morning of.

Quick hits before you go

• 19 pineapple varieties grown on-site, plus seasonal fruit and juice tastings
• Premium coffee production and a working organic farm setup you can actually see
• Beekeeping and honey production explained in a hands-on, farm-practical way
• Pine forests, botanical gardens, and bee and bird sanctuaries on the estate grounds
• Guides can include Dylan, with help from CeCe and Santos (the 4-legged tour guides)
• Maximum of 250 travelers, so group size may range from manageable to busier than you’d like

Croydon In The Mountains: what you’re really booking

This isn’t a roadside garden with a photo spot and a gift shop. Croydon In The Mountains is a real estate operation spread across 130+ acres, acting as both a forest reserve and a working organic farm. That matters because you’re not just looking at plants—you’re seeing how a farm and a protected green space coexist.

The estate also carries community stories tied to Jamaica’s national hero Samuel Sharpe and to Kojo from the Maroon community, with descendants connected to the Taino people. Even if you’re mostly there for pineapple and coffee, those connections give the land more meaning than just scenery.

And yes, it’s also a place where you’ll find pine forests, botanical gardens, and bee and bird sanctuaries. In other words, it’s a mix: agriculture, wildlife-minded spaces, and education.

Getting to the estate from Montego Bay (and keeping your day on track)

Your tour starts at 10:00 am, and you’ll likely go in an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup is offered, and the tour uses a mobile ticket, so it’s easy to show up with your phone and not chase paperwork.

A detail I appreciate: the start time is late enough that you’re not gulping coffee at sunrise just to catch the van. It also means you can do a low-key morning in Montego Bay first, then head out.

That said, based on past experiences, I’d treat this as one of those activities where you should do proactive confirmation. There have been cases where the tour couldn’t run because a driver wasn’t available and communication wasn’t quick. So: confirm the day before, and if you have contact info, check in the morning of. It takes two minutes and can save hours of stress.

A 4-hour farm walk focused on fruit, coffee, and real growing

The whole experience runs about 4 hours (approx.), which is a sweet spot. Long enough to see multiple parts of the property, short enough that you can still enjoy the rest of your day in Jamaica.

Most of your time will be spent on the estate grounds—learning, tasting, and moving between areas where the farm’s different features show up. You’ll get a guide, and admission is included, so you aren’t paying extra just to be allowed onto the property.

If you’re imagining a slow, quiet nature hike, you might be slightly surprised. Because it’s a guided farm experience with tastings and explanations, expect a pace that mixes walking with stopping points and short learning breaks. It’s not staged like a museum. It’s more like a knowledgeable guide coordinating your time across the farm’s key areas.

Pineapples and seasonal tastings: the easiest way to understand the farm

Let’s talk about the sweet part. Croydon is known for growing an impressive range of pineapple varieties—19 of them. That’s why the seasonal fruit and juice tastings feel meaningful. You’re not just tasting one pineapple. You’re tasting what the estate is growing right now, and you can notice differences that you’d never catch from one generic fruit at home.

Practical tip: go easy at the start and save your favorites for the later tastings. Some tours stack multiple samples close together, and if you get too enthusiastic early, the last sips can start to taste like repeats.

Also, tasting fruit on-site changes how you perceive the flavors. In a supermarket, pineapple is pineapple. Here, it becomes a lineup—different sweetness levels, different acidity, different textures. Even if you don’t care about pineapple trivia, you’ll still walk away with a better sense of what each variety brings.

Coffee fields: where the flavor story becomes real

Croydon also produces premium coffee, and part of the experience is understanding that coffee doesn’t pop out of thin air. You’ll have time to connect the estate’s approach to growing with what ends up in your cup.

If you’re a coffee person, this is a good match. Even if you aren’t, coffee helps anchor the farm beyond fruit. It shows that the operation isn’t single-crop focused, and it explains why the estate invests in careful land management.

One thing I’d keep in mind: the coffee focus here is educational, not a full tasting flight described in the tour details. Still, seeing the coffee side of the property makes the fruit tastings feel less random and more like part of a bigger agricultural plan.

Beekeeping and honey production: the part that feels most alive

The honey section is the reason many people remember Croydon. The tour specifically includes learning about beekeeping and the intricate process of honey production. And it’s not just a lecture. The estate has bee sanctuaries, which helps make the topic tangible.

This part is valuable because it turns a jar of honey into a process you understand: how beekeeping fits into farm life, and why the bees matter to the ecosystem. If you like nature education that’s practical and not preachy, this is where you’ll get it.

It also tends to be the most story-driven part of the day. In one very positive experience, the tour was led by Dylan (the owner) with help from CeCe and Santos, and the delivery was described as passionate and fun. That kind of energy matters here because beekeeping can sound technical on paper. When the guide’s excited, it clicks faster.

And if bees make you nervous: don’t panic. The tour includes the educational components, and you’re on a property where beekeeping is part of everyday operations. I’d still keep your space and follow the guide’s instructions around any animals or sanctuary areas.

Guides on the estate: what you’ll notice about the style

Good guides change the whole experience. Croydon’s team includes people like Dylan, with support from CeCe and even Santos as one of the four-legged tour guides. That detail matters because it suggests the tour isn’t run like a generic checklist.

When the guide blends farm knowledge with real enthusiasm, you end up hearing stories that connect pineapples, coffee, and honey to the land itself. That’s when it stops being just tasting and turns into a tour you actually remember.

If you’re the type who learns best by asking questions, bring your curiosity. This is the kind of setting where your questions about honey, fruit varieties, or how an organic farm works will make the conversation more interesting.

Price and value: is $89 a fair deal?

At $89 per person, Croydon In The Mountains is positioned as a mid-price excursion. Here’s how I judge value:

Included items you’re getting:

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Seasonal fruit and juice tastings
• Guide
• Admission included
• Mobile ticket

So you’re paying for more than a ticket to see plants. You’re paying for a guided experience that includes food samples and a structured look at multiple parts of the estate—fruit, coffee, and beekeeping.

Is it worth it if you’re only interested in one thing like pineapple? It might still be worth it because the tour is designed as an agriculture-and-nature package. But if you’re after a purely beach-style day or a short, passive activity, this won’t be your best match.

If you’re a value-focused traveler, the key question is simple: will you enjoy learning about farming and tasting seasonal produce? If yes, $89 can feel like a fair trade for four hours of guided education and refreshments.

Who should book Croydon, and who should reconsider

I think Croydon works best for:

• Food lovers who enjoy learning what they’re eating
• People interested in coffee and honey production
• Travelers who like nature education tied to how farms work
• Families and groups who want a non-beach activity that still feels fun

You might want to reconsider if:

• You get easily stressed by schedule changes and want zero operational risk
• You prefer strictly indoor attractions (this is an outdoor estate tour)
• You don’t enjoy group guided pacing with stops for tastings and explanations

Also, note the tour max is 250 travelers. That doesn’t automatically mean it feels crowded, but it does mean the day could run as a bigger-group operation depending on demand. If you hate any kind of crowd energy, plan to arrive ready to be patient and flexible.

Weather and minimum traveler realities

This experience requires good weather. If weather is poor, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. It’s the sort of tour where the outdoors matters more than the schedule on a calendar.

There’s also a minimum number of travelers requirement. If that minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered an alternative date/experience or a full refund. Since you can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance, you can keep some flexibility while you’re planning your Montego Bay days.

Should you book Croydon In The Mountains?

If you want Jamaica beyond the usual highlights, I’d book it. The best version of this tour is a blend of real farm sights, fruit tastings tied to 19 pineapple varieties, and an educational beekeeping/honey production component that feels practical, not just scenic.

I’d book with eyes open, though. Because there have been cases where pickup failed due to driver availability and communication wasn’t great, I’d confirm the day before and again on the morning of. Do that, and you’re setting yourself up for the kind of day where you leave knowing more than you started.

FAQ

FAQ

What time does Croydon In The Mountains start?

The experience starts at 10:00 am.

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 4 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $89.00 per person.

Is pickup provided?

Yes, pickup is offered, and the tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle.

What’s included in the tour price?

Included are the admission ticket, the guide, and seasonal fruit and juice tastings.

Will I receive a ticket on my phone?

Yes, you get a mobile ticket, and confirmation is received at the time of booking.

How big can the group get?

The tour has a maximum of 250 travelers.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.