Island gems: Ochi's parcel of paradise

Garfene Grandison, Assistant Lifestyle Coordinator

This is the second instalment of our bimonthly feature, Island Gems. Here, we unearth the gems you never knew we had but have come to expect of our beautiful island, Jamaica. From Portland in the east, we now journey to the Garden Parish on our north coast.

Situated on the north coast of Jamaica's Garden Parish is the luxurious Hermosa Cove Villa Resort. The resort boasts a series of tastefully furnished, artfully designed, relaxed, and comfortable Caribbean-style boutique villas.

Bathed in natural light, each villa is nestled in an intimate garden setting to ensure ultimate privacy, with some possessing a magnificent view of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. With all the tastefully appointed furnishings and warm hospitality of the 24 staff members on the property, the nine suites create a lavish seaside village atmosphere that can only be compared to a summer stay in the Hamptons, if not better.

There are a total of 15 rooms (three 3-bedroom villas and six 1-bedroom villas), with two of the villas offering a spectacular ocean view. But there is still an ease of access to the magnificent waters of the Caribbean Sea as all the villas are less than 100 steps from the sea.

If your idea of a vacation is seclusion, sanctuary and serenity, then Hermosa Cove is the right place for you to find inspiration in your very own spacious and private villa designed for you to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate your mind body and palate.

The property is spread over 12 lush acres amid verdant tropical gardens ready for visitors to restore their senses and revive their spirits.

TROPICAL HAVEN

Opened approximately six years ago, the cove is just five minutes from the centre of Ocho Rios, yet totally secluded. This coveted tropical haven has a history that befits its beauty. The story is that the prominent and wealthy Boston family purchased the property in the late 1940s from the Lord and Lady Docker Estate. It is said to have been visited by the rich and famous of Hollywood, including Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Known as the Jamaican Riviera, the area was immensely popular in the 1950s and '60s.

This phenomenal piece of property captured the imagination of proprietors Clayton and Deb Korver, who developed the ideal vacation oasis to best suit the land, people of Jamaica, and the leisure travel market. Evocative of a slower, more seductive era, Hermosa Cove Villa Resort and Suites is designed with the kind of deluxe details, services, and amenities available at any five-star destination.

The property also boasts the swanky Christopher's at Hermosa Cove restaurant, where executive chef Conroy Arnold and sous chef Danesha Jaghai prepare tantalising one-of-a-kind dishes.

Named
after Christopher Columbus, this spectacular seaside restaurant
features architecture reminiscent of Jamaica's golden age. The details
are quite vivid and can all be found in the hand-chipped stone and
thatched roofs set against the rustic fortress known as Juan's Lookout
Tower, aptly named after Columbus' son.

Fruits and
vegetables, grown on the property are paired with fresh meats and the
seafood catch of the day, shape the cuisine at Christopher's, which is
accented by international culinary techniques and preparations. Regional
recipes, Spanish fare, and twists on Caribbean cooking are infused with
historical culinary influences. The kitchen is centred on a 900F
wood-fired oven, often stoked with pimento or mango
wood.

And you don't have to be staying at the resort
to enjoy the delicious fare. A simple phone call to make a reservation
will give you the opportunity to enjoy this island
paradise.

For many who have already visited the
Jamaican gem, they can all attest to the fact that Hermosa Cove is
indeed Ochi's small parcel of
paradise.

grandison.garfene@gleanerjm.com

Photos by Gladstone Taylor/Photographer