There’s no place in the Caribbean quite like Jamaica. The culture is captivating — it’s the birthplace of reggae music, after all. Then there’s the cuisine, jerk chicken, rice and peas, escovitch fish, bammy (a yummy cassava flatbread), and a rum punch to wash it down. It’s hard to say which is more majestic, the Blue Mountains, the Caribbean Sea, the waterfalls, or the landscape that’s an embarrassment of riches in flora and fauna.
Nearly 2.9 million people call the island home. The third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean is about 90 miles south of Cuba. In Jamaica, you really can have it all, whether you’re looking for beaches, snorkeling, diving, rafting, paddleboarding, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, or any other water sport you desire, as well as adventure, ziplining, hiking, horseback riding, or a four-wheel-drive tour. As much as Jamaica is wildly romantic with its candlelight dinners for two on a beach, or nightlife for singles or groups of friends, a good time can also be had for families at waterparks and elsewhere.
Here are some of the best things to do in Jamaica.
1. Ocho Rios
One reason people go to Ocho Rios is Dunn’s River Falls and Park. This natural wonder is 180 feet high and 600 feet long. At the base of the falls is a white sand beach. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are ziplines and hanging bridges. Another Ochi attraction for thrill seekers is Mystic Mountain, with rides like the Sky Explorer that skims the top of the canopy, the Bobsled, the climbing wall, and more.
Just 5 minutes outside of Ocho Rios, you’ll find more fun at Konoko Falls and Park. The botanical garden is home to all manner of tropical flora fed by streams throughout the gardens. River water flows into the many ponds with koi carp and tilapia fish. Expect pathways and bridges. You enter the falls at the Onikhan deck and start the climb. Stop at the MAJA swimming pool and go for it. Be rewarded with refreshing waters. Don’t be shy, make your way to the top to enjoy the NANA swimming pool. Splash around and take the stairs to the bottom of the falls, hit repeat, and give it another go around.
You do need water shoes. If you don’t have any, you can purchase them there. All that excitement might give you an appetite. There’s the Columbus Café, and for browsing, a museum and gift shop. If you like, there’s a guided tour through the River Gardens where you’ll get a bit of a history lesson about the Taino Indians and the indigenous birds and animals while navigating your way up the waterfalls.
Where To Eat In Ochos Rios
The dining options are plentiful in Ocho Rios. Christopher’s at the Hermosa Cove resort, with its lighthouse and seaside views, is a favorite. It’s one of my go-to restaurants for a special occasion. The menu is impressive with smoked marlin salad, curried goat ravioli, pumpkin fritters, and more.
Simply put, Evita’s is charming. The 1860s gingerbread house restaurant overlooks Ocho Rios from a hilltop perch. The view is something special, a bit of cityscape, and the sea and the food are a brilliant mix of Italian specialties and Jamaican cuisine.
2. Blue And John Crow Mountains National Park
About an hour from the fast pace of Kingston is the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. It is the country’s only national park and is huge, more than 101,000 acres. It’s where you’ll find Jamaica’s highest point, the 7,401-foot Blue Mountain Peak. Hikers will love the nearly 10 miles of trails. The park’s many waterfalls and some of the largest butterflies in the Western Hemisphere are treats from Mother Nature.
Like lots of stuff in Jamaica, there’s backstory intrigue. Here is where the Windward Maroons stood their ground in their resistance to British Colonialism. In 2015, the Blue and John Crow Mountain range was named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural and cultural heritage.
There are three recreational areas, Holywell, Portland Gap, and the Blue Mountain Peak Trail. For experienced hikers, the Blue Mountain Trail leads to Jamaica’s highest point. It’s an intense 4-hour hike to the summit, so definitely not for rookies. Along the way, enjoy some of the 200 bird species.
Midway on the peak trail is the Portland Gap rest stop and lodging. Cabins are available for rent. Bring your own supplies though.
Holywell’s lawn is ideal for a picnic. There are gazebos, barbecue grills, as well as campsites with water, showers, and toilet facilities. If the summit seems too ambitious, no worries, consider Holywell’s five walking trails. On nature walks, take in a plethora of tropical plants and Jamaica’s national tree, the Blue Mahoe. The walks are not difficult and are appropriate for children and seniors.
While at Holywell, you might want to take the coffee and nature walk, a 4-hour tour that starts at Holywell and travels through the Twyman coffee firm. You’ll get schooled on coffee cultivation, enjoy the abundant bird and plant life, as well as visit the river. Once you cross the river, the trail climbs steeply up to the coffee packaging house. Settle there for a while with what might be some of the best coffee you’ve ever had.
3. Rick’s Cafe
In Negril, Rick’s Cafe is the spot to see and be seen. You’ll ooh and ahh at the folks brave enough doing the cliffside jumping into the sea. The DJ will be on point blasting the best reggae such that even some old folks as far away as Norway might be dancing along with the locals. You will see tourists, locals, and everybody looking cute or trying too. The food is pretty good, though it’s really about the cocktails and people watching. You’re in for a good time.
Pro Tip: If you’re in Negril, you will want to dip your toe in the lovely waters at the Seven Mile Beach.
4. The Hip Strip
Montego Bay is the island’s third biggest city. The action is on the “Hip Strip” with its restaurants and clubs. It feels cosmopolitan. One of the popular spots is Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records, a restaurant and sports bar with a lively vibe, music going, and some sort of sports on the big screen TVs. The food is good, authentic Jamaican with plentiful portions. I did some damage here! Go for the barbecue chicken wings infused with Appleton rum or Red Stripe beer, or entrées like the jerk honey mustard lamb rack. Another top choice on the strip is Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, which is fun central with its restaurant, waterpark, and nightclub.
Pro Tip: If you’re on the strip, you’re not far from the much-beloved Doctor’s Cave Beach. Plan to spend time at the beach, freshen up, and then finish your day on the strip.
5. Cinnamon Hill Golf Course
Cinnamon Hill Golf Course in Montego Bay was crowned Jamaica’s Best Golf Course at the World Golf Awards in 2022. This is no ordinary golf course. The setting is something special. Near the 15th green, there’s a waterfall that was filmed in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die. Also of note is the Cinnamon Hill Great House, the second home of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash for 3 decades. Near the fourth tee-box, you’ll find a burial plot for the family of English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
6. National Gallery Of Jamaica
This is the oldest and largest public art museum in the Anglophone Caribbean. The National Gallery of Jamaica is in Kingston. The vast collection includes early modern and contemporary art from Jamaica as well as from elsewhere in the Caribbean. View art from as far back as the Taino, as well as recent works. Shop the gift store for art reproductions, books, and other treasures made by local artisans.
7. Devon House
A point of pride is the Devon House mansion of Jamaica’s first Black millionaire George Stiebel. Tour the 18th-century manse in Kingston and enjoy the restaurants, ice cream parlor, and shops. You absolutely must have ice cream. Warning: The line will be long, but it is so worth it. I can vouch for the mango. Devon House is among the top 10 places to eat ice cream in the world according to the National Geographic book Food Journeys of a Lifetime.
8. Bob Marley Museum
One stop that might top your list is the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston. The rooms have been kept as they were when he lived there. Take a trip down memory lane looking at his recording studio, favorite clothing, gold and platinum records, and more.
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