JamaicaTravel Guide

Geejam Hotel is a boutique hotel at the foot of the Blue Mountains in Port Antonio. A rainforest retreat, it features dreamy private villas with all the mod cons to make you feel alright. Get pampered at the spa, find the secret bush bar and enjoy private beach access. There’s even a recording studio if you feel like mixing and mastering your own island grooves!  

Looking for an intimate seaside stay and maybe a room with a view? The Caves in Negril has got you covered! It offers 12 private, thatch-roof, wood and stone cottages set on a cliff with ocean views. A highlight is the cave bar and its “porthole” onto the sea. Other on-site amenities include a hot tub, saltwater swimming pool and a Top Five in Jamaica-rated spa. There’s also plenty to do in the area from kayaking, snorkelling and biking to exploring caves.

Sandals Royal Plantation is the 5-star, all-inclusive beach resort where Tom Cruise’s Cocktail was filmed. If you’re too young to remember, not to worry. All you need to know is that Sandals offers the epitome of luxury plantation living and you’ll get to rub shoulders with the international jet set! Located in Ocho Rios, expect personalised service (your own butler on hand), watersports galore, and not one but two private beaches to enjoy. Jamaica’s only caviar and Champagne bar can also be found on-site.

Five Gables in Montego Bay is wildly popular with the budget-conscious and backpacking set. Set on a hill in a lush garden, you can choose from a mixed dorm, a double room or a single room. A veranda overlooks the pool and the ocean, there’s free Wi-Fi, a fabulous common room and your airport transfers are sorted. You’re also just 12 minutes from the restaurant, shopping and nightlife action on “Hip Strip” in town.

Ever done bamboo rafting? This gentle excursion offered on the Martha Brae River tops the list for taking in the magical tropical scenery. Picture it: crystalline waters, shimmering hummingbirds and colourful butterflies flittering among the mango trees while you drift quietly down the river. 

The mysterious luminous lagoon on the north coast of Jamaica can be found where the Martha Brae River meets the Caribbean Sea. It’s so called because thousands of microorganisms called dinoflagellates light it up with their phosphorescent light when they are disturbed, and it’s one of just four such places in the world. Best visited at night, boat tours take you out into the lagoon where you can also swim in the warm, shallow water among these harmless and intriguing creatures.

For your culture fix, head to the Trench Town Culture Yard Museum, also in Ocho Rios. Dubbed the birthplace of reggae, the soul of Trench Town is captured here. Get up close to the history, the music, the art and the locals. Tours into the rest of Trench Town are also offered.

Learn more about the art of Jamaica’s delicious rum at the Appleton Estate in Siloah. During a dedicated tour, you’ll learn about the rum-making process and the history behind the property. This premium rum distillery also features a shop where you can stock up on rum and a restaurant with a wide range of tasty dishes and cocktails. Jamaican mule, anyone?

Do yourself a favour and include a visit to Jamaica’s edgy capital, Kingston. There’s more than enough to keep you busy here, but we highly recommend a stop at the Bob Marley Museum — once his former family home and now a museum of his personal treasures. There’s also an 80-seater theatre on-site, a record shop and a gift shop where you can snap up Bob Marley memorabilia.  

Once a quaint fishing village, Ocho Rios is now the island’s major port of call for cruise ships. It boasts many beautiful beaches and is popular for watersports. And if you’re an adventure-seeker, take note! The spectacular 292.6m (960ft) Dunn’s River Falls are also situated here — hike to the top or zipline across! Near Ocho Rios, the Blue Hole is another exciting attraction — a series of azure pools and a small waterfall where tour operators offer cliff diving, cliff jumping, rope swinging and exploring the caves. 

The Blue Mountains of Jamaica are the famous home of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee — one of the world's most prized and expensive coffee varieties. Get the inside scoop on the island’s coffee culture “on the ground” by taking a guided tour offered by one of the working farms. Learn about the process behind cultivating and processing this delicious Arabica varietal and enjoy the brew for yourself. For a unique spin, opt for a bicycle tour and experience the scenic terrain on two wheels while visiting local estates.

Romantic with a capital “R”, the award-winning Sugar Mill Restaurant in St James is set on a historic plantation within the Half Moon Golf Course. Dine by candlelight on the terrace under the trees and tuck into their signature dish — the Solomon’s Brochette (skewered meat flambéd with rum in front of you).

The Rockhouse in Negril is another romantic fine-dining hotspot perched on the edge of a cliff with spectacular views. The eclectic dinner menu features local dishes (Rockhouse lobster steamed in coconut milk), Italian (seafood linguine) and American (BBQ spare ribs).

From street corners to specific areas where you’ll find specific dishes, street food is part of Jamaican life. The national dish is akee and codfish. Akee is a tropical fruit that’s eaten like a veg and can be tucked into every meal of the day, as a side and, of course, as street food. Jamaican patties are also everywhere and also in patty shops. They’re like thin-crust pies stuffed with meat and cheese. Hunt down the best peppered shrimps in Middle Quarters in St Elizabeth Parish and head to Melrose Hill for roasted yellow yam.

For home-style Jamaican food, snap up a table at Miss T’s Kitchen. A riot of colour, this local haunt based in Ocho Rios promises flavourful fare and a fun dining experience you’ll remember long after you leave. The menu will leave you spoilt for choice, but you can’t go wrong with their curry goat or traditional oxtail stew. There are also plenty of vegan options to sink your teeth into. 

For good vibes, you’ll love Jack Sprat Restaurant and Bar on Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth’s Parish. Vintage movie posters adorn the walls, and the old-school jukebox has reggae tunes on repeat. Their grilled seafood dishes are to die for, as are the wood-fired pizzas. They also host weekly bonfires right on the beach. Yah, mon!

Hip Strip is a tourist hotspot with all the action (shopping, dining, partying) happening along its 3km. Its real (and posh) name is Gloucester Avenue and here you can bag duty-free items, jewellery and printed t-shirts, and have fun haggling with street vendors. 

Looking for a more relaxed experience? Then you’ll enjoy the delightful shopping plaza Main Street Jamaica. You can find just about anything here, from handmade items, coffee and cigars to luxury brands such as Dior and Chanel.

Another laid-back choice is on the outskirts of Montego Bay. The Half Moon Shopping Village is a collection of charming pastel buildings in the form of an outdoor mall. Find designer wear made by locals, quality crafts and more. When you need to rest your legs, grab a coffee or cocktail and enjoy the view over the garden. There’s also the Bob Marley Experience Theatre with a documentary about him that plays on a loop all day.

Island Village in Ocho Rios features a variety of open-air boutique stores and restaurants. Since it’s close to the cruise terminal, it’s easy to reach should you arrive by sea. Shop for rum, Bob Marley souvenirs, Blue Mountain Coffee and handmade jewellery, and enjoy duty-free shopping at its best.

Head to downtown Kingston to experience its largest farmers' market — Coronation Market. It’s a vibey, busy place offering not only fresh produce for sale but also food, clothing and footwear. Looking for handmade items and crafts? Pop in at the Kingston Craft Market for tie-dye t-shirts and artwork, the Harbour Street Craft Market in Montego Bay for bags and straw hats, the Pineapple Craft Market in Ocho Rios for coffee-bean necklaces and the Port Antonio Craft Market for artwork, liqueurs and spices.

Once a popular haunt for swashbuckling pirates, Seven Mile Beach in Negril is one of Jamaica’s most popular stretches of white sand and calm waters. Enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving, go on banana boat rides or take a glass-bottom boat tour. It’s also lined with many bar and restaurant spots where you can enjoy rum cocktails, local food and reggae beats.

Taking its name from The Treasure Beach Hotel, established in the 1930s and still going strong, this beach in St Elizabeth Parish is lovely and quiet, stretching for 9km (5.6 miles), with sandy and rocky areas. Sometimes a strong undercurrent makes swimming a little tricky, but it’s still a great beach to enjoy away from the crowds. You can ride horseback along the shore and tuck into street food from the local vendors.

On Jamaica’s north coast, Runaway Bay is known for its coral reef and gorgeous beaches, like Cardiff Hall Beach and Fisherman’s Beach. The Green Grotto Caves are a must-see attraction between Runaway Bay and Discovery Bay. Featuring an underground lake, these caves were used by Arawak Indians, pirates and runaway slaves, among others, and are fascinating to explore — but you have to book a tour.  

This gem of a small beach is in the delightfully named Fairy Hill community near Port Antonio. It is unspoilt, popular with the locals, and adding to its natural beauty is the surrounding lush tropical forest. There’s also a reef offshore where you can snorkel and get close to the marine life.

If you’ve been dreaming of white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay won’t disappoint. In fact, it’s among the island’s most beautiful beaches. Popular with tourists, restaurants and bars are nearby and the beach pumps at night. Plus, the water is believed to have healing properties!