Jamaica is its own ting man, unlike any other place.
Be it the creativity of its arts scene, the cuisine or the culture that birthed reggae music, Jamaica lives up to the hype as one of the most popular Caribbean destinations. The 14 unique parishes encourage a slower type of travel, which explains why so many visitors find themselves coming back over and over again, whether that’s to the beaches, Blue Mountain or waterfalls. From the lush greenery of the Blue Lagoon to the lively nightlife scene, here are the best places to visit on the third-largest island of the Caribbean.
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1. Portland and Blue Mountain
Best place for hiking
The Portland parish has Jamaica’s longest coastline, more than 75 caves and an abundance of tropical vegetation as far as the eye can see, including banana, coconut and breadfruit trees. The highest of the highlights, rising to more than 2255m (7400ft), is Blue Mountain Peak. Build in time for a predawn hike to its summit for a sunrise view.
2. Blue Lagoon
Best place for a freshwater dip
Captured in the 1990 movie with the same name, the Blue Lagoon is one of Jamaica’s most beautiful locations, a 55m-deep (180ft) extinct volcano surrounded by greenery. You’ll get a rush from where the cool freshwater springs meet the warm seawater.
Soak up the scene in the beautiful Reach Falls, Port Antonio © Cosmo Tee / 500px
3. Reach Falls
Best place to enjoy waterfalls
If you love waterfalls, you’ll want to visit the eastern part of Port Antonio where there are four of them. The best of the bunch is Reach Falls, with its underwater caves, a heart-shaped “jacuzzi” (where smaller waterfalls have carved out a heart-shaped space for sitting and letting the cascade massage your shoulders), mountain views and beautiful vegetation.
Water tumbles over limestone tiers from one hollowed, jade-colored pool into the next. It’s possible to walk, wade and swim your way up to the edge of the falls, by an unmarked jungle path some way below the main entrance.
4. Frenchman’s Cove
Best place to enjoy tropical scenery
Located just east of Drapers near Port Antonio, Frenchman’s Cove is where water from the Blue Mountains flows into the Caribbean Sea. The sea and river combo are magical, made more dramatic with the canopy of tropical greenery and white-sand beach. The area is owned by Frenchman’s Cove resort, which means there are decent amenities like snack bars, alfresco showers and boat tours.
5. Dunn’s River Falls and Park
Best place to enjoy a natural wonder
This natural wonder is 55m (180ft) high and 182m (600ft) long. At the base of the falls is a white-sand beach that attracts large groups of people at peak hours, but this doesn’t make the climb up the falls any less exhilarating. Clamber up great tiers of limestone that step down in a series of beautiful cascades and pools. The water is refreshingly cool, with everything shaded by tall rainforest.
6. Spanish Town
Best place for history buffs
As the oldest continuously inhabited city in Jamaica, Spanish Town is steeped in history, but it’s also got a foot right in the here and now as home to a pair of Jamaica’s hottest reggae artists, Koffee and Chronixx.
Spanish Town dates back to 1534 and was the island’s capital until 1872 when that distinction went to Kingston. History enthusiasts will be able to visit Emancipation Square (also known as Parade), which features the town’s oldest buildings. The Cathedral of St James (or St Jago de la Vega Cathedral) is the oldest Anglican cathedral in the Caribbean (built in 1714). It stands on one of the first Spanish cathedrals in the Americas – the Chapel of the Red Cross, built in 1525. The Old Iron Bridge is a narrow cast-iron structure erected in 1801 with a cut-stone foundation that dates back to 1675. It is the oldest iron bridge of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
7. Doctor’s Cave Beach
Best place to hang with locals
Located in Montego Bay, Jamaica’s third-biggest city, the beloved Doctor’s Cave Beach with its turquoise waters is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.
The history of this beach and its unique name dates back to 1906 when an English chiropractor – Sir Herbert Barker – claimed the waters had healing properties. Word spread quickly and soon the beach was filled with people searching for some natural healing. Though there’s no proof of the doctor’s claim, the beach and its many facilities make for a perfect day out.
Negril can be as serene or as lively as you like © Nathalie Duhaime / 500px
8. Negril
Best place for beach bums
The chill award goes to Negril. The sunsets and Seven Mile Beach are legendary, as are the cliffs overlooking the sea. This is an antidote for just about anything. Scuba diving and snorkeling along colorful coral reefs top the must-do list, along with horseback rides on the beach.
As much as Negril is about serenity, it’s not sleepy. Hardly. The nightlife can spill into day. You have cool spots like Rick’s Café with its creative cocktails and cliffside jumping and Rockhouse Restaurant that sits on the edge of a cliff. Negril is home to the largest water park in the country, Kool Runnings, which features seven waterslides, go-kart racing, kayaking and lots of other attractions over five acres.
9. Blue Mountains-John Crow National Park
Best place to enjoy the outdoors
Located in the island’s capital, the Blue Mountains-John Crow National Park is 100,000 acres of rainforest and home to a host of flora and fauna. The park, which is managed by Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT), stretches across four parishes and is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
10. Port Royal
Best place for scuba diving
In the 17th century Port Royal was all about sex, money and booze, and was known as “the wickedest city on earth”. Pirates reigned supreme, including Sir Henry Morgan, Calico Jack and Blackbeard Teach. In 1692 an earthquake toppled sections of Port Royal into the sea. The remains, at 12m (40ft) below the surface at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, form one of the best-conserved underwater heritage sites – organize a trip through a licensed dive operator.
For those that want to stay dry, learn about the city’s rich history at Fort Charles, the Maritime Museum, and St Peter’s Church, which was built in 1725.
Trench Town has a deep connection with reggae © Ratiba Hamzaoui /AFP via Getty Images
11. Trench Town, Kingston
Best place for reggae music fans
In the 1940s, the government’s Central Housing Authority started a public housing project on land called Trench Pen and constructed government yards/tenements, giving the area its name, Trench Town. It is touted as the birthplace of reggae music: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer had roots here, and greatness sprouted from humble beginnings.
For a step back in time, visit the Trench Town Culture Yard, once home to Marley and community leader, Vincent “Tata” Ford, who taught Marley to play the guitar. Marley songs like “No Woman No Cry” and “Natty Dread” tell the story of life there. The restored buildings house a small museum that shares the history through articles, instruments and furnishings used by Ford, Marley, Tosh and Wailer.
12. Bob Marley Museum, Kingston
Best place to celebrate a legend
One stop that tops almost everyone’s list is the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston. The rooms have been kept as they were when the legendary reggae artist lived there. Stroll down memory lane looking at his recording studio, favorite clothing, gold and platinum records, and more.
