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The Caribbean feels like a different world altogether. I have been to many tropical islands, and Jamaica is a long flight away from Asia. But once we reached it, what a memorable trip it was. We, of course, expected a blue ocean, sandy white beaches, and water activities. Jamaica delivers on all that. And it offers many more things to do and experience for families and couples traveling.
How to reach Jamaica.
There are a couple of international airports in Jamaica. Tourists usually land in Montego Bay on the northwest part of the island. Montego Bay is a highly developed area that caters to international tourists with high-end luxury resorts, golf courses, fine dining restaurants, and shopping options.
Kingston’s international airport in the Jamaican capital city is another option to reach this tropical paradise. Whatever flight connection you may choose, you are likely to stay in the north tourist corridor of Jamaica to enjoy the resorts and beaches.
How many days to spend in Jamaica?
I recommend a minimum of five days to enjoy this island. It offers enough to keep you engrossed in adventure activities and fun things to do. Check out my Jamaica itinerary for 5-7 days to enjoy the most of Negril, Ocho Rios, and Port Antonio.
Stay options in Jamaica.
All-inclusive beach resort, private villas, boutique hotels, Jamaica has it all! For families, I suggest taking your pick among beach resorts in Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios. This was my second time staying at an all-inclusive beach resort, the only other being the Hard Rock Hotel in Maldives. Room, meals, most alcoholic drinks, and most water sports were included In the package rate.
We chose to stay in a boutique hotel in Port Antonio, and that was fabulous as well.
Things to do in Jamaica.
The island is bursting with so many activities and adventures. So, get out of your all-inclusive resort and experience Jamaica! There are many activities you can enjoy depending on your interests, from culture and music to adrenaline-pumping adventures, from water sports to enjoying beautiful sunsets.
Unique Things to Do in Jamaica
1. Take a river cruise.
Bamboo rafting is a unique experience on a Jamaican river. You can book a tour to enjoy this on the Martha Brae River from Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. Or, if you are in Port Antonio, bamboo rafting on the Rio Grande River is an option.
The local guide will tell you all about the history and the culture of that area while you soak in the scenic views of the surroundings. You can try your hand at guiding the raft, but I can tell you from my personal experience that the raft is heavy and difficult to maneuver.
We did a bamboo rafting tour on the Rio Grande that ended with a fantastic lunch by the riverside. What an amazing place to taste local cuisine.
2. Climb Dunn’s Falls
Visiting the Dunn’s Falls is one of the best things to do in Jamaica. Dunn’s River Falls is within a nature reserve, not too far from Ocho Rios. It is a unique waterfall, a series of travertine waterfalls. You can view these 65-foot-high falls, but the more fun activity is to go down to the base of the falls and climb them.
This needs a guide who will take the group up the falls, guiding them as to where to go, where to hold hands and form a human chain, and where to dunk in the refreshing water.
Dunn’s Falls gets quite busy in the peak season. Another alternative, but far less busy is the YS Waterfalls on Treasure Beach.
3. Bob sledding on Mystic Mountain
If you are in Ocho Rios, besides Dunn’s Falls, you can also schedule a visit to Mystic Mountain. For a fun adventure, get on the bobsled track and race through a rainforest. A 15-minute ride takes you up to the top of the mountain. This area has a museum, pool bar, café, waterslides, and zip line for you to enjoy.
If you want more adventure activities, Jamaica has plenty of spots offering zip lining, hiking, river tubing tours.
4. Enjoy the ocean.
If you are a certified scuba diver, there are reef areas around Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios for you to explore. Many shallow areas in Negril, Montego Bay can be enjoyed on a snorkeling trip.
There are enough options for water sports as well. Take a catamaran cruise to enjoy an evening out on the ocean. You can get lucky spotting dolphins in the water.
Your beach resort will have many water sports for all family members to enjoy, from sailing to snorkeling to kayaking. I remember the banana boat ride at Beaches Ocho Rios. It was super fun when you were made to fall into the ocean deliberately!
5. Go horseback riding!
Jamaica puts a twist on the usual horseback riding tour. You can swim with the horses here. Tours start with a half-hour ride to the beach and end with a good 15-minute dip in the Caribbean Sea.
6. Watch cliff divers at Rick’s Café.
Rick’s is an institution in Negril. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset here one evening while sipping on a drink. But the best part of this bar is watching the divers climb cliffs and jump straight down into the blue waters. It is a lot tougher than it looks. You can be a daredevil and try cliff jumping here yourself.
7. Blue Lagoon or the Blue Hole?
You can do both! Jamaica has a Blue Hole, a gorgeous turquoise sinkhole near Ocho Rios. This is a popular swimming pool with a waterfall. You can reach here independently or book a tour.
The Blue Lagoon is a 200-metre-deep area near Port Antonio. Its crystal clear waters change to different shades of blue throughout the day. Taking a boat tour from Port Antonio takes you to Monkey Island and gives you a beautiful view of this legendary lagoon. During our stay at Port Antonio, this was a fun activity to do. After the deep blue lagoon, we also went to shallow parts and saw many turtles in the ocean.
8. Soak up the sun.
You can’t go wrong lazing around on the beach strip of your resort. Jamaica also offers many public beaches. There is the world-famous Seven Mile Beach in Negril. It is one of the longest beaches in the Caribbean. There are many spots for music, drinks, and food here.
Doctor’s Cave at Montego Bay is liked by both tourists and locals. Located on the Hip Strip, Doctor’s Cave Beach is one of the popular things in Jamaica. The restaurant on this beach offers Jamaican and American food dishes.
On the eastern end, there are famous beaches like Frenchman’s Cove, San San Beach, and Boston Bay Beach near Port Antonio. Frenchman’s Cove is a slice of postcard-perfect heaven owned by Frenchman’s Cove Resort, which charges a fee to give you access. Boston Bay is a private beach where you can take a surfing lesson.
9. Discover the roots of Reggae music.
Take a day trip to visit Kingston. Enjoy the Bob Marley Museum, the legendary artist who put Jamaica on the international map. The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston is the former home of the reggae legend. Bob’s home is filled with rich memories and treasured mementos. All the original rooms have been kept as they were when Bob lived here to ensure authenticity.
You can see the Devon House is a historic mansion that was owned by Jamaica’s first black millionaire.
10. Enjoy jerk chicken and other local specialties.
Jamaica is the birthplace of jerk spice. You can enjoy jerk chicken in your hotel or at local restaurants. Scotchies is a Jamaican institution enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, famous for its jerk chicken. It has restaurant options in both Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. And perhaps take some jerk seasoning home to use in your cooking or as a gift for a friend!
You can also visit the Boston Jerk Centre in Portland, which is credited as the original birthplace of jerk cuisine. Enjoy jerk chicken, lobster, shrimp, and fish, as well as fruits and natural fruit juices, among other culinary treats.
11. Visit a coffee farm in the Blue Mountains.
We tried Blue Mountain coffee at our boutique hotel, Geejam, in Port Antonio. We also bought a couple of packets from the duty-free shop at the airport to take back home, and it makes a great Jamaica souvenir.
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is the most highly sought-after and truly the best coffee in the world. The Blue Mountains are also home to the Blue Mountain Coffee Plantation, where you can learn about Jamaica’s coffee culture.
You can take the Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour for a coffee tour with a difference or visit Craighton Estate in the cool climes of Irish Town.
12. Visit a Plantation House.
Rose Hall Great House is a former sugar cane plantation in Jamaica. The legend of Rose Hall tells the story of plantation owner Annie Palmer. A visit to Rose Hall is one of the best cultural activities to do on the island.
Another excellent great house to visit is the Greenwood Estate. This 18th century estate is now locally owned since 1976 by Bob and Anne Betton.
You can also visit the estate of Noel Coward, the British playwright who made this island his home. The views from his estate gardens are just phenomenal.
13. Get to know your rum.
Appleton Estate has been making rum for 265 years and is a fun trip to add to some other Jamaica excursions. But this is a long way from the main tourist areas. The Appleton Rum Experience is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 AM until 330 PM. You should make a prior reservation if it’s a large group, else a walk-in is alright.
Appleton Estate Rum Experience has a welcome center, a beautiful restaurant, and a bar to welcome visitors. There is a shop on-site where you can buy any rum from their entire collection.
14. Hiking in Blue Mountain and John Crowe Mountain range.
The largest mountain range in Jamaica, the Blue and John Crow Mountain range, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are plenty of hiking trails available here. But do take a local guide to these mountain ranges with you.
The fit and adventurous can attempt to hike to the Blue Mountain Peak. The peak is the highest on the island, rising to an altitude of 7,402 feet. On a clear day, you can see Buff Bay and Port Antonio’s Navy Island to the north and Kingston, Portmore, and St Thomas’s coast to the south. The 14-mile Peak trail takes about 7 hours.
15. Revel in a life of luxury.
From world-class golf courses with unmatched views, to shopping at high-end boutiques and duty-free outlets, to luxurious beach resorts, Jamaica does luxury travel in style.
About the Author
Shweta has always been passionate about travel and immersing in new experiences. Having been to over 45 countries, she blogs at Zest In A Tote to bring family-friendly itineraries and tips, destinations, and luxury stays to her readers. Her belief in family travel needn’t be boring, and one can do a mix of local culture; food, adventure activities, and relaxation, all with family.
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Raised as a third culture kid living in South America and Europe, Annick caught the travel bug early. As an empty-nester, Annick enjoys sharing her tips for traveling for those with champagne taste and beer budgets.
Awesome I will definitely try thank you.
You’ve definitely covered most of my favourite things to do in Jamaica with this article, and that’s coming from a local. 🙂
So glad to hear that!