The best things to do in Jamaica, from spectacular swimming to reggae history
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Jamaica may be synonymous with white sand and super-sized resorts, but there’s so much more to explore beyond the beaches and all inclusives. Get to grips with the island’s plantation-era history through the well preserved Great Houses that are dotted along the island’s north coast. If active activites are more your bag, go river rafting, waterfall climbing, horseback riding, scuba diving, snorkelling or scale the exceptionally steep jungled peaks of the Blue Mountains. For a slice of everyday Jamaican life that few visitors manage to experience, head inland to Cockpit Country. In the capital, Kingston, pay your respects to reggae icon, Bob Marley, before bumping and grinding in the dancehalls.
Montego Bay and Northwest coast
Learn about Jamaica’s past
It would be easy to spend all your time in Montego Bay relaxing on a sun-lounger at Doctor’s Cave Beach, but do drag yourself away to spend at least a couple of hours in the National Museum West. This well curated museum explores the history of Jamaica, with a focus on Montego Bay and Western Jamaica, through period objects.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the separate side room documenting the rise of Rastafarianism, which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s among working-class black people. Bob Marley helped spread the Rastafarian message through his lyrics encapsulating the spirit of the movement.
Contact: 00 1 876 940 6402; montegobayculturalcentre.org
Opening times: Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm
Price: £
Splash in glowing bioluminescent waters
Want to see bioluminescence – the magical night-time glow produced by insects and sea creatures? Get yourself to Glistening Waters (also known as Luminous Lagoon), which is within easy reach of both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Each night, boats take tourists on a ride around the lagoon, pausing to allow passengers to jump in and swim through the mystical waters.
Insider tip: The phenomenon takes place at night so, for the best show, book as late in the evening as you can. And don’t bother to bring your camera/phone – all you’ll get is a black screen. Sure there are ways to take Instagram-worthy pictures of the bioluminescent algae, but only if you’re an expert...
Contact: 00 1 876 954 3229; glisteningwaters.com
Opening times: Daily, tours from 6.45pm
Price: ££
Get an insight into Rastafarianism
Rastafarianism developed in Jamaica in the 1930s among working-class people of colour. From Jamaica, the Rastafari movement spread around the world – thanks in part to the huge popularity of its most famous member, Bob Marley, whose lyrics were full of Rasta doctrine. Learn a little more about the religion over at the Rastafari Indigenous Village: visit an organic vegetable garden, experience live music and then tuck into an Ital (vegan) meal.
Insider’s tip: Try to catch Irits – a gathering of live music, Ital vegan cuisine, local artisans, healing therapies, African dancing, Kumina, traditional folklore and more – which takes place from 2-6pm on the last Sunday of every month.
Contact: 001 876 383 9068; rastavillage.com
Price: ££
Ocho Rios, Port Antonio & North Coast
Check out Noel Coward’s Jamaican abode
In 1948 Noël Coward fell in love with Jamaica and decided to buy his own house, Blue Harbour, but it soon became crowded with his celebrity friends. In need of “valuable” peace, Coward purchased a hideaway retreat for US$150 and named the property 'Firefly', after the glowing creatures that also called the property home at night. Knowledgeable tour guides will show you around the estate.
Insider tip: Drink in the most spectacular view of Jamaica's North Coast from the upper studio and snap a selfie beside the pensive statue of Noel Coward that graces the lawn of Firefly.
Contact: East of Oracabessa; firefly-jamaica.com
Opening times: Mon-Thu & Sat, 9am-5pm
Price: £
Float on a bamboo raft à la Errol Flynn
No visit to Jamaica is complete without rafting the Rio Grande, a beautifully relaxing activity reputedly started as a leisure pursuit by Errol Flynn (aka the George Clooney of his day) during the 1940s. For approximately two hours, you’ll be punted merrily along the Rio Grande, passing former banana plantations, with stops to swim or enjoy a cold Red Stripe beer.
Insider tip: The Rio Grande is the home of rafting in Jamaica but there are two other rivers on which you can raft, if you’re not planning a trip to Port Antonio. Try the Martha Brae and the Great River, both near Montego Bay.
Contact: Rafters Rest Port Antonio; 00 1 876 993 5778
Opening times: Daily
Price: £££
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Take a dip in Jamaica’s most famous waterfall
Jamaica’s highest grossing tourist attraction? Take a bow Dunn’s River Falls, almost as well known as reggae. Expect an attractive series of rock pools and cascades that tumble in stages around 600ft down to the sea. Vendors sell jelly shoes at the entrance and guides can accompany you on the climb if necessary. The park also has food stalls, a small craft market and playground.
Insider tip: The falls are undeniably attractive but they are almost always crowded so consider alternatives: Irie Blue Hole (also in Ocho Rios), YS Falls in the south west and Reach Falls, past Port Antonio in the east, are also lovely.
Contact: 001 876 974 2857; dunnsriverfallsja.com
Opening times: Daily, 8.30am-4pm; cruise ship days, 7am-4pm
Price: ££
Kingston, Blue Mountains & Southeast Coast
Admire an opulent monument to 19th-century Jamaica
While in Kingston, don’t miss Devon House – an elegant Georgian-style Great House built in 1881 by George Stiebel, Jamaica’s first black millionaire. Admission includes an obligatory guided tour around the house whose showpiece is the 35-foot ballroom with its Broadwood piano, English chandelier and Wedgwood ceiling. The house was declared a national monument by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust in 1990.
Insider tip: The gorgeous tree-shaded lawns of Devon House are a lovely place to read and relax or stroll while enjoying a scoop of ice cream from Devon House I-Scream. It’s the island’s best ice cream, as the long queues attest.
Contact: 00 1 876 929 6602; devonhouseja.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 9.30am-5pm
Price: £
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Celebrate Reggae legend Peter Tosh
At last! One of reggae’s most fiery performers finally has a museum of his own. The Peter Tosh Museum tells the story of the outspoken member of The Wailers, who was sidelined by the Jamaican establishment, with respect and sensitivity. You’ll be able to see mementos from Tosh’s life, including his beloved unicycle and Grammy Award, which he won for his final album No Nuclear War.
Insider tip: Tosh is known not just for his music but also his campaign to legalise cannabis. Learn how to roll a Jamaican spliff in an onsite workshop run by “woman of the herbs” Safia Cooper. Call the museum to check when the workshop is running.
Contact: 00 1 876 960 0049; petertosh.com/museum
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 10am-6.30pm
Price: ££
Get into the reggae spirit at a legendary Kingston studio
Music aficionados should also seek out another Kingston hotspot – the studio where Bob Marley cut some of his most celebrated tracks including Buffalo Soldier and No Woman, No Cry. Tuff Gong Recording Studios has been owned by the Marley family since 1981 and is run by Bob’s son, Ziggy. The studio is accessible via 45 minute tours that take you into the recording room and the rehearsal space.
Insider tip: It’s best to call in advance rather than just rock up at Tuff Gong as, if someone’s recording, you may not be able to see all sections of the studio – it’s at the discretion of whoever’s recording.
Contact: 00 1 876 630 1592; tuffgong.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 9.30am-4pm
Price: ££
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Tip your hat to Bob Marley
Dedicated to the memory of the late Reggae superstar, the Bob Marley Museum is located in a large colonial-era wooden home on Hope Road where Marley recorded many of his hits. The 60-minute tour takes you around Bob’s home, whose rooms remain untouched and filled with personal treasures – from Marley’s favourite clothing to an array of gold and platinum records.
Insider tip: Photography isn’t allowed in the house but you can sing “One Love” and take a few photos with the statue of the singer in the courtyard. There’s also the on-site One Love Cafe should hunger pangs kick in.
Contact: 00 1 876 972 9152; bobmarleymuseum.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 9.30am-4pm
Price: ££
