The 10 Best Places to Visit in Jamaica

As with most mountain landscapes, the most obvious way to explore the Blue Mountains is on foot. Take a guided hike through the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site to learn about the mountains’ ecosystem as well as their role in the Maroon Wars. Ambitious hikers will find reward on the 7-mile (11.3-kilometer) trail to Blue Mountain Peak—the highest point in all of Jamaica—while those wanting to skip straight to the view can drive up the mountain in just under an hour. Mountain biking tours take you past gushing waterfalls and over stone bridges, while coffee tours introduce you to the finest coffee in Jamaica from bean to cup.

There are many spots to buy crafts in Montego Bay, but the Craft Market on Harbour Street is one of the best. Here shoppers find handcrafted souvenirs including hats, musical instruments, dolls, and novelties made of leather, wood, beads, and straw. Visit independently or as part of a Montego Bay tour that often includes sightseeing and shopping highlights, in addition to sunbathing, a visit to a local reggae bar, and a stop at Richmond Hill.

Founded by lifelong bird lover Lisa Salmon, the relaxing oasis is now run by her nephew Fritz, who welcomes travelers into his cottage home and shows the incredible diversity of avian life on the island. You will see stunning local birds, such as the Jamaican oriole, the white-winged dove, and Jamaica's national bird, the doctor bird (red-billed streamertail). Some birds, especially the tiny, shiny hummingbirds, are so tame that they will sit on your finger while feeding from a bottle of sugared water.

Travelers have many options to experience Rocklands Bird Sanctuary as part of a half-day tour leaving from Montego Bay or Falmouth, that may include sightseeing highlights of Montego Bay (St. James Parish Church, Richmond Hill Great House, Sam Sharpe Square). A more active adventure features a gentle rafting sojourn down the Rio Bueno River.

Creating a welcoming atmosphere, Rastafarian villagers invite travelers into the daily life of their community. Learn the techniques they use to build traditional drums, grow organic vegetables, make herbal remedies and medicines, and spice their traditional cooking. After a leisurely wander around the village’s meditative labyrinth, enjoy an herbal tea and fresh fruit while listening to the villagers play music and chant. Longer visits include treks into the countryside where you can take a dip in a natural pool.

You can visit the Rastafari Indigenous Village as part of a multi-day activity-filled sightseeing tour that offers a more comprehensive, deeper experience of Jamaica. Leaving from Kingston, climb the lush Dunn’s River Falls, soak up the sun on stunning Doctor’s Cave Beach, go horseback riding, or even swim with dolphins. Tours typically include hotel accommodations, roundtrip transportation, and some meals; entrance fees and gratuities may not be.

The greatest of Jamaican great houses sits high on a hill with views of Montego Bay and beyond, serving as a testament to the wealth, pomp, and grandeur of plantation-era Jamaica. Learn about Rose Hall’s slave history while taking in its antique splendor and original fittings, originally built by owner John Palmer and restored in the 1960s.

While daytime tours of Rose Hall Plantation focus on plantation history and historic insight into Jamaica’s era of slavery, night tours recount eerie tales and chilling stories involving murder, ghost sightings, and countless lovers. Said to have dabbled in black magic, Annie Palmer allegedly poisoned three husbands while living there, and her activities are the crux of the haunted night tour.

Jamaican horticulturist Hedley Edwards developed the Ardastra Gardens in the 1930s, and today they serve as a refuge for more than 130 animals, many of which belong to endangered species. Along with enjoying the animal encounters, you can explore the four acres (1.6 hectares) of jungle gardens filled with tropical plants and flowers designed to be a haven of peace and tranquility.

You can buy an admission ticket upon arrival or in advance to skip the line. Local bike tours of Nassau often stop here.

You can experience Doctor’s Cave Beach as part of a private or group half-day, full-day, or multi-day tour, some of which include sightseeing, shopping, a meal along the Hip Strip, or even a scuba diving excursion. The welcoming beach accommodates all travelers, from relaxing sunbathers to active adventurers. Zoom around on a Jet Ski, take flight on a parasail, cruise in a glass-bottom boat, swim in the warm turquoise water, or simply laze about on the sandy beach with a pina colada in hand. An on-site rental center offers umbrellas, beach chairs, and snorkel gear. When you’re feeling hungry, take a few steps to the beachside Sand Restaurant and Bar.

Though it seems like magic, there’s a scientific explanation for the glowing blue that appears. Millions of microorganisms called dinoflagellates flock to the lagoon’s unique combination of mangroves and salt and fresh water. Agitation oxygenates the chemical luciferin embedded in the algae cells, shedding an illuminating glow. Treat yourself to an after-dark cruise around the lagoon and a dip in the warm, shallow water. Some tours include round-trip transport from your hotel.

Dunn's River Falls is a spectacular White River waterfall near Ocho Rios in Jamaica, where cold mountain water cascades 1,000 feet (300 meters) down naturally terraced steps. Those interested in geology will be fascinated with the way the world-famous falls renew themselves via regular deposits of calcium carbonate and sodium, while movie buffs will recognize them from films such as Dr. No and Cocktail.