When it comes to ambiance and attitude that’s carefree, laid-back and infectious, Jamaica has all but cornered the market.
Jamaica is consistently rated among the most romantic destinations in the Caribbean, and its wealth of resorts for couples is one of the biggest reasons why. This, after all, is the birthplace of the Sandals empire, one of the world’s most successful couples-only resort chains. With properties all over the island, from Montego Bay and Ocho Rios to the north, to Negril and the south coast, Sandals resorts give couples a world created just for them, complete with finishing touches like rose petals scattered throughout the rooms, jacuzzis for two, and private dinners on the beach. But of course, there’s more to romance in Jamaica than just the resorts. The landscape of the island, with its lush rainforests, fantastical waterfalls and plenty of beaches and coves, are the other half of its romantic inspiration. Negril is an especially good spot to put you in the mood, set apart from the long stretches of beaches elsewhere on the island. Instead, much of Negril’s coastline is lined with cliffs, providing plenty of unique and equally serene spots to watch the sunset. At The Caves resort, couples can enjoy a private, candlelit dinner inside a cave sitting right at sea level.
Of course, Jamaica appeals to more than just the sweetheart set. Ocho Rios, in particular, is a hub for family-friendly activities that’ll keep people of all ages entertained. Here, you’ll find the new Mystic Mountain attraction, a sort of natural theme park combining adventurous pursuits and relaxing amenities. Arriving visitors check in at the bottom of the mountain, then ride a ski lift up to where the action is, enjoying aerial views of the forest, the cruise port of Ocho Rios and the ocean beyond. At the top, travelers have their pick of activities. Parents and older kids can strap in for a canopy tour excursion, cruising from one tree to the next on a zipline. Afterwards, they can take a bobsled ride, with cars on a track like a roller coaster and a lever that lets you adjust your speed as you fl y through the forest. Not far from Mystic Mountain, the Dolphin Cove park gives visitors another chance to interact with Jamaican “locals”—rescued dolphins trained to swim and play with humans. Kids of all ages can interact with the dolphins here, thanks to varying levels of immersion. A Touch Encounter lets kids stand in knee-deep water while dolphins swim close enough to pet, while a Swim With program lets you swim out into the deep water with the dolphins, even letting them carry you by their dorsal fins or push you through the water by your feet, using their noses.
The bustling capital city of Kingston is an epicenter of Jamaican culture, and a necessary stop for anyone who wants an authentic experience of the island. Visitors can tour the former Port Royal, once a haven for pirates that today displays historical sites like Fort Charles, the oldest of Kingston’s six fortresses; the HMJS Cagway, a former Royal Navy station; and St. Peter’s Anglican Church, a staple of Kingston life since 1726 with a graveyard where some of Port Royal’s most famous residents were buried and a collection of relics including communion silver believed to have been a gift from Henry Morgan, one of the Caribbean’s most notorious pirates. Visitors can familiarize themselves with Jamaica’s most famous export, reggae music as made famous by Bob Marley, outside of Kingston in the village of Nine Mile, Marley’s birthplace. Tours show travelers the Marley family home, where some of the musician’s relatives still live; sites that inspired his lyrics, like Mount Zion Rock; and the mausoleum where he’s now buried.
Every Caribbean island boasts a remarkable natural landscape, but in Jamaica, the sheer breadth of eco-adventure options is overwhelming. Hikers can set their sights on the Blue Mountains, where walking trails show off not only the lush and foggy rainforests at high altitudes but the coffee fields where some of the world’s most sought-after brews are born. Water surrounds the island, affording snorkeling opportunities at sites like the Montego Bay Marine Park; water also runs through the island, cascading down cliffs and creating waterfalls ideal for swimming and playing, such as YS Falls in the southern part of the island, or Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios. As that water runs down to the ocean, it creates rivers where even more fascinating wildlife can be seen. Tours of the Black River take travelers through the lower river delta, where the mangroves provide a home for several species of birds, fish and even alligators so tamed by human interaction that the guides can feed them by hand.
Rose Hall, an area of Jamaica sitting just outside of Montego Bay, is the island’s most high-profi le high-end haven. Here, Half Moon, with its plantation-style architecture and country club appeal, offers guests tee times on its onsite golf course, its own dolphin encounter lagoon, and a newly renovated Fern Tree Spa that’s now one of the biggest of its kind in the Caribbean. Just up the road, The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Rose Hall offers a variety of upscale dining options, afternoon tea times in the lobby bar, and truly posh decor reminiscent of Jamaica’s colonial period.
Jamaica is consistently rated among the most romantic destinations in the Caribbean, and its wealth of resorts for couples is one of the biggest reasons why. This, after all, is the birthplace of the Sandals empire, one of the world’s most successful couples-only resort chains. With properties all over the island, from Montego Bay and Ocho Rios to the north, to Negril and the south coast, Sandals resorts give couples a world created just for them, complete with finishing touches like rose petals scattered throughout the rooms, jacuzzis for two, and private dinners on the beach. But of course, there’s more to romance in Jamaica than just the resorts. The landscape of the island, with its lush rainforests, fantastical waterfalls and plenty of beaches and coves, are the other half of its romantic inspiration. Negril is an especially good spot to put you in the mood, set apart from the long stretches of beaches elsewhere on the island. Instead, much of Negril’s coastline is lined with cliffs, providing plenty of unique and equally serene spots to watch the sunset. At The Caves resort, couples can enjoy a private, candlelit dinner inside a cave sitting right at sea level.
Of course, Jamaica appeals to more than just the sweetheart set. Ocho Rios, in particular, is a hub for family-friendly activities that’ll keep people of all ages entertained. Here, you’ll find the new Mystic Mountain attraction, a sort of natural theme park combining adventurous pursuits and relaxing amenities. Arriving visitors check in at the bottom of the mountain, then ride a ski lift up to where the action is, enjoying aerial views of the forest, the cruise port of Ocho Rios and the ocean beyond. At the top, travelers have their pick of activities. Parents and older kids can strap in for a canopy tour excursion, cruising from one tree to the next on a zipline. Afterwards, they can take a bobsled ride, with cars on a track like a roller coaster and a lever that lets you adjust your speed as you fl y through the forest. Not far from Mystic Mountain, the Dolphin Cove park gives visitors another chance to interact with Jamaican “locals”—rescued dolphins trained to swim and play with humans. Kids of all ages can interact with the dolphins here, thanks to varying levels of immersion. A Touch Encounter lets kids stand in knee-deep water while dolphins swim close enough to pet, while a Swim With program lets you swim out into the deep water with the dolphins, even letting them carry you by their dorsal fins or push you through the water by your feet, using their noses.
The bustling capital city of Kingston is an epicenter of Jamaican culture, and a necessary stop for anyone who wants an authentic experience of the island. Visitors can tour the former Port Royal, once a haven for pirates that today displays historical sites like Fort Charles, the oldest of Kingston’s six fortresses; the HMJS Cagway, a former Royal Navy station; and St. Peter’s Anglican Church, a staple of Kingston life since 1726 with a graveyard where some of Port Royal’s most famous residents were buried and a collection of relics including communion silver believed to have been a gift from Henry Morgan, one of the Caribbean’s most notorious pirates. Visitors can familiarize themselves with Jamaica’s most famous export, reggae music as made famous by Bob Marley, outside of Kingston in the village of Nine Mile, Marley’s birthplace. Tours show travelers the Marley family home, where some of the musician’s relatives still live; sites that inspired his lyrics, like Mount Zion Rock; and the mausoleum where he’s now buried.
Every Caribbean island boasts a remarkable natural landscape, but in Jamaica, the sheer breadth of eco-adventure options is overwhelming. Hikers can set their sights on the Blue Mountains, where walking trails show off not only the lush and foggy rainforests at high altitudes but the coffee fields where some of the world’s most sought-after brews are born. Water surrounds the island, affording snorkeling opportunities at sites like the Montego Bay Marine Park; water also runs through the island, cascading down cliffs and creating waterfalls ideal for swimming and playing, such as YS Falls in the southern part of the island, or Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios. As that water runs down to the ocean, it creates rivers where even more fascinating wildlife can be seen. Tours of the Black River take travelers through the lower river delta, where the mangroves provide a home for several species of birds, fish and even alligators so tamed by human interaction that the guides can feed them by hand.
Rose Hall, an area of Jamaica sitting just outside of Montego Bay, is the island’s most high-profi le high-end haven. Here, Half Moon, with its plantation-style architecture and country club appeal, offers guests tee times on its onsite golf course, its own dolphin encounter lagoon, and a newly renovated Fern Tree Spa that’s now one of the biggest of its kind in the Caribbean. Just up the road, The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Rose Hall offers a variety of upscale dining options, afternoon tea times in the lobby bar, and truly posh decor reminiscent of Jamaica’s colonial period.
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