Places to Stay During Your Visit to Jamaica's Blue Mountain Peak

Forres Park couldn’t feel more different to some of the sprawling beach resorts on the coast, with just 10 rooms and a location high in the Blue Mountains. And yet you can get the same kind of indulgences – a glassy pool, drenched in rays; soothing massages and mud body wraps; and dinners of jerk chicken and ackee and saltfish. Be sure to pay a visit to the highest coffee farm in Jamaica, which is nearby and happens to be an ace spot for birdwatching.

With so much to see and do in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains – and its jumping-off point, Kingston – you don’t necessarily need a hotel that’s flashy. But, there is something nice about coming home after a long day to a huge outdoor pool, warmed by the sun; or a laid-back restaurant, where you can take your pick from local delights or international crowd-pleasers. Enter the Marriott. It has all the amenities you could hope for, right in the heart of the city – and rooms with big windows overlooking the skyline, too.

If you like your city stays with a side of green space, try the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites – you’re only a three-minute walk from Emancipation Park. Spend mornings taking in the impressive bronze sculptures, then return to the hotel to lie by the pool or sip a coffee on your private balcony overlooking the rooftops of Kingston. If you fancy an aperitif before dinner in the in-house restaurant Alexander’s, head to Mingles Bar to sip a rum punch.

Soaring above Kingston, the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel gives great views of the surrounding capital. But that’s not the only reason to book in. A fitness centre, pool and tennis court – and access to a squash court off site – help you keep fit on days when you don’t fancy tackling the trails of the Blue Mountains. And a special Royal Club floor comes with complimentary breakfast and a private lounge, perfect for business travellers who are working on the go.

The Bob Marley Museum – which recreates the record shop made famous by the Jamaican singer as part of its exhibits – is a must-see when you come to Kingston. And when you book into the Spanish Court Hotel, it’s within easy striking distance of this business district hotel. But this slick, modern stay has plenty else going for it besides location – including a pool with bar and loungers, romantic restaurant, cosy spa and rooms dressed in pops of cherry red.

You won’t go hungry when you stay at Altamont Court Hotel. The restaurant, Mango Tree, serves up hearty burgers, grilled prawns, pastas and local favourites for lunch and dinner, as well as a full Jamaican breakfast to enjoy by the pool. There’s a bar, too, and a fitness centre at this Kingston city centre stay – plus simple but comfortable rooms dressed in white, with button-back headboards on beds. Ask the staff for their local recommendations, or else they can sort a city tour for you.

When a hotel has been open for 60 years, you know it has to be doing something right. Visit this long-established property in the centre of Kingston, and you’ll get friendly service, experienced staff and regal rooms that look like they’ve been plucked straight out of the Palace of Versailles. A terrace restaurant is the perfect place for a long, lazy breakfast or a dinner of lobster bisque and braised oxtail. The bar? A meeting place for chic locals.

After a big day exploring the Blue Mountains, you might have aching feet. And what better way to soothe them than with a visit to a spa hotel? Eden Gardens doesn’t just have a pool for cooling afternoon dips – book in and you’ll get relaxing couples’ massages to revive aching muscles. After your pampering session, retire to modern rooms with juicy pops of colour on the walls and polished wooden floors. Rise in the morning for your breakfast, included in your stay.

Get a low-key taste of Jamaica’s lush Blue Mountains with a stay at this intimate five-room B&B, set in Kingston. Spend mornings sipping smooth local coffee on colourful chairs on the covered porch – and then, after a day of exploring, bed down in simple bedrooms, painted in green to reflect the lush outdoors. Mosquito nets draped over four-posters lend a romantic vibe, while windows let the local birdsong pour in. Don’t miss a visit to the Bob Marley Museum – you’re just a 15-minute drive away.

The seven-room RafJam serves up the Blue Mountain experience with aplomb. Sit out on the red-painted deck chairs, sipping a chilled local Red Stripe beer while listening to birds call from the surrounding trees, spend an afternoon snoozing on a hammock on your private terrace, or head out exploring, to splash in waterfalls or hike the trails that snake around the peaks. Later, snooze in comfy, homely rooms with colourful throw pillows and soft lighting.