When Christopher Columbus first landed on the shores of Jamaica he wrote in his records, “It is the fairest island that eyes have beheld.” The description still holds true as the island welcomes more than 2.5 million tourists each year hoping to experience a piece of paradise. With forests, mountains, valleys, rocky cliffs and beach coastline, it’s hard to imagine all the places on this list can be found on one tiny island.
Frenchman’s Cove
Nestled between the rocky, forested cliffs in Port Antonio, Jamaica, Frenchman’s Cove is the ultimate tropical oasis. The cove’s beach has some of the most pristine white sand, where some of the bluest water breaks in salty, gentle waves. A small tributary of the region’s biggest river finishes on one side of the cove, mixing fresh and salt water into a refreshing, luxurious natural pool. If one day isn’t enough in the beautiful place, the property has a hotel with wonderful cliff-side villas available for rent.
Blue Lagoon
Just a few miles up the road from Frenchman’s Cove, is one of Jamaica’s most beautiful and untouched natural wonders. The Blue Lagoon, once thought to be bottomless, is an underwater sinkhole that is about 180 feet deep. The dramatic color of the water changes throughout the day depending on the position of the sun in the sky. The surrounding lush vegetation and untouched environment are what make this place truly special. The lagoon’s water is unusually warm for the area. Boat tours are available to visitors, though we recommend spending as much time in the gorgeous water as possible.
Blue Mountains
Blue Mountain peak is the highest mountain in Jamaica, standing at 2,256 metres. The UNESCO World Heritage Site has some of the most beautiful mountain views in the Caribbean. Though densely vegetated with Jamaica’s green, lush flora, the mountains appear to be blue when dense flog shades the sun’s rays. Dominating the eastern part of the island, several trails in the mountain range can be hiked and biked with or without guides. Hiking to the peak is breathtaking if you make it to the top right before sunrise. On the usually clear mornings, the southern coast of Cuba, which is just 90 miles north, is visible from the peak.
Rose Hall
Just outside of Montego Bay, Jamaica’s second largest city, is one of the island’s most historic plantation homes. Rose Hall is a Jamaican Georgian mansion with a stone base and plastered upper story built in the 1770s. The house sits high on the hillside, looking down onto the northern coastline. Legend says that the house is haunted by the ghost of Annie Palmer, known as the “White Witch of Rose Hall.” She is said to have murdered her three husbands, while living in the house. Though the legend has been disproven, the house offers tours both in the day and night, that recount what life might have been like for the slaves and plantation owners at the height of the slave trade in Jamaica.
Seven Mile Beach
Located in one of Jamaica’s most visited beach towns, Negril, Seven Mile Beach is a stretch of pure paradise. Though the beach is actually only four miles long, the white sand and crystal blue water that laps the shore seems to go on much further. A number of hotels and restaurants dot the coastline. Negril is on the western side of Jamaica, offering some of the most stunning beach sunsets in existence. There is nothing quite like seeing the sky change from a pale blue to shades of yellow, orange and pink against the darkening ocean.
Reach Falls
Natural Feature
Blue Hole
Tucked within the lush hills of Ocho Rios, Blue Hole has earned its nickname of “Secret Falls.” It is a tropical escape, easily accessed by car or hired bus service. It isn’t an official Tourism Board site, making the attraction relatively untouched. The site is formed from a tributary of the parish’s largest river, Rio Nuevo, that cascades into several small natural pools, finally ending in one much larger and deeper. Visitors enjoy swinging into the water from ropes that hang on the sturdy trees surrounding the pool. You won’t want to miss this hidden gem on your trip to Jamaica.
Pelican Bar
Bar, Pub Grub
Rio Grande
Dunn’s River Falls
Perhaps one of Jamaica’s most popular tourist attractions, Dunn’s River Falls is one of the island’s most unique waterfalls. The water cascades in step-like stages, allowing visitors to climb the 600 feet to the top, fairly easily. It is believed to be one of the most historic battle sites, where the Spanish and the English fought for possession of the island in 1657. The waterfall flows directly into the sea, allowing visitors to experience the river as well as the small beach alongside it. Look familiar? Many scenes from the James Bond movie Dr. No were also filmed at the falls.
About the author
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica to a Colombian-Italian mother and a Jamaican father, I was always exposed to a myriad of cultures and languages as a child. My parents love to travel and passed their sense of wanderlust onto me and my brothers. I went to the University of Richmond, in the United States where I studied Journalism and Creative Writing. I’m currently living in Treviso, Italy with extended family, studying Italian, working and learning more about my heritage. When I'm not writing, I can usually be found outside biking, hiking, running or just enjoying nature.
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